Although Leicestershire has a below average number of workers employed in professional occupations, there are still plenty of jobs for accounting and finance workers. The area has both a strong practice sector and a selection of head offices for major companies, all of which need qualified staff.
Two of the Big Four, PwC and KPMG, have offices in the county, where they use both graduate trainees and ACA or CTA qualified professionals for audit, tax and business recovery work. A number of other major accountancy firms, including BDO, Grant Thornton, RSM Tenon and MHA MacIntyre Hudson, have Leicestershire offices.
There are lots of employment opportunities for CIMA, ACA and AAT qualified and part-qualified staff, as the finance functions of large businesses such as Centrica, Next, Dunelm Mill and Sytner Group are located in Leicestershire. The area's major corporations and smaller firms also require experienced payroll, credit control and bookkeeping staff.
Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and local NHS trusts and housing associations all need CIPFA qualified accountants and finance staff with experience in the public sector.
Finance recruitment agencies in Leicestershire largely deal with permanent jobs, although they can supply qualified temporary and interim staff at all levels. Salaries are slightly below the national average, with assistant accountants paid from £21,000 to £28,000 a year and credit controllers earning £15,000 to £19,000.