A Systems Accountant is an expert in accounting systems and software typically works on short term contracts to lead the implementation of new systems or software and provide training to staff where necessary.
Systems Accountants combine experience of finance and business with strong IT skills and expert knowledge of specific (finance) software.
Systems Accountants often work on temporary assignments for clients who wish to roll out new financial systems, although some organisations employ Systems Accountants in house.
Typical duties include:
Maintaining financial IT systems to ensure that they meet company requirements.
Ensuring that users are properly trained and able to fully exploit the capabilities of finance systems.
Establishing and monitoring best practice.
Configuring systems and monitoring performance.
Evaluating systems, proposing and implementing change.
Planning and implementing systems upgrades.
Qualifications
Systems Accountants are usually part or fully qualified accountants with a background in financial or management accounting. Just as important, however, is an aptitude for working with complex IT systems coupled with experience of working with specific financial software such as Oracle Financials, Cognos, Hyperion and SAP.
Salary Snapshot
Recent salaries advertised on TopFinancialJobs (December 2009) include:
£30-35,000 per annum for a Finance Systems Manager working for a leading service provider in Berkshire.
£50-55,000 per annum for a qualified or part qualified (ACA, ACCA, ACMA) Group Senior Systems Administrator working in Surrey for a blue chip healthcare company.
£35-55,000 for a qualified (ACA, ACCA, ACMA) or qualified by experience Cognos Systems Consultant working in London for a FTSE 250 facilities management group.
£50-55,000 for a qualified (ACA, ACCA, ACMA) or qualified by experience Group Systems Accountant working in Surrey for a leading international organisation.
Are you a Systems Accountant? Would you like to contribute to our "Day in the Life of..." series? Email us at info@topfinancialjobs.co.uk for more details.
