Accountancy Jobs at Ujob.co.uk

Just over 5% of all vacancies advertised at Ujob.co.uk are for positions within the Accountancy sector, our advertising statistics show that after the South West of England the regions with the most Accounting Jobs are The West Midlands, Manchester and West Yorkshire.

View our complete list of Accountancy job vacancies

Building a Career in Accountancy

Accountancy professionals are always in demand, so if you’ve got a good head for numbers and a sharp mind, this is one sector that’s certainly worth considering. Accountant jobs vary enormously, depending on your level of qualification and experience. You can enter as a graduate or trainee accountant with little or no formal qualifications or you can study for specific accountancy exams and take a fast-track to the top jobs.

Accountancy jobs may not be renowned for their glamour, but there’s a lot more to the career than simply crunching numbers. You need to have strong analytical skills, be highly organised and comfortable using a range of new technologies. Accountancy qualifications will boost your earning potential considerably, but they are normally undertaken alongside your day job, so dedication, self-motivation and focus are critical for success.

Typical Accounting Jobs

There are many roles within a typical accountancy team. Some of the more common job titles include:

  • Accounts Clerk Jobs
  • Accounts Assistant
  • Accounting Technician
  • Chartered Accountant
  • Certified Chartered Accountant
  • Management Accountant
  • Finance Director

Accountants Key Responsibilities

Most large organisations will have their own, in-house accounts team, so you may find employment this way. Alternatively, it is possible to work in a consultancy environment, handling a number of different clients, or some accountants choose to work privately with individuals and take care of all their financial requirements. Whichever route you choose, whether in-house, with a firm of accountants or as a private contractor, your role is likely to include several of the following:

  • Financial planning and forecasting
  • Preparing financial management reports
  • Producing recommendations following internal audits
  • Preparing financial statements, including monthly and annual accounts
  • Advising on tax issues and other financial matters
  • Reviewing a company’s systems and analysing risk
Accountants Working Hours

It depends more on an individual company’s culture more than anything, but it’s fair to say you shouldn’t always expect a 9-to-5 job in accountancy. There are often tight deadlines to be met, particularly as you approach ‘month end’ and tax return submission dates and evening and weekend work is not uncommon for accountants.

Perks of Accountancy Work

Accountancy jobs are always in demand and are usually fairly ‘safe’, being deemed as core to the success of a company. Even in times of economic uncertainty, organisations will still need to ensure that their finances are completely in order.

Financial rewards for accountancy professionals can be high, particularly for qualified accountants, and six-figure salaries are not unheard of. There is normally a solid career path to follow, with the ultimate goal for the ambitious being a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) position – which normally sits on a company’s board of directors.

Accountancy Careers Challenges

As already mentioned, the hours can be long in accounting jobs and if you are planning on studying for your CIMA, ACA, ACCA or other formal qualification alongside your role, then you will need to be prepared for a couple of years of intensely hard work. However, the long term benefits will undoubtedly be worth it. Women entering the accountancy profession will find that it is still quite a male-dominated environment, although this is gradually coming into balance, with the current ratio approximately 60% men, 40% women.

Skills and Attributes

When applying for jobs in accountancy, you should focus your CV and application on demonstrating the following skills:

  • Numeracy and IT expertise
  • Analysis and problem-solving
  • Attention to detail
  • Commercial awareness
  • Discretion and honesty
  • An ability to explain complex matters in simple terms
  • Team-working
  • Multi-tasking
  • A commitment to study
Accountants Salary

Starting salaries for jobs in accountancy vary considerably, depending on the size of the firm and the location. On average, a graduate trainee in London and the South East can expect to earn around £24,000 in their first year, with this rising considerably for those with formal accountancy qualifications. Once you are started, then you can expect your salary to increase steadily with additional experience and qualifications to £40,000 and beyond for Accountancy jobs in London and the South East and £30,000 upwards elsewhere in the UK.