We’re rapidly speeding towards the middle of the academic year for 22/23 and it seemed like a great time to be offering some advice for students soon to be finance graduates who would like to pursue a career in public practice.
In this article we’ll be considering:
- Transitioning from study to the world of work.
- What roles can graduates apply for in public practice?
- What benefits can graduates expect in public practice?
- How can I stand out from the crowd as a graduate and be in with a chance of winning top jobs?
‘I’m always excited to hear from graduates who are ready to dive into the start of their career as an accountant. There’s so much potential to harness and it’s such a privilege and responsibility to be tasked with supporting candidates right from the start. In my career I’ve helped countless accountants secure their first jobs, the jobs they’ve won at the very peak of their careers and so many in between! So read on to understand all that we’ve learned along the way.’
Garry Howling. MD
Let’s get stuck in.
Transitioning from study to the world of work as a graduate.
If you’ve not experienced work placements during your years studying for a degree, finding yourself at the end of your time in an educational institution with the immediate pressure to start earning a living can come as a shock. Where to begin?
The great news in this instance is that as a finance graduate, the potential to find a brilliant graduate job in public practice is massive. It’s a candidate led sector and if you can offer employers a willingness to learn, a great work ethic, first class communication skills and a fundamental core skillset in number crunching, you can rest assured that your future looks bright.
But finding the right role can take a little while. Don’t be afraid to take a part time job to keep your funds flowing whilst you research where you’d like to work, decide what path of further qualifications you’d like to pursue and then find a few employers who can support you in your chosen direction of travel. (If you’re not sure here’s a handy guide to accountancy qualifications.)
Get busy on LinkedIn and remember that who you know is just as important as what you know so reach out to friends and fellow students who work in public practice to ask their opinions and advice as to where next.
What roles can graduates apply for in public practice?
Entry level graduate roles in public practice are usually entitled ‘Junior Accountant’ and great employers will be keen to engage your talent so you can expect most job descriptions to include study support and professional development to help you move on to complete your ACCA or ACA qualifications.
If you already have some experience of working in practice you might consider applying for a Semi Senior Accountant role. Perhaps you’ve achieved a level or two of the ATT exam? These roles are a step up from Junior Accountants and though most employers will continue to support post holders through their study, these roles come with a higher expectation to create sets of accounts, tax computations and bookkeeping skills.
What benefits can graduates expect in public practice?
Starting salaries vary around the country but as a minimum graduates should be expecting to earn £25k, more often than not a good deal more.
But of course there is so much more to negotiate in 2023 than just a salary. For graduates, it’s so important to ensure that your potential new employer can offer you everything you need to achieve further qualifications that can propel your career to the next level.
So, study support in the form of mentorship. But also paid time to study and a defined pathway of progression once you have achieved your further accounting qualifications.
And then of course there’s all the additional perks and benefits that will save you money and enhance your quality of life in the long run. For example pension, annual leave, the potential to build friendships and a community in your job.
How can I stand out from the crowd?
As you emerge from your academic life, you join the crowd queuing at the door of employers in public practice and no matter how confident you are in your abilities, you are vulnerable to exploitation from less scrupulous employers.
The best way to stand out for all of the right reasons is to have a trusted partner by your side ready to help you make your transition as a graduate.
At Public Practice Recruitment Ltd we’re proud to provide just that service. With more than a decade of experience in the niche sector of accountancy recruitment, there’s no-one else better placed to provide this service and you can trust us to guide you on the start of your professional path.
Here’s a few great places to start:
Dive into our career counselling hub here and read a whole suite of articles about every topic you can think of that impacts the career of accountants in public practice.
Have a look at the plethora of jobs up and down the UK that we’re recruiting into. Just tap in the role you’re keen to know more about and your town of city in the UK and see what comes up.
Upload your CV today and we’ll be in touch with next steps to help you find the perfect job for you.
