Building a career in accountancy

People come to accountancy from school, from college, from university and from other jobs. A qualified accounting technician can find work in every part of the economy, public and private. This page sets out the main kinds of accountancy job in the UK, the routes in and the bodies that train and qualify accountants.

The kinds of accountancy job

Accounting technicians process invoices, record payments, prepare monthly accounts and work out VAT returns and National Insurance contributions.
Private practice accountants work for a firm that serves clients. With experience, some specialise in audit or forensic accounting. Others become managers and then partners.
Management accountants work inside a business. They monitor budgets, analyse performance and plan future spending. Some go on to become finance directors.
Public finance accountants train on graduate schemes with central and local government, the NHS, housing associations, charities and police authorities.
Tax advisers can specialise in areas such as VAT, inheritance tax or corporation tax.

Starting with an apprenticeship

An apprentice is an employee who earns a wage and gets holiday pay. At least 20% of their normal working hours go on training and study. Anyone aged 16 or over and not in full-time education can start one, including people who already have a degree.

Accountancy apprenticeships start with Accounts or Finance Assistant at Level 2 and Assistant Accountant at Level 3. Professional Accounting or Taxation Technician is a Level 4 apprenticeship. Accountancy and Taxation Professional is at Level 7. An advanced apprenticeship usually asks for five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English and maths. In England you search and apply through the Find an apprenticeship service. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own.

Starting after a degree

Graduates of any subject can join a graduate training scheme and work towards a professional qualification. An accountancy-related degree may give exemptions from some exams. Insight days, internships, holiday schemes and year-in-industry placements give students a feel for the work and useful contacts.

Starting in a job

Some people begin as an accounts clerk, a bookkeeper or an administrator in an accounts or payroll team. They then train while they work. Experience with accounting software and spreadsheets helps when applying. Bookkeepers can go on to become accounting technicians and later qualified accountants.

The professional bodies

Most accountants qualify through a professional body. The ICAEW's ACA combines technical learning, practical experience and professional skills. ACCA's qualification combines exams, ethics and three years' professional experience. CIMA trains management accountants. AAT trains accounting technicians. ICAS, AIA and CIPFA also train and qualify accountants. Tax specialists can take the Chartered Tax Adviser qualification with the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Each body sets its own entry requirements. People who already hold accounting or business qualifications may qualify faster, so it helps to ask each body directly.

Audit work

An external auditor needs to be a qualified chartered accountant and a member of ACCA, ICAEW, AIA or ICAS. Public sector audit calls for CIPFA membership. Qualified CIMA accountants can carry out internal audits. There are also Internal Audit Technician (Level 4) and Internal Audit Professional (Level 7) apprenticeships.