Looking to gain an accountancy qualification? Here’s what you need to know.
We write such a lot of content for experienced accountants looking to accelerate their already established careers to the tops of the ladder in accountancy. But what about those just starting out?
The options for getting qualified as an accountant are varied and may seem overwhelming when you’re starting out in your career. So here’s a helpful summary of the qualifications you might consider and the benefits of each.
AAT – Association of Accounting Technicians
An internationally recognised qualification, this is a great start for school leavers or anyone considering a career as an accountant but wanting to get started as a bookkeeper.
CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting
For those interested in management accounting this is a qualification to consider. You’ll gain a fundamental knowledge of business and accounting and anyone with GCSEs in Maths and English can access this course.
ACCA Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
The most recognised route to becoming a Chartered Accountant, this qualification is solid and will open an abundance of doors to you in practice. Generally accessible to anyone with two A-Levels and 5 GCSEs if you’re certain that a career as an accountant is what you aspire to, we’d certainly recommend that you get stuck in to this qualification as soon as you can to unlock earning potential as soon as possible.
ACA Association of Chartered Accountants
Alongside the ACCA this a common choice for those looking to obtain a renowned certification in accountancy and proceed to a lucrative and challenging career in accountancy.
CA ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland)
Alongside the ACCA and ACA this is the Scottish version of the most commonly recognised accountancy qualification.
CTA – Qualification from the Chartered Institute of Taxation
For those looking to excel in a tax focused role in practice, we firmly recommend the CTA qualification which is renowned as the very best certification for tax accountancy.
Beyond these qualifications there are some more specific exams that accountants may choose to take and at this level you’ll certainly be unlocking the upper echelons of leadership and we’d invite you to contact us to discuss the extent to which these qualifications are necessary.
‘At Public Practice Recruitment Ltd we’re proud to have over a decade of experience in placing top accountancy talent into brilliant roles with thriving firms in practice. To benefit from our extensive career counselling services take a look at our Candidates’ Hub and reach out to my team to book a registration call where we can offer you bespoke advice on how to further your career.’
Garry Howling, MD
Don’t let the prospect of a long and fruitful career as an accountant overwhelm you! One step at a time you have everything it takes to build an incredible career.
If you’re just starting out, take a look at a few of these other blogs to help you feel confident in your decisions and excited to dive right in.
Fear is Progress – don’t let feelings of fear curb your success!
Common Accountancy Interview Questions
