If you’re planning your next move, understanding the modern finance and accounting career paths matters more than ever. The old step-by-step climb from accounting trainee to manager to CFO has evolved into a wider network of roles and specialisations. Today, these career paths develop through your skills, focus, and the choices you make, not just your title or length of service.
This guide explains how to evaluate your finance and accounting career path so you can answer a key question: “Am I on the right track for the role I want next?”
Where Do You Fit in Today's Finance World?
The finance function has changed dramatically - from a back-office support role to a core driver of business strategy.
Are You a Scorekeeper or Co-Pilot?
Accounting and finance once focused on value preservation: keeping the books accurate, managing risk, and producing reports on time. Those duties remain essential, but they now represent the starting point.
The emphasis today is on value creation. Modern accounting and finance professionals act as strategic co-pilots, working alongside business leaders to drive growth, shape decisions, and adapt to change.
If your role still revolves around manual processing or retrospective reporting, you’re operating in the area being quickly automated. To progress, seek opportunities that build your influence in strategy, insight, and decision-making and your ability to clearly communicate financial insights to non-accounting colleagues.
The Four Pillars of a Modern Finance Team
KPMG highlights a practical model built around four key pillars of how modern finance teams are organised. Identify which pillar you’re currently in to see your role more clearly and plan your next move with intent.
| Pillar Name | Core Function | Key Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Central Finance Operations | The "Run" Pillar | The operational core, overseeing accounting, reporting, and transactional processes to maintain accuracy, control, and efficiency. |
| Finance Solutions | The "Build" Pillar | The technology and analytics engine, developing systems, tools, and models that enable smarter, data-driven decisions. |
| Finance Business Partners | The "Engage" Pillar | The bridge between finance and the wider business, translating data into clear insights and practical recommendations. |
| Corporate Finance | The "Plan" Pillar | The strategic brain of the organisation, responsible for enterprise-wide strategy, capital planning, and performance management. |
The strategic brain of the organisation, responsible for enterprise-wide strategy, capital planning, and performance management.
Technical vs Commercial Skills in Your Finance Career
Technical skills matter, but senior-level success rests on three core abilities: leadership, influence, and competence.
Consider a skilled data modeller in the “Build” pillar who can’t clearly communicate insights to the sales team. Without influence, moving into an “Engage” role as a Business Partner becomes difficult.
As you can see, the finance career path isn’t only about moving up the hierarchy; it’s about widening your perspective. The more you can operate across pillars and connect technical knowledge with strategic contribution, the faster you’ll progress.
Mapping Your Finance Career Path
The traditional climb up a single career ladder no longer reflects how careers actually grow. Today, progress resembles a career grid, where moving sideways into new or high-growth areas can be the smartest way to move forward.
In Malta, most accounting and finance careers begin through a mix of academic study and hands-on experience. Many candidates pursue ACCA, a University of Malta accountancy programme, or part-time studies while working in entry-level accounting roles.
A common starting point is within a Big Four firm or a corporate services provider, where professionals gain strong foundations in audit, tax, advisory, and exposure to different industries. Others enter directly into industry accounting teams, progressing as they build technical skills and complete their qualifications.
As experience grows, professionals often transition into in-house roles to broaden their commercial understanding and take on more operational responsibilities. This shift into industry is typically an important step before moving into senior roles such as Finance Manager, Financial Controller, or CFO.
| Path Type | Example Route | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Accounting Route | Sixth Form → ACCA or UoM → Audit Firm/CSP → In-House Accounting | Strong technical grounding in reporting, controls & compliance. Broad exposure to industries and regulatory environments. |
| Big 4 to Industry Route | Big Four (Audit/Tax/Advisory) → Industry Finance | Rigorous training, structured development & multi-sector exposure. Highly valued progression path in Malta. |
| Industry First Route | Entry-Level Accounting Role → Study ACCA Part-Time → Progress Internally | Practical learning from day one; strong commercial understanding from early career. Ideal for those who prefer industry and smaller setups. |
| Corporate Services to Regulated Industry Route | Corporate Services Provider → iGaming/Fintech/Financial Services Finance | CSP experience builds strong compliance and reporting skills suited for regulated sectors. |
| FP&A & Data-Driven Finance Route | Accounting / Reporting → FP&A / Data & Reporting / Commercial Finance | Growing demand for professionals skilled in analysing performance, forecasting, and supporting business decisions. |
The 2025 Skills Gap: What Employers Value
To move your career forward, you need to know what employers value most.
