How to become an accountant

Accountancy continues to be viewed as a stable career and one which is considered to be very diverse. For example you can choose to either be an employee or self-employed, work in a large firm or a small firm and you can choose to specialise in taxation, corporate finance, management accounting, audit or one of many other possible areas. The path into accountancy is one that many have followed and accountancy remains a lucrative profession.

There are many entry levels into accountancy and these include as an apprentice, a school leaver or as a university graduate.  Others decide to change careers and make a move into accountancy. The door to an accountancy career is never closed.

If you have decided that a career in accountancy is for you, it is important to research the best route for you as these can vary significantly. Available routes can include putting yourself through an accountancy course to obtain a qualification which may be looked upon favourably by a firm of accountants, for example AAT. Obtaining a degree will add a further level to a CV while simply applying for a job at a local firm of accountants can bring good results. Lists of accountants can be found on accountancy body websites for example the ICAEW.

Once the job is yours, you can begin climbing the career ladder and this can be aided by obtaining further qualifications to help you succeed in your new career. Other qualifications to channel your energy can include becoming a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW or a Chartered Certified Accountant with the ACCA.

Chris Morey, Senior Manager – Blog Author

Any views or opinions represented in this blog are personal, belong solely to the blog owner and do not represent those of Plus Accounting. All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

See how we can help you...

We believe in being involved with the local business community and that is why we network extensively, host regular business seminars, write blogs and have many trusted, professional contacts