r/AccountingUK

I’m fairly sure I’m underpaid but here goes…

Started out at local council with apprenticeship. Moved onto AAT and role that had a salary of like 11k haha. This is around 2008

Left for private sector (capita) and they paid for my quals. Got amazing experience etc there. Started at 19l when I left was 32k

Lots of restructuring so left and moved to owner managed firm. Loved it totally diff but shit systems; salary 35k and 20% bonus:

Had to leave here almost a year in as partner at the time bad accident left paralysed so took year out;

Came back to a shite job similar salary but not much to do, then got a job at a start up 45k. Then Covid hit and we were asked to drop a day and 20% salary to avoid redundancies, all agreed. Then my probation ended, expected meeting to be formality as no issues. Fired on the spot as I’m shit apparently.

Got FTC at new balance, went ok but didn’t enjoy. Then moved to TalkTalk. Again was ok, stayed for two years then went on mat leave.

As I was due to go on mat leave PWC approached me, had to decline as Mat leave: they did again later on, this time I went on with the process got the job and been there since 2023. Started at 45k now 49k.

I’m ACCA qualified have been since 2017 and almost 20 years experience in the industry. Am I way underpaid? How can I change it if so?

I've been job hunting for about 6 weeks after leaving Big 4 audit and honestly, I'm finding the move into industry a lot harder than I expected.

For a bit of context, I qualified with my ACA at PwC and then left soon after to go travelling for 6 months. I've now been back for a couple of months and am keen to get back into work. I'm lucky that I've got savings and am living at home at the moment, so I'm not in a position where I need to take the first job I can get, but I also don't want to be out of work indefinitely.

Everyone always says doing the ACA and qualifying in audit opens loads of doors, but so many jobs seem to want someone who already has industry experience doing month end, management accounts, reconciliations, budgeting etc.

I've applied for a mix of Accountant, Financial Accountant, Management Accountant, Finance Analyst and Financial Reporting Analyst roles. I also have previous Finance Assistant experience, so it's not like I've never worked in a finance team, but I'm still finding that I don't quite tick the box for the hands-on experience employers want.

I'm mainly targeting smaller to mid-sized businesses rather than huge corporates, ideally somewhere I can get broader exposure and be more involved across the finance function. Interestingly, I've found that Big 4 experience can sometimes almost work against me here. I've spoken to companies that have been wary that my experience is mainly with large, complex clients and have preferred people from smaller practices who may have worked with businesses more similar to theirs. Which I completely understand.

Over the last 6 weeks I've applied for 41 jobs:

* 11 rejected with no interview
* 1 made it to final stage and was rejected
* 2 first-round interviews, waiting to hear back
* 26 with no response yet, including 8 I applied for over 4 weeks ago

I haven't been mass applying to random roles, I've only being applying to ones I'm genuinely interested in and where I do match a decent amount of the requirements.

And I want to be clear, I don't think I'm entitled to these jobs or that working at PwC gives me some automatic right to walk into an industry role. I knew there would be a learning curve and that there are things I simply haven't done before. I've obviously been trying to frame my experience in audit to match with the job requirements.

I'm just starting to wonder what the actual route out of audit is meant to look like. For people who have made the move, what roles did you actually go into after audit? Did you go straight into financial/management accounting, reporting, FP&A etc., or did you have to take a step back first to get that hands-on experience?

Also, is the job market just particularly slow over the summer? I'm wondering whether things typically start picking up again in September, or whether this is just what the market is like at the moment.

Would be really interested to hear other people's experiences.

Was a Purchase Ledger (pure AP) at an NHS trust, contract just ended this week. Before that it was AP at a large FTSE-listed retailer’s head office. So it’s been transactional finance back to back since uni, and I’m properly burnt out on it.

ACCA part-qualified, failed SBR three months ago, retaking in September. Still paying off SFE for a degree that was supposed to lead somewhere more analytical, not just invoice processing contract to contract.

I was trying to build my way out while I still had the role. Taught myself SQL and Power BI, was partway through MB-800 for Business Central. Doesn’t seem to have been enough to keep me on, and it’s not clear it’s shifting anything for FP&A or Systems Accountant type applications either.

