u/nwz7

Hi all,

I'm an accountant in London and potentially moving from permanent employment into contracting. I've recently been put forward for my first contract at £275/day umbrella, initially running until the end of December.

I'm ACCA part-qualified and have around 4–5 years of finance experience, with recent roles at Management Accountant / General Accountant level.

My experience includes:

• Monthly management accounts and month-end close
• Balance sheet reconciliations, accruals and prepayments
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Cash-flow forecasting
• Variance analysis
• Revenue recognition / accrued and deferred revenue
• Business partnering with non-finance teams
• Multi-entity accounting, including some US entity experience
• ERP/system migration experience, including Business Central

My most recent permanent salary was £55k.

If I enjoy contracting, I'd like to continue doing it rather than immediately going back into a permanent role.

For other accountants/finance professionals who contract:

1. What day rate would you consider reasonable for someone at my level?

Would something around £300–£350/day umbrella for Management Accountant contracts be realistic after completing my first assignment, or should I be looking higher/lower?

2. Are there particular accounting/finance specialisms that tend to command better contract rates?

For example FP&A, Finance Business Partnering, systems/ERP work, financial accounting etc.

3. Which recruiters/agencies would you recommend for interim accounting contracts in London?

I'd like to build relationships with a few recruiters who regularly place Management Accountants/interim finance professionals.

Any advice from accountants who've made a career out of contracting would be appreciated, particularly around progressing your day rate over time.

Thanks in advance!

Hi all,

Potentially starting my first contracting role after previously only working permanent positions, so I'm completely new to umbrella contracting.

It's a 3-month contract at £275/day, 5 days a week, advertised specifically as an umbrella rate. The role is through a recruitment agency.

I haven't received the full contract/umbrella details yet, but I'm trying to understand how payment normally works.

For those working through an umbrella, are you typically paid weekly or monthly?

If weekly, do you normally submit a timesheet each Friday and then get paid the following week, or is there usually an initial delay (e.g. 30 days) before the weekly payments start?

Obviously I'll confirm the actual payment terms with the recruiter, but interested to hear what's most common in practice.

Thanks!

Today I applied to the courses as I saw the deadline was the 15th, is it still possible to get a space for september intake?
Anyone else applied recently and how long was the time from applying to getting approved?

As the title says, I'm really struggling with being unemployed. I've only been unemployed for 1 week and I know others have been unemployed for much longer but my problem is more with the feeling of being unemployed. I've never been in this situation where I haven't had a job.

Would really appreciate it if people could suggest how they were able to manage with the below:
\- Financially : I have debts I need to pay and a family to provide for, I'm not asking in terms of job searching as I'm doing this but in regards to the feeling of not being able to provide. It's driving me nuts and makes me feel like such a horrible husband/father/son

Another thing - I've been applying for jobs constantly but what financial help is there available, I've been told about Universal Credit and Jobseekers Allowance but how do these processes work in regards to getting paid and the likelihood of being accepted.

I appreciate any help

As the title says, I'm really struggling with being unemployed. I've only been unemployed for 1 week and I know others have been unemployed for much longer but my problem is more with the feeling of being unemployed. I've never been in this situation where I haven't had a job.

Would really appreciate it if people could suggest how they were able to manage with the below:
- Financially : I have debts I need to pay and a family to provide for, I'm not asking in terms of job searching as I'm doing this but in regards to the feeling of not being able to provide. It's driving me nuts and makes me feel like such a horrible husband/father/son

Another thing - I've been applying for jobs constantly but what financial help is there available, I've been told about Universal Credit and Jobseekers Allowance but how do these processes work in regards to getting paid and the likelihood of being accepted.

I appreciate any help

I recently made a post really sh*tting on LinkedIn. Whilst my overall thoughts on LI has not changed, there is one thing I'll concede is good / valuable when job searching ... the inmail messages.

Allowing you to message hiring managers/recruiters is a huge help and has helped me get actual replies instead of being ghosted!

Hi everyone,
I’ve recently been referred by a current Bank of America employee for a role and received the dedicated referral link to apply.
I was wondering if anyone here has gone through the recruitment process via an employee referral.
Did you notice any difference compared with applying normally — for example, getting your application reviewed faster or having a better chance of getting an initial interview?
And if you were referred, how did the process turn out for you?
Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently looking for a new opportunity in Accounting, Management Accounting, FP&A or Finance, ideally remote or hybrid, and thought I’d reach out here.

I’m based in London, UK and I’m ACCA Part-Qualified, with several years of hands-on accounting and finance experience across Management Accountant, General Accountant and finance roles.

