10 reasons why you should become an Accountant

Have you ever thought are becoming an Accountant, but feel unsure when it comes to what a career in finance can offer? We regularly advise candidates of all levels on the best job roles for them. Here we have outlined the top reasons why so many of our candidates choose to pursue careers in accounting.

Whether you are a newly qualified Accountant, have just finished your accounting degree and are unsure where to go next or are simply at a crossroads with your career, we may have some answers for you. 

Today the finance and accountancy sector is huge, and accountancy specifically is an integral part of most businesses across the globe. Despite the size of the sector feeling quite daunting, we are constantly on the lookout for high-calibre Accountants to take key accounting jobs across the UK. 

In this blog we will take a look at how to become an Accountant, what we believe to be the top benefits of becoming an Accountant, and why people should really consider becoming an Accountant. 

How to become an Accountant? 

Before we move on to the benefits of becoming an Accountant, it would be helpful to know how you can become an Accountant. Becoming an Accountant involves a combination of education, certification, and practical experience. The first step to becoming an Accountant is to obtain the necessary educational qualifications. Sometimes, aspiring Accountants go to university to get a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field such as finance or business administration. 

These often cover fundamental topics like financial accounting, managerial accounting, tax, audit, and financial management. However, having a degree is desirable rather than essential.

There are alternative routes that you can go down such as obtaining numerous qualifications including the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) before progressing to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA), or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualifications.

While education is crucial, gaining practical experience is equally important. Internships and entry-level positions in accounting firms or corporate finance departments can provide invaluable hands-on experience. These roles help you apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, understand the intricacies of financial reporting, and develop essential skills.

Networking is a vital aspect of building a successful accounting career. Connecting with other professionals in the field can lead to job opportunities, mentorship, and valuable industry knowledge. Attend industry conferences, join professional organisations, and participate in online forums to expand your professional network.

How long does it take to become an Accountant?

The journey to becoming an accountant typically takes between three and six years, depending on your career goals and the educational path you take. For example, if you go to university first, you will then have to gain practical work experience which can be accomplished through training contracts at the same time as obtaining your professional qualifications.  

Top reasons to become an Accountant

1. Excellent development and career prospects: you will get out what you put in while working in finance. If you are career driven, hardworking and focused the world really is your oyster. The training on offer and the opportunities to learn new accounting skills and develop both personally and professionally in this sector are second to none and hard work always pays off.
   
   
2. A better than average salary: Accountants can work in high-pressure environments, and the salary often reflects this. Accountants in the UK can earn anything from £25,000 as a graduate entering the profession to over £100,000 as an experienced Chartered Accountant. There are also opportunities to earn upwards of £500 per day as an interim contractor, making it a very well-paid profession for candidates that are willing to work hard. To find a job with a better salary today, head to our jobs page!
   
   
3. Job security: businesses will always need Accountants and accounting knowledge, so overall this is a very stable industry to work in, and while no field can guarantee anyone a job, the prospects in accounting are excellent and are likely to stay that way.
   
   
4. Variety: as an Accountant, you will be able to work in almost any industry, so the variety and choice within the role is excellent. You will also work with a range of people across the business you are in, giving the role variety and making each day different and interesting.
   
   
5. A number of career options: you will be able to enjoy access to a vast number of different accounting careers, including those on a permanent, contract and interim basis. This gives candidates in the finance and accountancy sector a much greater chance of securing work, and if you are flexible with what you want you will likely be able to secure a role with relative ease. Roles that you could get into include audit, reporting, business partnering, and commercial and analysis.
   
   
6. Ability to make real change: today’s finance professionals do much more than just crunch numbers. Accountants are often required to have technical abilities coupled with a commercial acumen that enables them to advise decision makers on strategy and business processes. This makes the role of an Accountant incredibly varied, challenging and often very exciting.
   
   
7. Technology and the ever changing environment: technology is changing the way finance leaders run their teams and how they conduct business. As a result, more finance leaders are investing in digitisation of the finance function, opening up opportunities to gain efficiencies and analyse trends. This again means varied accounting careers for professionals who are tech-savvy have the opportunity to excel, and trained Accountants will be at the forefront of exciting business change.
   
   
8. You will gain transferable skills: the accounting skills you will learn and develop are easily transferable to other roles and even sectors. For example, Accountants could go into teaching, trading, or recruiting, so if you ever want a change of scenery you will have plenty of other options to choose from. Many Accountants also become business leaders in their own right, securing Managing Director roles and setting up their own businesses.
   
   
9. You have the option to travel: with qualifications like CIMA, ACA and ACCA, you can work in more than 120 countries. Giving you the ability to travel with work and pleasure. This is especially advantageous as you might end up working with a big firm with multiple offices in different countries.
   
   
10. No need for a university education: you don’t need an accounting degree to become an Accountant. Having an accountancy degree can enable you to skip a few exams on the way to full qualification, but generally it will not matter whether or not you have been to university.

We believe becoming an Accountant is a clever career move for anyone that is ambitious and focused. There have been so many candidates progress through the ranks relatively quickly within finance. It is a sector that is constantly growing, and the role of an Accountant will always be needed.

Your options

As a Chartered Accountant you have a huge array of career opportunities available as soon as you have passed your exams and throughout your career. Qualified finance professionals have a number of options that range from working in practice firms as an auditor or within transactional services, to working for in-house roles within The Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Listed Businesses as a Financial Accountant or a Financial Analyst to name a few.

With so much choice on the market, it is important to know what your options are, especially for newly qualified accountants.

Generally, the majority of ACA candidates will have studied within a practice firm, so as a newly qualified ACA you will be faced with the decision of staying within practice or moving over to industry.

Chartered Accountants within practice will generally have a clear progression path with structured training and development throughout their career.

On the other hand, industry gives candidates direct access to large blue chip organisations, private equity firms and FTSE 100 businesses, which can be appealing to many newly qualified ACA candidates.

There is no set progression or development structure within industry, which means Chartered Accountants have the opportunity to progress very quickly. On the flip side, there is also a higher chance for a career to stagnate for candidates that do not put the work in.

Regardless of which route you choose to take, it's always important to remember that you can change your mind if you need to but try to come to this decision sooner rather than later. In our experience, the longer you stay in either practice or industry, the harder it is to move out and the more limited your career options will be.

Talk to your Recruitment Consultant about your career options and try not to solely rely on them as a means to finding a new job. Most recruiters will be experts in their field and will have unrivalled market knowledge when it comes to career opportunities, so keeping in touch with them and asking for advice will be hugely beneficial.

Recruiters can help you with everything from developing your online brand and interview preparation right through to advice on career paths, the training and development you should be receiving and average salaries.

What next?

Get in touch with one of our expert Finance & Accountancy Consultants today and they will be more than happy to offer you tailored advice. From answering the top questions recently qualified candidates regularly ask us, to offering advice on the best career option for you, our team of experts will be more than happy to help.

At Sellick Partnership we have a wealth of experience dealing with chartered accountants at various stages in their career, from recently qualified ACA/ICAS candidates right through to Financial Controllers, Finance Directors and Managing Directors. Our portfolio of clients ranges from SMEs and start-ups to blue-chip and FTSE 100 companies.

If you are interested in hearing about our latest accountancy jobs, or want to be kept up-to-date on what is going on in the finance & accountancy jobs market, feel free to sign up to our tailored job alerts today.