Accounting & Finance
Accounting is a flexible and varied career with clear paths for progression, offering roles in both practice and industry.
Accounting
Area
Detail
GCSEs
Maths & English GCSE pass
A Levels
Maths preferably (pass)
Alternative Pathway
N/A can pursue career through AAT apprenticeship
Helpful Degree(s)
Those related to accounting and or Finance, business studies might be ok too
Post-graduate Courses
Those accreditations listed above
Day to day tasks
Balance sheet reconciliation, Analysis of organisation financial health, invoice processing and maintenance of fixed assets in the company
Hours
Generally on a 9-5 basis. Hours can be flexible, but that is dependent on the company you work for and its industry/corporate culture.
Salary
After graduating, you can expect to earn between £25k-£35k. Once you have passed your exams, this can go over £45k, and after 3 years of completing your exams, you can be expected to earn over £60K
Career progression
Linked with the time in your current role and the exams you have passed. Once you have passed your professional exams, you will be able to climb up into more senior roles.
Respected Companies
If you pursue the ACA route, you could work for one of the Big 4 Audit firms: KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, and EY. With ACCA, you can find a role in most Blue chip companies, as they all require a finance/accounts team, and this is the same with the CIMA qualification.
Qualification Focus
ACCA is for more general and global accounting practices. ACA is mainly linked with auditing. CIMA is more for management accounting - more business related.
AI
Plays a big role in the future of accounting to aid in the processing of big data that we use to evaluate the organisation’s financial health and decision-making.
Other Info
You don't have to be good at maths to be successful in accounting, but it does help.
Management Accounting/Finance Business Partnering
Area
Detail
Pathway
Flexible. Can go into the career after GCSE, A level, or Uni. Straight into a job after Uni vs. an apprenticeship after GCSE are all valid options.
GCSE grades
C equivalent+
A level grades
Enough for specific apprenticeship/Uni
Degree
Nice to have, not a must. Can avoid and work your way up.
Which degree
Varied. A degree is more so proof you can learn; the actual choice is less important.
Accreditation
Chartered accounting is the gold standard (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
Courses
As above. Data analytics is important too, and courses in this can help a lot with more complex finance analysis.
Passive income
Absolutely. E.g., consulting. Alternatively, if you are a traditional accountant, you can do tax, audit, or financial accounting advice.
Day to day
Month-end close - journals, accounting treatment for transactions, P&L. Balance sheet - asset and liability review. Forecasting and budgeting - working on the annual budget.
Hours
Certain periods of the month/year are busier than others. Can get stressful at peak
Salary
For a management accountant, £50k-£60k. For a manager, £70k+.
Free time
All in balance. Some people can overwhelm themselves and work long hours. The question, “Is this task worth the time it will take me?” needs to be asked.
Self employed
Most management accountants work in industry
Autonomy
Yes, given lots of independence
Career progression
Assistant - analyst - accountant - manager - director. Clear progression.
Respected companies
Getting experience in practice first is sought after, e.g., Big 4
AI
Big data is the big one we’re seeing at the moment.
Accounting & Finance
Accounting is a flexible and varied career with clear paths for progression, offering roles in both practice and industry.
Accounting
Area
Detail
GCSEs
Maths & English GCSE pass
A Levels
Maths preferably (pass)
Alternative Pathway
N/A can pursue career through AAT apprenticeship
Helpful Degree(s)
Those related to accounting and or Finance, business studies might be ok too
Post-graduate Courses
Those accreditations listed above
Day to day tasks
Balance sheet reconciliation, Analysis of organisation financial health, invoice processing and maintenance of fixed assets in the company
Hours
Generally on a 9-5 basis. Hours can be flexible, but that is dependent on the company you work for and its industry/corporate culture.
Salary
After graduating, you can expect to earn between £25k-£35k. Once you have passed your exams, this can go over £45k, and after 3 years of completing your exams, you can be expected to earn over £60K
Career progression
Linked with the time in your current role and the exams you have passed. Once you have passed your professional exams, you will be able to climb up into more senior roles.
Respected Companies
If you pursue the ACA route, you could work for one of the Big 4 Audit firms: KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, and EY. With ACCA, you can find a role in most Blue chip companies, as they all require a finance/accounts team, and this is the same with the CIMA qualification.
Qualification Focus
ACCA is for more general and global accounting practices. ACA is mainly linked with auditing. CIMA is more for management accounting - more business related.
AI
Plays a big role in the future of accounting to aid in the processing of big data that we use to evaluate the organisation’s financial health and decision-making.