My experience includes:

• Management accounts and month-end reporting
• Budgeting and forecasting
• P&L and balance sheet analysis
• Variance analysis and financial reporting
• Balance sheet reconciliations, accruals and prepayments
• Cash flow forecasting
• AP/AR and general ledger accounting
• Financial and data analysis
• Advanced Excel and working with large datasets
• Supporting finance system/process improvements

I’m particularly interested in Management Accountant, Assistant Management Accountant, Finance Analyst, FP&A Analyst, Financial Accountant or similar finance roles.

I’m open to permanent, temporary, contract or freelance opportunities, and would also consider fully remote roles with companies outside London where appropriate.

If your company/team is hiring, or you know of anyone looking for someone with my background, I’d really appreciate a DM or referral.

📍 Location: London, UK
💼 Availability: Available from September 2026
🏠 Preference: Remote / Hybrid
📄 CV: Happy to share via DM

Thanks!

Rate: £30/hour (approx. $40/hour), negotiable depending on the scope and duration of the work.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently looking for a new opportunity in Accounting, Management Accounting, FP&A or Finance, ideally remote or hybrid, and thought I’d reach out here.

I’m based in London, UK and I’m ACCA Part-Qualified, with several years of hands-on accounting and finance experience across Management Accountant, General Accountant and finance roles.

My experience includes:

• Management accounts and month-end reporting
• Budgeting and forecasting
• P&L and balance sheet analysis
• Variance analysis and financial reporting
• Balance sheet reconciliations, accruals and prepayments
• Cash flow forecasting
• AP/AR and general ledger accounting
• Financial and data analysis
• Advanced Excel and working with large datasets
• Supporting finance system/process improvements

I’m particularly interested in Management Accountant, Assistant Management Accountant, Finance Analyst, FP&A Analyst, Financial Accountant or similar finance roles.

I’m open to permanent, temporary, contract or freelance opportunities, and would also consider fully remote roles with companies outside London where appropriate.

If your company/team is hiring, or you know of anyone looking for someone with my background, I’d really appreciate a DM or referral.

📍 Location: London, UK
💼 Availability: Available from September 2026
🏠 Preference: Remote / Hybrid
📄 CV: Happy to share via DM

Thanks!

Resigned from my job a week ago and decided to jump into trying to serve clients on my own and grow my own practice

Any help/advice is much appreciated

New to this thread so I apologise if this is asked often.

Best job searching site? LinkedIn has been horrible

I took up the 2 month reduced offer for LinkedIn Premium, hugely regret it even with the discounted rate.

Nothing changes apart from a badge next to my name and knowing how many people visited my profile?

Used to be able to rely on LinkedIn Premium to point out jobs I’m more likely to hear back, now it’s the same as having the normal subscription!

Absolute scam, the app has really gone down the drain.

Hi,

I'm a Part Qualified Accountant with 5 years of work experience.

As much as I love some parts of accounting, I find myself bored with doing management accounts but really enjoyed the more analytical side that comes with it such as cash flow forecasting & analysis, creating rolling monthly PNL forecasts etc

Has anybody made the switch, if you have could you share your experience and if you'd recommend it?

Also, do I need to undertake any official courses to switch or can my accounting experience be leveraged when making the switch?

Thanks in advance

What app / software would make your life easier as an accountant?

As an accountant - I have some issues that keep persisting but would like the opinion of my fellow accountants.

Thanks in advance

What app / software would make your life easier as an accountant?

As an accountant - I have some issues that keep persisting but would like the opinion of my fellow accountants.

Thanks in advance

Interested to see how AI has helped any accountants in here?

ChatGPT has changed my life - was able to build a cash flow forecast and a fixed asset register amount other things in hardly any time at all.

How has it been for you if you have used it?

Funnily enough, whenever this question has come up in interviews - I’m able to answer confidently and what I say makes sense. But my current workplace I’m at is dreadful.

My actual line manager who has only been at the job for a year is very laidback, not very knowledgeable about the business and honestly doesn’t seem to have a proper grasp on accounting. Let’s call her X

Her line manager … audit at top 4 for most his career is like a pitbull. Intense, blunt, downright rude at times but extremely knowledgable. Let’s call him Y

Y has to step in repeatedly because he simply does not trust X. This means I have two people not only asking me to do different things but the way they want me to do it is very different. This has caused clashes during month end when one might be happy but the other isn’t.

Any tips on how to handle this?

Note : on the Applications tab on CS website the job still says ‘Application received’