With the contract gone now, I’m weighing up a maths teacher training route (SCITT), pays a tax-free bursary while I train. Not planning to leave finance for good, more using this as a paid bridge, then coming back to job hunting once SBR’s done.

Few things I’d love people’s take on:

Has anyone actually broken out of AP contract roles into something more permanent and analytical? What worked?

Im going into yr 13 now and have to write a personal statements but I cant find good work experience. I think ill just have to do it online but idk where to look. Ive done only one - Goldman Sachs's job simulation on Forage.

Ive also done volunteering in hospital and work experience in a pharmacy but I dont think that'll help much for Accounting and finance. I only did those because I had an interest in healthcare/medicine earlier but my predicted grades are too low (CCD).

Any uni students or A level students that have good recommendations for work experience?

I am an acca student who had completed 7/13 papers and currently enrolled for Bsc in professional accounting in UOL and so will be getting 2 exemptions and move to professional level, I have prior experience of 1.5 years in risk advisory(internal audit) from a Indian firm, I am looking for a remote jobs from UK, as many firms are outsourcing. I am open to any of the entry level jobs related UK accounting, tax or audit. If there are small to midsize accounting firm wanting to hire entry level roles, it would be very helpful for me to start my Uk accounting career. Please help me

Hello!

I’m looking to go into accounting as a career change - I’m in my late twenties and have worked in retail for the last ten ish years. (I do have a degree but it’s an art one!).

I’ve applied for five apprenticeships but have only heard back from one (was unsuccessful in even getting an interview).

I have a small amount of experience in finance. In my retail role I’m specially trained to manage the cash flow of the store (plus all legal documentation) and outside of work I do a bit of teaching/self employed so do all my own invoicing and money management. I’ve been researching accounting for a while and have decided it’s something I’d like to pursue.

The main hurdle is, I can’t seem to get into an entry level training role. It is something I would really like to pursue so I’ve been considering self funding an AAT (potentially up to Level 4). I’m a bit worried about doing so as I feel being able to gain practical experience while learning is the better option. I’m also worried about how I’d get relevant experience if I self fund and learn in my own time? The apprenticeships I’ve applied for have stated that I’d need a trained accountant to sign off on my training and yeah, I’m not sure how to achieve this when self funding! I don’t know any an accountants!

I’d love to hear about people’s experiences and/or any advice!

Thank you!

Hi,

Im a 35 year old GP. Ive been considering changing jobs for a long time and have been conaideeing accounting as multiple family membera work in thia field and enjoy their jobs.

What would be the best route for entering this field. Is it best to do some qualifications independently first and then try to find relevant jobs?

Tia

I have been a software engineer for 4 years since leaving university, I am now looking to transition into accountancy. During my time as a software engineer I have primarily worked on financial related software (accounting, stock broking).

I am looking to do the AAT level 2 & 3 qualifications in self study.

My main question is: generally speaking, would this combination be enough to make me employable for entry-level accounting roles? For example, accounts assistant, trainee accountant, credit control, finance assistant, etc.

My main goal is to work towards chartership as soon as possible (ACA, ACCA), but I would also look to take on Accounts Assistant roles in the meantime.

I would appreciate any advice from people working in accountancy or have made a career transition into it!

I am going to be in year 13 in September and right now the plan is to get into medicine.
However, I have realised I don’t really want to do medicine due to the UCAT stressing me out and im studying for my A levels and all i do is cry so even though I would like to be a doctor I really do not think i will survive medical school.
The alevels I am doing right now is maths,bio and chem.

so my questions are,

How is the job market for accounting?

Do you think i should stick to medicine or will accounting be better?

The exams you need to take in accounting do you think they are harder than alevels? Or how are they?

Is accounting a stable career like being a doctor is?

Do i need a degree in accounting?

Is doing a apprenticeship better and if so where and
what ones would i apply to and what do my alevel predicted grades need to look like?

Where do i get work experience for accounting?

How do i convince my mum to let me do accounting because she is dead-set on me being a doctor and seems like she will disown me because of it?

Thank you to anyone that can answer my questions and really help me out!!

