A Chartered Accountant is a Financial professional that provides guidance and services relating to issues of Tax, Payroll, Auditing and Risk Analysis. Hired by international firms and SMEs alike, the recruitment of Accountants is diverse and an agency may place Accountancy staff into businesses ranging from Private Finance firms to Government organisations.
Due to the skills and qualifications expected of job seekers, recruitment agencies that take on Accountants tend to be specialist Financial employment firms. Despite this, many multi-sector recruiters will also fill Accountancy jobs. London and the southeast has the highest demand for Accountants, however candidates will also find employment in major cities including Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Newcastle. The sector is therefore served by nationwide agencies, as well as local recruiters.
Job overview, qualifications and salaries
The job is typically office based and entails tasks such as preparing accounts, financial forecasting and controlling budgets. Entry into the field is competitive, and a degree or HND is generally required before candidates can pursue Chartered status. Institutions may also accept those with an Association of Accounting Technicians qualification (AAT), which does not require a degree. An Accounting course is needed to become a Chartered Accountant, and this is overseen by three recognised bodies in the UK. These are the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Scotland (ICAS) and Chartered Accountant Ireland. Work experience is also needed. Starting salaries for graduates is around £25,000, with average earnings for Chartered staff, with a few years of experience, is in excess of £47,000.
Key employers
Accountant jobs are available in all business types including those in Industry, Commerce and the Public Sector. Some of the largest employers in the UK have well renowned Accountant graduate schemes, such as PwC, Deloitte and KPMG. Vacancies are often at their highest at the end / beginning of the financial year, meaning that recruitment agencies may be required to find professionals for contract or temporary positions.