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How to become an Accountant

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Career progression and salary expectations for an Accountant

Accountant

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Finance Manager

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Finance Director

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The role of an Accountant

What does an Accountant do?

An Accountant’s main role is to prepare a business’ accounts, which can then be used to give an overview of their financial status. By tracking all of a company’s financial transactions, any irregularities or risks can be reported, and the business can plan better moving forward.

Although specific responsibilities vary from industry to industry, the role of an Accountant will usually include the following:

Tracking and examining company income and expenditure
Running payroll, and conducting audits
Identifying and investigating financial risks or irregularities (including losses or suspected fraud)
Giving advice on budgeting and making recommendations on how to increase profit
Calculating tax owed and filing tax returns

Is a career as an Accountant right for me?

The success of an Accountant is heavily dependent on their numerical ability. You will need to have a passion for mathematics, and a close attention to detail. You will also be able to work well under pressure, especially when approaching financial deadlines.

Other key skills and attributes include:

Excellent analytical skills
Financial acumen
Good organisational skills
A natural flair for problem-solving
An excellent understanding of accounting principles

What's it like to be an Accountant?

"I always excelled at Maths at school, so I knew that I wanted to go into a career that was numbers-based. The best thing about being an Accountant is the respect the position comes with. Your decisions and recommendations are extremely important to the business, and I feel like my job is a vital part of the process."

Get qualified as an Accountant

The most common way to become an Accountant involves pursuing professional qualifications from recognised accounting bodies, such as the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

Each of these accounting bodies provides a structured pathway to becoming a qualified Accountant, with qualifications tailored to different career aspirations and levels of experience. This means that you can choose the route that best aligns with your career goals and interests, whether that involves pursuing a global qualification like ACCA or ICAEW, specialising in management accounting through CIMA, or starting with entry-level qualifications offered by AAT.

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