CIPFA - Public Finance and Accountancy Work Experience

CIPFA - Public Finance and Accountancy Work Experience

Key Details:

• Job sector: Accounting, Banking & Finance
• Start: now
• Students aged 13+ are welcome to apply
• Certificate of completion
• Over 7 hours worth of content

Overview

Are you interested in a career in public finance and accountancy? This programme will introduce you to the membership body, CIPFA, and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, as well as the vital work they do to ensure public money is effectively and efficiently managed. We’ll introduce you to careers and pathways in this dynamic industry so you can get your foot in the door and make a real difference in the public sector!

What’s Included

This Virtual Work Experience programme is equipped with engaging content about the public finance and accountancy industry, designed to show you the various careers and pathways into this exciting sector. What’s more, you’ll complete a series of quizzes and fun activities to help build your understanding.

Module One

This module serves as an introduction to the public finance and accountancy sector. You’ll explore what professionals in this line of work actually do and the important role they play in managing public sector money. You’ll also meet our partners, CIPFA! You’ll discover the organisation’s mission, purpose, pillars and values and take part in a reflective activity and quiz to test your knowledge.

Module Two

If a career in accountancy sounds like something you would be interested in, stay tuned! We’ll deep dive into the role of a Chartered Accountant, including what that looks like, the unique responsibilities involved and the challenges they face in the public sector. We’ll explore the differences between the public and private sectors and examine what this means for accountants working in either division. It doesn’t end there; we’ll also discover what skills you’ll need to be successful as an accountant and the pathways to becoming one!

Module Three

What is the difference between central and local government? Unlock the answer to this question in this module which covers the unique challenges central and local government entities face. You’ll also discover the important role of a Public Finance Accountant working in government including key responsibilities and duties involved in their day-to-day.

Module Four

We’ll explore the different types of businesses existing in the public sector - from emergency services to health and social care! We’ll also provide an overview of how public services are funded; by the end of the module, you’ll understand how these work differently for private sector organisations. That’s not it; we’ll return to the role of the Public Finance Accountant, but this time look at how this role plays a part in public sector entities.

Module Five

We’ll provide guidance on different pathways to entering the public finance and accountancy profession, including academic qualifications, apprenticeships, and professional certifications. You’ll discover how to build relevant skills and find work experience opportunities. We’ll also share some tips for successful networking within the industry! You’ll also explore training opportunities with CIPFA and gain a sneak peek of their Careers Hub.

Module Six

You might be thinking that a career in the public finance and accountancy sector feels right for you! You will learn exactly which skills you’ll need to flourish. You’ll dive into communication, networking, resilience and a positive attitude! After a whistle-stop tour through employability skills, you’ll complete your final activity, a self-evaluation designed to help you recognise where your strengths and weaknesses lie so you know what skills to build on for a successful career!

Available dates

On Demand

Programme dates: 4th March 2025 - 4th March 2026

Hear from our student community

Aqsa Saleemi, Year 12 Student - "Thank you for all your time and effort. The program was by far the best experience I’ve had virtually compared to other virtual experiences I’ve done. I liked the layout and the interactive activities, and I learnt a lot I didn’t know. I would definitely recommend this program to others; it was a great experience I would love to do it all again.”

Wilfred Williams, Year 12 Student from London - "I enjoyed the webinars since it was a good way to get a real understanding about the banking industry. There also were many tools to help build my transferrable skills, and this will benefit me when moving into the working world and further education.”

Sophia Nathwani, Year 11 Student, from Hampton - " I enjoyed understanding the many professions and areas within journalism that I had not been able to clearly separate prior to this programme; I particularly enjoyed the photojournalism and broadcast journalism sections, as they allowed me to explore a less conventional writing style than what I would normally use. The interactive tasks were a great way for me to demonstrate and put into practice my new knowledge, and all of the videos were extremely concise and helpful.”

Ellinor Comard, Year 12 Student from Teddington - "I really enjoyed how it introduced completely new and interesting technologies such as smart buildings. I also really liked the webinars as they give you an insight into what it's actually like working in a specific field.”

Stephanie Oseha, Year 12 Student - "A huge thank you to everyone who made this programme possible. It was a fantastic experience, and I feel more confident in myself now when applying for a job position in the future and in my personal life. I valued this experience because I realised it was okay to make mistakes and how they make you stronger for future events. I loved how efficient the Barclays team was when students and the professionals who ran the live webinars asked questions. The skills I've learnt through this virtual work experience will be used for future endeavours. So once again, thank you so much.”

Jack Zhou, Year 12 Student from Kingston upon Thames - "I enjoyed how interactive it was. It contains a range of videos and activities - so you aren't just reading a huge chunk of information all the time; it gets your brain to start thinking and keeps it going. Thank you very much for your hard work; it has enlightened me.”

Ready to find out if this career is right for you? Start now

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.