Accounting and Finance

Financial managers and directors plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the financial information of companies, the activities and resources of financial institutions, such as banks and insurance companies, and advise on company financial policy.

Job holders in this unit group perform a variety of senior management tasks in respect of other specialist functions or fields of activity in organisations.

Chartered and certified accountants provide accounting and auditing services, advise clients on financial matters, collect and analyse financial information and perform other accounting duties required by management for the planning and control of an establishment’s income and expenditure.

Finance and investment analysts and advisers advise customers, who may be individuals, companies or specialist groups, on the purchase of investments, insurance, mortgages, pensions and other financial services and products.

Taxation experts advise on tax matters and assess tax liabilities.

Chartered company secretaries and governance professionals ensure companies conform to relevant legal, statutory and financial requirements and monitors standards of corporate governance.

Business and financial project management professionals manage and oversee major projects across all sectors of modern industry, commerce and the public sector, in areas such as e-commerce, business analysis, finance, product development, marketing, human resources.

Brokers deal in commodities, stocks, shares and foreign exchange on behalf of clients or on own account, broker insurance and reinsurance, and buy and sell shipping and freight space.

Insurance underwriters identify and measure the risks associated with an activity, determine whether this risk is insurable and issue insurance policies which provide financial compensation in the event of loss.

Financial and accounting technicians work alongside accountants and other financial professionals in managing the financial affairs of organisations.

Financial accounts managers manage client accounts or departments within financial institutions (such as banks and insurance companies) or manage a variety of financial accounts within other organisations.

Estimators, valuers and assessors plan and undertake the calculation of probable costs of civil, mechanical, electrical, electronic and other projects, estimate the value of property and chattels, and investigate insurance claims to assess their validity and to assign liability.

Credit controllers perform financial, administrative and other tasks in relation to credit control and debt collection.

Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks maintain and balance records of financial transactions, oversee the operation of payroll functions and calculate hours worked, wages due and other relevant contributions and deductions.

Bank and post office clerks deal with the payment and receipt of money, cheques and other routine financial transactions and open and close accounts. They advise upon financial products and services offered by banks, building societies and post offices.

Finance officers oversee book-keeping, general accounting and other financial and related clerical functions mainly within local government and a variety of public sector organisations.

Job holders in this unit group carry out a variety of finance-related administrative functions.

Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants provide general clerical support to senior colleagues and perform specialist clerical tasks in relation to the administration of pensions and insurance policies.

Collector salespersons and credit agents visit private households to obtain orders and collect payments for goods and services.

Debt, rent and other cash collectors collect payments due or overdue from households and businesses and empty cash from prepayment meters or machines.

Job holders in this unit group perform a variety of sales occupations.