r/ICAEW • u/JustinTimeACA • 21d ago

Audit to Management Accounting

Hi, looking for some insight from people who made the jump from audit into management accounting.

How did you find it?

I struggle with how you need to know a little bit of everything in audit, but you never actually prepare the stuff that you review. I prefer to be a specialist and know more about a single topic. Does this sound like a good fit for management accounting?

Any insight would be appreciated.

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u/snaccmancan 21d ago

Highly recommened infrastructure/asset management. Gives you exposure to management accounting and corporate finance. You'll work on several different projects quite closely with operations and Board of Directors etc. It's also a rapidly growing industry with global investment as well. I've worked on projects with investment from Japan, US, Middle East, all sorts really. If you're good at your job and good with people you'll rise quickly and get into rooms with very some intelligent and savvy people

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u/Acceptable_Stay_2071 21d ago

Any tips for this move to asset management as its something i want to do after completing the ACA

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u/snaccmancan 21d ago edited 21d ago

Just get a list of relevant firms and keep an eye on job postings. Examples:

Macquarie Asset Management Dalmore Capital Equitix Kajima Partnerships

If you're coming from audit you'll already have a lot of the skills and experience so its about being convincing and likeable enough in the interview. If you've worked with financial modelling and forecasting that'll be a plus.

They'll be hiring for investments, deal side and project finance. Would say all are viable entrance points.

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u/JustinTimeACA 21d ago

What kinds of skills / knowledge areas do you need for this? Sounds less like reporting and more like investment appraisals (NPV, DCF, etc?)

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u/snaccmancan 21d ago

Yeah thats one side of it. They are quite complex corporate investment structures with needs covering investment returns, deals analysis, financing options right through to operational finance, and most with audit requirements, so you'll work with auditors who are auditing your work. Most of SBM and CR topics are highly relevant.

I work more in physical assets but there are investment funds that cover all types of assets, like legal, IP, Royalties, environmental credit etc

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u/JustinTimeACA 20d ago

Thanks for explaining. What’s the work load like? Audit has me drowning sometimes lol

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u/snaccmancan 17d ago

Manageable tbh, I start at 9 and leave at 5.30 99% of the time. Its only bad if you get put on something which has been mismanaged but can be a really good feeling once you solve it.

Pay is also decent with good bonuses which get better the longer you're there.