Other Info
You don't have to be good at maths to be successful in accounting, but it does help.
Management Accounting/Finance Business Partnering
Area
Detail
Pathway
Flexible. Can go into the career after GCSE, A level, or Uni. Straight into a job after Uni vs. an apprenticeship after GCSE are all valid options.
GCSE grades
C equivalent+
A level grades
Enough for specific apprenticeship/Uni
Degree
Nice to have, not a must. Can avoid and work your way up.
Which degree
Varied. A degree is more so proof you can learn; the actual choice is less important.
Accreditation
Chartered accounting is the gold standard (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
Courses
As above. Data analytics is important too, and courses in this can help a lot with more complex finance analysis.
Passive income
Absolutely. E.g., consulting. Alternatively, if you are a traditional accountant, you can do tax, audit, or financial accounting advice.
Day to day
Month-end close - journals, accounting treatment for transactions, P&L. Balance sheet - asset and liability review. Forecasting and budgeting - working on the annual budget.
Hours
Certain periods of the month/year are busier than others. Can get stressful at peak
Salary
For a management accountant, £50k-£60k. For a manager, £70k+.
Free time
All in balance. Some people can overwhelm themselves and work long hours. The question, “Is this task worth the time it will take me?” needs to be asked.
Self employed
Most management accountants work in industry
Autonomy
Yes, given lots of independence
Career progression
Assistant - analyst - accountant - manager - director. Clear progression.
Respected companies
Getting experience in practice first is sought after, e.g., Big 4
AI
Big data is the big one we’re seeing at the moment.
Accounting & Finance
Accounting is a flexible and varied career with clear paths for progression, offering roles in both practice and industry.
Accounting
Area
Detail
GCSEs
Maths & English GCSE pass
A Levels
Maths preferably (pass)
Alternative Pathway
N/A can pursue career through AAT apprenticeship
Helpful Degree(s)
Those related to accounting and or Finance, business studies might be ok too
Post-graduate Courses
Those accreditations listed above
Day to day tasks
Balance sheet reconciliation, Analysis of organisation financial health, invoice processing and maintenance of fixed assets in the company
Hours
Generally on a 9-5 basis. Hours can be flexible, but that is dependent on the company you work for and its industry/corporate culture.
Salary
After graduating, you can expect to earn between £25k-£35k. Once you have passed your exams, this can go over £45k, and after 3 years of completing your exams, you can be expected to earn over £60K
Career progression
Linked with the time in your current role and the exams you have passed. Once you have passed your professional exams, you will be able to climb up into more senior roles.
Respected Companies
If you pursue the ACA route, you could work for one of the Big 4 Audit firms: KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, and EY. With ACCA, you can find a role in most Blue chip companies, as they all require a finance/accounts team, and this is the same with the CIMA qualification.
Qualification Focus
ACCA is for more general and global accounting practices. ACA is mainly linked with auditing. CIMA is more for management accounting - more business related.
AI
Plays a big role in the future of accounting to aid in the processing of big data that we use to evaluate the organisation’s financial health and decision-making.
Other Info
You don't have to be good at maths to be successful in accounting, but it does help.
Management Accounting/Finance Business Partnering
Area
Detail
Pathway
Flexible. Can go into the career after GCSE, A level, or Uni. Straight into a job after Uni vs. an apprenticeship after GCSE are all valid options.
GCSE grades
C equivalent+
A level grades
Enough for specific apprenticeship/Uni
Degree
Nice to have, not a must. Can avoid and work your way up.
Which degree
Varied. A degree is more so proof you can learn; the actual choice is less important.
Accreditation
Chartered accounting is the gold standard (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
Courses
As above. Data analytics is important too, and courses in this can help a lot with more complex finance analysis.
Passive income
Absolutely. E.g., consulting. Alternatively, if you are a traditional accountant, you can do tax, audit, or financial accounting advice.
Day to day
Month-end close - journals, accounting treatment for transactions, P&L. Balance sheet - asset and liability review. Forecasting and budgeting - working on the annual budget.
Hours
Certain periods of the month/year are busier than others. Can get stressful at peak
Salary
For a management accountant, £50k-£60k. For a manager, £70k+.
Free time
All in balance. Some people can overwhelm themselves and work long hours. The question, “Is this task worth the time it will take me?” needs to be asked.
Self employed
Most management accountants work in industry
Autonomy
Yes, given lots of independence
Career progression
Assistant - analyst - accountant - manager - director. Clear progression.
Respected companies
Getting experience in practice first is sought after, e.g., Big 4
AI
Big data is the big one we’re seeing at the moment.