How to Become an Accountant

What Is Accounting?

Accounting is the process of recording, analysing, and interpreting financial information. In practice, that means tracking what a company earns and spends, preparing reports that show the business's health, and securing compliance with tax laws and regulations. Day-to-day, you might be reconciling bank statements, preparing management reports, forecasting budgets, or advising a client on how to structure a transaction. The tools have changed: spreadsheets, cloud software, and increasingly AI, but the core job remains the same. Turning raw financial data into something useful. It is detail-heavy work, and mistakes can be costly. But when you catch an error that would have cost thousands, or help a business understand why profits are down, that is when the job feels worthwhile.

Why Does Accounting Matter?

Businesses cannot operate without correct financial information. Shareholders need to know if their investment is growing. Banks need to assess risk before lending. Tax authorities need to collect what they are owed. Accountants sit at the centre of all of this. They convert complex transactions into reports that people can actually use. Beyond compliance, good accountants help businesses spot opportunities and avoid disasters. They are often the first to notice when cash flow is tightening or when a department is overspending. In a situation where companies are drowning in data, accountants are the ones who make sense of the numbers that actually matter.

Is Accounting a Good Career?

Accounting is one of those careers that quietly offers a lot: stability, decent pay, and options. Here’s what makes it worth thinking about.

• Constant demand. Every company, from startups to multinationals, needs financial control. Tax laws vary, regulations change, and someone has to keep up. Accountants are not disappearing. The profession has weathered recessions better than most because the work is essential, not optional.
• Competitive salaries. In the UK, junior positions typically start around £22,500 to £37,000. Once you qualify as a chartered accountant, that jumps to £55,000 or more within a couple of years. Senior roles in sectors such as finance, legal, or consulting can reach £70,000 to £75,000 or more. London pays a premium, but regional roles are catching up.
• Work in any industry. Healthcare, tech, entertainment, government, charity; accountants are needed everywhere. If you’re ready to change sectors, you can move to another without starting over. That kind of flexibility is rare.
• Clear progression. The path is well-defined: trainee to qualified accountant, to senior accountant, to finance manager, to financial controller, to CFO. Or you can branch into consulting, audit, tax advisory, or even start your own practice. The qualifications open doors across the profession.
• Remote and hybrid options. Much of accounting work is done on a computer: reviewing documents, preparing reports, and communicating with clients. The pandemic proved that most of it can be done remotely. Hybrid arrangements are now standard at many firms, and completely remote roles exist, especially in bookkeeping and management accounting.

How Do I Become an Accountant? A Step-by-Step Guide

You don’t need a degree to become an accountant in the UK, though it helps move things faster. The important thing is getting the right qualifications and real work experience.

1. 1
   Get to know the landscape. Accounting in the UK is regulated by multiple professional bodies, each having its own qualifications and specialisms. The main ones are AAT for core skills, ACCA and ICAEW (ACA) for chartered accountant status, CIMA for management accounting, and CIPFA for public sector finance. Before starting, spend some time understanding which route best fits your goals. Do you want to work in public practice, industry, or government? Tax, audit, or advisory? The answers will decide which qualifications make sense.
2. 2
   Start with AAT if you’re new to finance. The qualification from the Association of Accounting Technicians is where to begin, especially if you don’t have a degree. There are no formal entry requirements for the foundation level, and you work your way up through three levels: Foundation, Advanced, and Professional. The full qualification usually takes around 2 to 3 years, though you can finish faster if you push. It covers bookkeeping, spreadsheets, tax, and management accounting. With AAT, you can work as an accounts assistant, bookkeeper, or payroll administrator while you decide whether to pursue chartered status.
3. 3
   Choose your chartered route. To become a chartered accountant, you will need to complete one of the major professional qualifications. ACCA is globally recognised and flexible (you can study while working) and entry requirements are relatively accessible (GCSEs and A-levels, or equivalent). ACA through ICAEW is prestigious in the UK, particularly for audit and public practice, but it typically requires a training contract with an employer. CIMA focuses on management accounting and is ideal if you want to work in industry rather than practice. Each takes three to five years to complete, combining exams with practical experience.
4. 4
   Decide on your area of expertise. Accounting splits into several paths, and it helps if you have a direction in mind. Financial accounting focuses on external: preparing statements for shareholders, regulators, and tax authorities. Management accounting is internal: budgets, forecasts, and decision support for managers. Tax accounting deals with compliance and planning; making sure clients pay what they owe, not more. An audit consists of examining company records to verify their accuracy. Forensic accounting investigates fraud and financial crime. You don’t need to decide immediately, but knowing the options helps you choose the right qualification and employer.
5. 5
   Get practical experience. All the major qualifications require practical work experience, which is typically three years for chartered status. This can come through a graduate scheme at a Big Four firm (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG), a training contract at a mid-tier or small practice, or an apprenticeship that combines work and study. If you are already working, many employers will sponsor your qualifications. Industry roles in finance teams also count, though practice experience is commonly preferred for audit and tax careers. The experience requirement isn't just a box to tick; it is where you actually learn how to do the job.
6. 6
   Consider apprenticeships. If university is not for you, apprenticeships offer a genuine alternative. You earn a salary while studying, and your employer covers the costs of your qualification. Accounting apprenticeships range from Level 2 (accounts assistant) to Level 7 (chartered accountant). The major firms and many mid-sized practices provide structured programmes. It takes longer than the graduate route (four to five years for full chartered status) but you graduate debt-free with real experience. For school leavers, this is increasingly the smart choice.
7. 7
   Pass your exams. There is no way around it: the professional exams are demanding. ACCA has 13 exams across three levels. ACA has 15 modules. CIMA has 9 exams plus case studies. Pass rates vary, but expect to fail at least one along the way, which most people do. The answer is consistency. Study regularly, apply past papers, and don’t let a failed exam derail you. Most people complete their qualifications while working full-time, so time management matters as much as intelligence.
8. 8
   Keep developing after you qualify. Qualifying is not the end. All professional bodies require continuing professional development (CPD) to maintain your membership. Tax laws change, accounting standards evolve, and technology keeps modifying how the work gets done. The accountants who stay relevant are the ones who keep learning. Whether that means specialising further, moving into advisory, or eventually running your own firm, the qualification is a foundation, not a ceiling.

Resources and Further Reading

• AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) – The standard entry point for UK accounting careers. You’ll find detailed information about qualifications, study options, and career paths on their website. Worth checking out if you’re still deciding whether to go for chartered status.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) – One of the most flexible routes to chartered status. Their qualification is globally recognised and can be completed while working. The website includes exam guidance, study resources, and a job board.
• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) – Their ACA qualification has a good reputation in UK practice and audit. Their website has good resources on training contracts, employer lists, and different routes to qualification, including programmes for school leavers.
• CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) – If you’re looking at management accounting or want to work in industry, this is the one most people choose. Their website explains the CGMA designation and explains how financial accounting differs from management accounting.
• ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland) – They offer a highly regarded Scottish CA qualification. Particularly relevant if you are based in Scotland or interested in their training programmes. It’s known for smaller cohorts and high pass rates.
• Gov.uk Accounting Apprenticeships – Official information on accounting apprenticeships in England. You can find out which programmes are available from Level 2 to Level 7, how funding works, and which employers are hiring apprentices.
• r/Accounting – Active Reddit community discussing careers, exams, and daily life in accounting. Useful for honest opinions on different firms, qualification routes, and what the job is actually like. Take advice with a pinch of salt, but good for perspective.
• AccountingWEB – UK-focused news and discussion site for accounting professionals. Covers tax updates, practice management, and career advice. Useful to stay up to date once you’re in the profession.