Your Guide to Managerial Accounting: Types, Careers, and More

Managerial accounting, commonly called management accounting, is a specialised type of accounting with functions and tasks that differ from financial accounting. As a management accountant, you’ll analyse an organisation’s internal financial processes to help company leaders make strategic decisions and plans. Learn about management accounting, the different types, the education requirements, and how to enter this career field.   

What is managerial accounting?

Managerial accounting, or management accounting, is the process of analysing, interpreting, and measuring an organisation’s financial processes. This type of accounting uses data to help provide leaders with insight for strategic financial planning that aligns with that organisation's goals and business objectives. In management accounting, the main focus is on financial decisions that affect a company's internal workings. For example, management accountants may help leaders decide whether or not to raise the cost of goods and services. 

Management accounting vs financial accounting

While management accounting focuses on providing data for internal use, financial accounting focuses on the decisions related to an organisation’s economic relationship with external companies. 

Financial accountants are also subject to compliance with government rules and regulations, such as the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), whereas management accountants are not. 

Financial accounting deals with an organisation's long-term monetary decisions. This differs from management accounting, which works with short-term and sometimes long-term goals that involve an organisation’s internal financial processes. Both financial professions work with monetary information similarly but for different purposes and uses. 

Careers in management accounting

Management accounting is a specified type of accounting that has different job titles based on the company, industry, education, location, and more. The job titles often differ in salary and responsibilities, though you’ll find some common tasks and skills in most jobs in management accounting. 

Typical tasks

Typical tasks that may be a part of a management accounting career may include:

• Preparing monetary data for budgeting and planning

• Supervising members of a financial department

• Choosing investments

• Finding investment opportunities

• Identifying financial trends

• Managing risk

• Assisting in internal financial decisions

• Strategic planning and decision-making

Key skills

If you pursue a career in management accounting, you’ll need key skills that blend finance and management skills. Since most jobs in this field oversee a group of people and require technical skills, it’s important to have the following competencies:

• Communication skills

• Leadership skills

• Patience

• Knowledge of financial data

• Ability to apply economic analysis to an organisation’s needs and processes 

• Ability to use spreadsheets like Excel

• Ability to analyse data

• Be proficient with computer and financial management systems

• Understand mathematical equations 

Common roles 

Depending on your education, experience, and certification, you may be eligible for several jobs in management accounting. Common roles in this field include: 

1. Controllers 

Average annual UK salary (Glassdoor): £39,140 [1]

Controllers are commonly the head of a financial department. In this supervisory position, you oversee all aspects of an organisation's monetary health, organize reports, analyse financial data, and create strategic plans and goals. 

2. Accounting managers 

Average annual UK salary (Glassdoor): £56,106 [2]

Accounting managers work to ensure the timely delivery of financial reports to an organisation’s decision-makers. In this role, you ensure the accuracy of reports, manage the performance of other accountants, and allocate tasks among other accountants. 

3. Financial analysts 

Average annual UK salary (Glassdoor): £43,092 [3]

A financial analyst’s main duty is to examine data to determine outcomes and opportunities for business investments and decisions. Financial analysts track and analyse monetary processes for companies, support other departments, and use financial data to create budgets and forecasts. 

4. Management accountants 

Average annual UK salary (Glassdoor): £39,739[4]

Management accountants have a position of authority and responsibility. In this role, you analyse an organisation's internal financial processes and use that data to forecast, make suggestions, aid in decision-making, set budgets, and more. You may handle everything from investment decisions to overhead costs. 

5. Cost accountant managers 

Average annual UK salary (Glassdoor): £43,861 [5]

Cost accountant managers typically work for larger organisations. This role focuses on managing overall costs for an organisation, which includes monitoring spending, calculating the costs associated with business operations, and finding opportunities to save money. 

How to get a job in management accounting

To get a job in management accounting, you’ll need to earn your bachelor’s degree, gain professional experience, and consider apprenticeship and certification. Some management accountants train with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), which is widely respected by UK employers and recognized globally. Each employer may have their requirements, so it’s important to research the desired qualifications before pursuing your degree and applying to entry-level positions. 

Earn a bachelor’s degree.

The majority of management accounting jobs will require at least a bachelor’s degree in a field such as finance, business, or accounting. If you enrol in a bachelor’s degree programme, it’s helpful to take electives that can better prepare you for a career in management accounting. 

As part of your bachelor’s degree programme, you may need to complete an internship. Apprenticeships and internships can provide invaluable experience that can enhance your resume and create professional connections. Even if not a requirement for your degree programme, seek apprenticeship or internship options if possible. 