The Big Picture: A Shortage of Skills
The skills gap is the single biggest worry for European business leaders. PwC found that the majority of CFOs rate hiring people with the right skills as their top priority. Our advice is to develop in-demand skills and you will become a valuable asset in finance.
Skills to Strengthen Your Finance Career Path
The most in-demand capabilities fall into two categories: technical expertise and commercial skills.
| Skill Category | In-Demand Skills | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Skills | Digital & AI Literacy | Generative AI is reshaping finance work. Understanding automation, data tools, and AI will soon be essential for every finance role. |
| Technical Skills | Data Analysis & Visualisation | Knowing how to use tools like Python, R, Power BI, or Tableau to turn data into insight gives you a clear advantage. |
| Technical Skills | ESG & Sustainability | With CSRD, expertise in environmental auditing, sustainability reporting, and non-financial assurance is in high demand. |
| Commercial & Advisory Skills | Communication & Influence | You must be able to tell the story behind the numbers and guide decision-making. |
| Commercial & Advisory Skills | Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving | As automation takes over routine work, complex problem-solving and sound judgement are becoming the key human differentiators. |
| Commercial & Advisory Skills | Business Acumen & Partnering | Employers want finance professionals who understand how the business operates and can help teams make smarter commercial decisions. |
Focus on Malta: What's in Demand Locally
These European trends are visible across Malta too, with employers seeking professionals who combine strong fundamentals with modern skills.
- Top Foundational Skill: ACCA certification and the University of Malta Accountancy degree remain among the most valued qualifications.
- In-Demand Technical Skills: Financial modelling, tax, audit, and regulatory reporting for industries where it applies.
- Top Modern Skill: Finance Business Partnering is in especially high demand, showing the shift towards advisory and strategic finance roles.
- Essential Soft Skills: Communication, business understanding, leadership skills and problem-solving consistently rank as priorities for Maltese employers.
How to Advance in Your Finance Career
Knowing which skills you need is one thing; building them is another. And the best way to learn is through experience.
Learn by Doing: Projects are Your Best Training Ground
You don’t learn to be a strategic partner from a textbook. Real progress happens on projects that cut across functions - implementing a new system, integrating an acquisition, or developing ESG reporting from scratch. These projects build technical fluency, commercial understanding, and problem-solving skills that set you apart.
Build Influence Through Real Experience
Joining projects beyond your usual remit, such as modelling profitability for a new product, forces collaboration with sales, marketing, and operations. You learn their priorities and practise turning financial data into clear commercial stories. This is how you build influence, communication, and credibility, the traits that define a Business Partner and future CFO.
In a market as connected as Malta, reputation matters: maintain strong relationships, avoid burning bridges when changing roles, and build a track record of professionalism and trust.
Your Blueprint for Success
Let's pull this all together into a clear, actionable plan.
Your Blueprint for Success: The 2026 Finance Professional’s Action Plan
This table summarizes the key intelligence and what it means for you.
| Key Insight | The Bottom Line for Your Career | Your Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| The Skills Gap | Developing the right skills directly addresses employers’ biggest concern. | Assess yourself against in-demand skills (ESG, data, partnering) and plan structured upskilling. |
| ESG & Data | Ignoring ESG and data might limit your career growth. | Take on a project or lateral role in sustainability reporting or data analytics. |
| Advisory Skills | Technical ability gets you noticed; influence gets you promoted. | Volunteer to present results to non-finance teams and seek feedback on clarity and impact. |
| Leaders Hire for Transformation | Employers look for evidence of change and results, not just duties. | For each CV point, add a measurable impact or transformation achieved. |
| AI | AI literacy is now essential. | Take an introductory course on AI in finance and pilot a GenAI tool in your current role. |
Your finance career path is no longer a straight ladder, it’s a network of choices shaped by the experiences you pursue. The most successful professionals don’t wait for promotions; they build direction through hands-on exposure to areas like ESG, data transformation, business partnering, and strategic planning. These experiences don’t just add to your CV but also define your relevance in the future of finance.
That’s where Konnekt comes in.
Konnekt helps you find finance roles built for the next generation of leaders. We work with you to align your goals with opportunities that matter, so your next move isn’t just another job, but a meaningful step in your finance career.
Author: Anthea Galea, a Recruitment Team Lead at Konnekt, is an experienced professional with six years in Finance, Legal and Technology recruitment, dedicated to creating meaningful impact for both clients and candidates.