Navigating Your Career Post-ACA: The Strategic Path to FP&A

Completing your ACA qualification is a major achievement and a pivotal moment in any accountant’s journey. For many newly qualified accountants, moving from practice into industry through FP&A roles can feel like stepping into the unknown. 

While financial planning and analysis (FP&A) is a popular career path due to its strategic focus and forward-looking nature, it isn’t always the easiest place to start. Starting an industry career as a management accountant or financial accountant is often the smarter choice. 

From entry-level roles to head of FP&A jobs, this is a journey that’s well worth taking. Here’s everything you need to know moving into FP&A.

Why FP&A jobs are in high demand 

FP&A jobs are among the most desirable roles in finance. FP&A roles are highly sought after due to their strategic importance and their involvement in shaping an organisation’s financial future. These positions require a deep understanding of business operations, advanced analytical abilities, and a knack for strategic planning - skills that are typically honed over years of industry experience. 

Newly qualified accountants often find that despite their strong technical backgrounds, they lack the commercial insight and industry-specific knowledge necessary for FP&A roles. This gap can make the direct transition from practice to FP&A not only challenging but, in many cases, impractical.

That’s where management accounting comes into play. 

The best route to a career in FP&A?

For newly qualified accountants, roles in management accounting or financial accounting offer essential on-the-ground experience that lays the groundwork for a successful transition into FP&A.

Here’s why this route works:

1. Build real commercial awareness

Management accountants work closely with operational teams to manage costs, analyse performance, and deliver financial reporting. You’ll gain hands-on experience with:

• Budget management
  
• Variance analysis
  
• Month-end and forecasting cycles
  
  

This exposure helps develop the commercial mindset that’s critical in FP&A.

2. Understand how the business operates

FP&A professionals need a holistic view of the business, and that starts with understanding how each function works.

In management accounting, you’ll work with stakeholders across sales, operations, supply chain, and marketing. This cross-functional exposure is essential for producing accurate, insightful forecasts and strategic models which are key components of all FP&A jobs.

3. Strengthen your financial analysis skills

One of the core requirements in FP&A is the ability to turn data into decisions. Management accounting helps you develop:

• Strong analytical capabilities
  
• Comfort with data visualisation tools like Power BI or Tableau
  
• Experience preparing and presenting reports to senior stakeholders
  
  

These are must-have skills for anyone pursuing a career in financial planning and analysis.

Career progression: From management accountant to FP&A analyst

Many finance professionals build long-term careers in FP&A after starting in operational roles. The skills are highly transferable, and employers value candidates who understand the business from the ground up.

Starting as a management accountant can lead to:

• FP&A analyst or FP&A business partner roles within 1–2 years
  
• Progression into Senior FP&A Analyst or FP&A Manager roles
  
• Future opportunities as Finance Director, Head of FP&A, or even CFO
  
  

It’s a route that provides both breadth and depth—two essential ingredients for leadership success in finance.

Start a career in FP&A

If your long-term goal is to work in financial planning and analysis, it’s important to take a strategic, well-informed approach to your early career moves. A role in management accounting helps you gain the insight, skills, and relationships needed to succeed in competitive FP&A roles down the line.

At Marks Sattin, we work with finance professionals at every stage of their journey, from newly qualified to senior FP&A leaders. Whether you're looking to break into FP&A or take your next step within industry finance, our consultants can guide you.

Explore our newly qualified finance jobs today or contact us for more information.