Do I need a master’s degree?

In some cases, employers may prefer a master’s degree in accounting. This is particularly true of upper-level management jobs or senior-level positions in a company like CFO or corporate controller. 

Gain professional experience.

After earning your degree, consider applying to the following entry-level accounting positions:

• Accounting assistant

• Assistant controller

• Payroll tax analyst

• Budget specialist 

Your job title will likely vary by the organisation and industry. Work shadowing, internships, and year in industry placements will help you gain insight and make connections in the sector

Consider a certification.

Having a certification, such as the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, can offer many benefits in the management accounting field. This includes increased job opportunities, higher annual earnings, and distinction within your industry. 

Many management accounting professionals earn the certified management accountant certification (CMA). This is an internationally recognized and reputable certification from the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). To earn your CMA, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• Have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field

• Have two years of consecutive professional experience that’s approved by the IMA

• Become an IMA member

• Enrol in the CMA program

To become a chartered management accountant, you will need to finish your training with a professional accountancy organisation. A popular option for specialised management accountants is the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting (Cert BA). Completing this qualification lets you move on to CIMA's CGMA Professional Qualification, leading to the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation.

Types of management accounting methods

Within management accounting, you can use several methods to manage an organisation’s finances. Management accountants may use one or more of these types depending on the organisation's size, industry, financial objectives, and economic status. In many cases, people use these types of accounting during specific times and may not always use them continuously.

Product costing and valuation

Product costing involves measuring and analysing both variable and fixed costs that are associated with the production of goods and services. Part of this process involves placing value on the true costs of operations compared to the budgeted cost set by the organisation. Valuations help ensure the company is profitable and stays within budget based on the cost of manufacturing and delivering services. Management accountants determine how to make the production of goods and services more cost-effective by looking at fixed, variable, indirect, and direct costs. 

Budgeting, trend analysis, and forecasting

Management accounting professionals use an organisation’s past financial history to help budget for future monetary needs, purchases, and decision-making This type of management accounting uses metrics like performance reports to locate and note positive or negative deviations called budget-to-actual variances. This information helps organisations better understand how well they adhere to set budgets and make changes if needed. Another aspect of this methodology is examining an organisation’s needs, choosing the correct purchase type, and finding the best way to finance that purchase. 

Accounts receivable management

Accounts receivable (AR) is the money owed to a company for a product or service bought on credit. These purchases are entries on a balance sheet and are considered short-term assets to the organisations. 

Management accountants review past due AR, which may vary by company. Some organisations may move AR to an AR ageing report after 30 days, while others give customers 90 days or more. Companies typically don’t hold past due AR because it can affect their bottom line and is a credit risk. 

Inventory turnover analysis

For businesses, it’s important to know the necessary amount of inventory. Inventory turnover analysis measures the inventory a company sells and replaces within a set period. 

Financial professionals calculate inventory turnover to determine how long it takes inventory to turn into revenue. This process helps companies manage inventory and keep the costs of goods and services set compared to incoming revenue. 

Constraint analysis

Constraint analysis helps companies run more smoothly and efficiently by identifying errors in the production of goods and services. Management accountants may use data like cash flow, revenue, and profits to identify problems in the flow and cost of production, which affects profitability. This analysis helps maintain a profitable enterprise. 

Cash flow analysis

Cash flow analysis studies the impact of a single financial decision or transaction to see the true impact of that purchase or decision. Financial professionals may look at several options and ways to finance a purchase based on that analysis. Cash flow analysis lets organisations make informed monetary decisions and maintain sufficiently liquid assets in the short term. 

Financial leverage metrics

Borrowed capital is capital that is borrowed from investors or banks. Financial leverage metrics analyse and determine the amount of borrowed capital to use for purchasing assets to provide the maximum return on investment. This method provides transparency to key stakeholders so that they can see where the money goes and why. Financial professionals typically use reports like balance sheets and debt-to-equity ratios to help companies determine borrowed capital amounts. 

Getting started in management accounting with Coursera

Management accounting is essential for providing financial insights and guiding strategic decision-making within organisations. By understanding its various methods and career paths, you can embark on a rewarding journey in this dynamic field.

Start your management accounting career by enrolling in an online course that can provide important skills training and information on how to excel in this field. Courses like Managerial Accounting Fundamentals or Managerial Accounting: Tools for Facilitating and Guiding Business Decisions offered on Coursera can help you develop job-ready skills to enhance your resume.