Job description
A job description sets out the purpose, main duties, responsibilities and reporting relationships of a role. It helps employees and managers understand expectations and supports recruitment, work allocation and performance review. It should reflect the actual role and be reviewed when responsibilities change. A person specification separately describes the knowledge, skills, experience and other relevant attributes required of a suitable candidate.
Worked example
A job description for a payables clerk includes processing approved invoices, reconciling supplier statements and reporting exceptions to the supervisor. The associated person specification asks for relevant system skills and attention to detail.
Common mistake
Do not merge the role’s responsibilities with every desired attribute of the candidate or assume an outdated description accurately defines current work.
Where it appears in your exams
| Qualification | Exam | Relationship | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA | BT | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |
| FIA | FBT | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |