Management Accountant Job Description: Duties, Skills & Career Path
Considering a career as a Management Accountant? This role is all about turning numbers into business strategy. You won’t just report the figures - you’ll explain the ‘why’ behind them and influence real decisions.
💼 Are you an employer looking to hire instead? Read our guide to recruiting the right Management Accountant.
As a Management Accountant, you play a pivotal role in shaping a business’s financial decisions. You help senior leaders understand how their operations are tracking and where they can improve.
The work goes far beyond compliance - it’s about strategy, forecasting, and identifying what drives profitability.
Prepare reports tracking performance against budget.
Explain financial trends, highlight variances, and suggest corrective actions.
Predict liquidity needs to support stable operations.
Lead annual budgeting processes and examine performance across business units.
Handle reconciliations, journal entries, and contribute to accurate closes.
Mentor and support junior finance staff.
Use BI tools and automation to enhance efficiency.
A proficient Management Accountant:
Monitors actuals against forecasts to identify areas for improvement.
Shapes budgeting processes to ensure decisions are data-driven.
Provides insights that help business leaders allocate resources more effectively.
Recommends process improvements that boost margins and reduce waste.
You’re not just part of the finance team - you’re a financial partner. Many Management Accountants work closely with CFOs and department heads, helping steer business direction with insight and clarity.
To thrive as a Management Accountant, employers typically look for:
Strong analytical and modelling skills
Experience with budgeting and forecasting
Proficiency with Excel and ERP/BI tools (e.g. Power BI, Adaptive Insights)
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
High attention to detail and ability to meet strict deadlines
Relevant qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance, with CA or CPA (completed or in progress)
$110,000 – $140,000 + Superannuation
Salary depends on company size, complexity, and your seniority within the role.
Candidates with experience using advanced planning tools and presenting to senior stakeholders tend to be at the higher end.
This role is a stepping stone into senior commercial and leadership roles. You might progress into:
FP&A Manager– Specialises in forward planning and business modelling
If you're ready to make the move or simply want to explore your options, we can help.
📩 Submit your CV to enquiries@richardlloyd.com.au
📞 Call us at 02 8324 5640
🔍 View current job listings
Let’s find a Management Accountant role that matches your skills and ambitions
For hiring managers ready to recruit a Financial Controller, download our job description template.
For job seekers who need to write or update their resume, download our resume guide and template.
A Management Accountant is responsible for providing the business Managers with relevant information and reporting to facilitate decision-making.
An Accountant is an overarching job title, however, a Management Accountant is more specifically focused on the preparation of monthly management reports, forecasting, cash flow, and working with senior management to compile the annual budget
It is not harder, it is just different. A Management Accountant need to understand the business and analyse the data to prepare budgets and forecasts, and then have the ability to communicate financial information to non-finance staff,
A degree with a professional Accounting qualification such as a CA or CPA is a good foundation. Your last position may have been an Assistant Accountant or a junior Business Analyst.
It often takes three years of work experience after studying for your degree to become an established Management Accountant.
For any enquiries on hiring your next Sydney Accounting professional or finding your next Accounting job, please complete the details below and one of our team of specialists will be in touch.