I’m a current social work student going into my second year but I’ve been having some doubts if this is the profession I want to go into. I feel like I don’t have enough life experience and I’m mentally not in the right place to be exposed to so much stress and trauma this job can bring.

I’m thinking of switching to accounting for a change. I would appreciate some opinions on whether this job is it worth it

How stressful is the job- do you enjoy it? How hard is it to find a job? Also does the university you attend matter in job interviews etc. I’m currently at a lower ranked university but meet the requirements for a high ranked one too. However, the thing is I like my current university so I would prefer to stay in this one if it didn’t matter as much.

Any other advice or things I should know are appreciated. Thanks

Curious how accounting firms are actually handling this in practice.

If you're responsible for multiple limited companies, what do you currently use to keep track of Companies House activity and deadlines?

For example:

• Companies House email alerts / Follow
• Spreadsheets
• Practice management software
• Inform Direct or similar software
• Calendar/task reminders
• Manual Companies House checks
• Something else

Also interested in roughly how many companies you're monitoring and whether your current setup works well at that scale.

What works well for you, and what gets frustrating as the portfolio grows?

I got enrolled for MA Strategic financial management at UWL for sep intake. I am an ACCA affiliate with 20months of experience in accounting.
While reading posts people said its very tough to get part time .
Any tips to get part time finance job in uk .Should i go for recruiting agency or self apply?

Hi everyone, I’m currently looking into getting into accounting and I’m considering self studying for the AAT level 2.
I was just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for textbooks/ online resources to help me along the way.
Thank you!

I got offered a position for a finance graduate role where it’s a 2 year structured programme with career progression. I will be joining the AP team having already done a year in AP/AR during my placement year at university. I really thought they’d offer ACCA study support but they called and said they don’t, as of yet I think anyway. As someone on 9 exemptions, I was really hopefully I would get some support to finish off. Currently working a banking and payments assistant job which is a 6 month FTC which I started 2 days ago, I should leave right? What should I do?

Hi everyone, I’ve decided that to make a career change from a sole trader of a grocery store and get into accounting. Ive just turned 27 this month and have already completed level 2 AAT in 3 months and am now starting the Level 3 I hope to have the level 4 complete as well by the end of this year.

I’ve been hearing a lot that accounting is now cooked for people just getting into it and considering I’m already 27 I don’t know if I’m too late into this. My aim is to start chartered accounting pathway by June/July next year. My question is should I look for an entry job after finishing level 3 or should I just wait until I’ve done level 4. What are the job prospects in England. I’m from South Yorkshire and any accountants I know are in their early 20s and I already feel at a disadvantage.

I’ve been running my own store for the past 5 years but with cost of living and the way Tesco Asda etc have expanded this industry is now also coming to a halt in some sense.

Any advice would be appreciated

How do you guys landed a remote role in accounting? Any tips for beginners

I have called a few accountants that list "consultancy" as a service because I have several question that I need to go in depth that can not be handled but the classic "free 30m consultation"

I have offered money for an in depth consultation but every single time all accountancies want to sell me a whole package and dont want to do a "one-off" consultation

I won't need a full package accounting filing etc, my business is super straight forward, I buy and sell, keep receipt and do the calculations easily, booking is fairly easy.
yet I keep getting the same transcript line "we value long-term relationship only" copy paste

I can't seem to find in depth consultation, or business planning, as a service
does it exist? any reccomendations?
Im happy to pay for their time obv

context, Im sole trader online seller opearing with marginal VAT who wants to move into an LTD with already a lot of owned inventory

I’m going to applying to Accounting grad roles this coming year, how should I communicate my excel capabilities, just list the set of things I’ve learnt ?I feel like just Listing it at the bottom like every other person doesn’t do anything.

I am going to start L3 AAT, before I register and stuff I had some questions. I’ve just finished my A-Levels and want to self study starting from L3 (I’m going to apply for apprenticeships as well during it).

I don’t want to pay all that money for a training provider, I just want to pay for the registration and the exams. Can I complete L3 AAT with all the free online resources, should I buy any books or anything?

Upon completing L3 AAT, I want to start ACCA and get an entry level job. Should I do Level 4 AAT instead?

Just need some advice on this, any help would be appreciated.