A Guide to Accounting Careers
Forget everything you thought you knew about accountants. From using AI and cloud computing to solve real business problems, today's accounting is dynamic, innovative, and high-paying.
It can be a tough field to get into, but that’s where we come in. How? Through work experience. By gaining practical skills and industry contacts, you’ll count coins at one of the world’s largest firms in no time.
Want to know more? Read on for our full guide to accounting careers filled with an inside look into what accounting is, all the types of work experience you can do and how to ace your applications.
What is accounting?
Accounting is how businesses record, organise, and summarise transactions. It helps give an overview of a company’s financial health so that a business can assess whether changes need to be made and how it can grow.
Accountants are the ones who make the above happen. Besides giving an overview of finances, accounting is super important for several reasons:
Decision Making. Accountants help businesses make smart choices about where to spend money and how to grow.
Tax Time. They make sure businesses pay the right amount of tax to avoid trouble with the taxman.
Investor Confidence. Good accounting records show investors that a business is trustworthy and profitable.
Risk Management. Accountants help businesses identify potential problems and plan for the future.
All companies or businesses need someone to look after their finances, so a career in accounting has longevity, great job progression and offers different pathways to specialise in.
What types of accounting are there?
There is a lot to being an accountant; while there are loads of different types, accounting can be split into four main areas.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
Financial accountants create reports on a company's financial health. These reports, like income statements and balance sheets, help investors, lenders, and the government make informed decisions.
MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING
Managerial accountants analyse a company's financial performance to help make strategic decisions. They create internal reports to identify problems, set goals, and allocate resources.
COST ACCOUNTING
Cost accountants track a company's expenses to determine the cost of producing goods or services. This helps businesses identify profitable and unprofitable products or services.
TAX ACCOUNTING
You’ll take care of a business's taxes by keeping track of its spending and income, making sure that the company doesn’t end up owing HMRC any money.
Now that you know what accounting involves, let's explore how you can get valuable hands-on experience to help you jumpstart your career journey.
How do I get work experience in accounting?
If a career in accounting is your bag, you’re in luck! There are so many work experience opportunities for you to get stuck into.
Whether you’re a school leaver or getting ready for your placement year, there’s an avenue into accounting with your name on it.
Click below to find out more about each one.
Accounting Apprenticeships
If you're interested in a rewarding career after leaving school, an accounting apprenticeship could be just the path you’re looking for.
Accounting Degree Apprenticeships
An accounting degree apprenticeship lets you become an accountant without going to university
Accounting Graduate Schemes
A guide to accounting graduate schemes and how to secure one. Find out when to apply, which firms you could work for and how to become chartered
Accounting Internships
If you’re in your first or second year of university, an accounting internship will give you the experience you need.
Accounting Placements
Thinking about becoming an accountant? If you’re in your first or second year of university, an accounting placement is exactly what you need. Placements are your golden ticket to becoming work-ready before you graduate.
Actuarial Consulting
Find out what actuarial consulting is and how you can land a role - including through internships, apprenticeships and graduate schemes
Which employers could I work for?
If you’ve ever wanted to find out which companies to work for in the role of accounting, look no further. Below are a handful of employers we work with that offer accounting work experience for university students and school leavers, including apprenticeships, internships, placement years and graduate schemes.
What can I do with my accounting work experience?
So what’s next after you’ve mastered those awesome skills and had real-world experiences? What does a future in accounting look like?
You can level up your skills with more training or dive straight into an exciting career, the opportunities are limitless.
You’ve already had a thorough experience of the working world, and luckily for you, there are loads of jobs and pathways to get stuck into. Here are some examples:
Actuary
Charted Accountant
Data Analyst
External Auditor
Internal Auditor
Forensic Accountant
Tax Advisor
Here's what a student told us about their work experience with Nationwide:
I enjoyed my accountancy placement year a lot, I had a lot of opportunities to develop my skills. I have developed many new skills such as communication and interpersonal skills, time management, teamwork and collaboration, problem-solving, analytical thinking, Excel proficiency, financial analysis and compliance with regulatory standards. Assistant Accountant, Nationwide
Find Accounting Jobs
Sold? We have many accounting jobs available right now. Get started below.
Graduate Chartered Accountant Trainee (ACA Qualification)
at ICAEW
- Graduate Job
- Competitive
- Greater London
ICAEW Accounting Technician Apprenticeship (Level 4 in Accountancy)
at ICAEW
- Higher Level Apprenticeship
- Competitive
- Nationwide
ICAEW Accountancy Professional Apprenticeship (Level 7 in Accountancy)
at ICAEW
- Degree Apprenticeship
- Competitive
- Nationwide
Graduate Chartered Accountant Trainee (ACA Qualification)
at ICAEW
- Graduate Job
- Competitive
- Greater London
Register Your Interest - Accounting Controls Placement
at Volkswagen Financial Services
- Placement (10 Months+)
- £22,900
- Milton Keynes
