What can I do with an Accounting and Finance Degree?
Studying towards a degree in Accounting and Finance is a great way to boost your career prospects and develop professional accounting and financial management skills needed for the industry. Once you’ve graduated, your knowledge will be invaluable as you guide companies through their business growth and develop a strategy to help them succeed. Studying for an accounting and finance degree will also provide you with the transferable skills to be able to explore multiple career paths.
Career options
Career paths following an Accounting and Finance degree:
- Chartered accountant
- Chartered certified accountant
- Chartered management accountant
- Chartered public finance accountant
- Company Secretary
- External auditor
- Forensic accountant
- Stockbroker
Transferable skills career paths:
- Actuary
- Arbitrator
- Business development manager
- Data analyst
- Economist
- Licensed conveyancer
- Management consultant
- Mortgage adviser
- Procurement manager
- Retail banker
- Tax adviser
These should only be used as a guide. Many employers will accept applications from students that have studied for various degrees.
Work experience
Having work experience will help you build your professional skill set and gain valuable qualifications. A popular way to do this is through an internship or a shadowing opportunity. This will also help you get noticed in front of potential employers. However, not all university courses will include a year’s work placement. Therefore, you may want to investigate part-time or seasonal opportunities to do outside of your studies. You can get in touch with local accountancy firms to see whether they have these types of vacancies. Having this experience will put you at an advantage over other candidates. It will prove you have office and admin skills, alongside the ability to work with numbers and budgets.
Typical employers
There is a wide range of opportunities in the finance industry, major employers include:
- Accountancy firms
- Building societies
- High street banks
- Insurance companies
- Investment banks
- Management consultancies
- Public sector employers.
Large accountancy firms will always be looking for graduates to join their companies and will work with universities to conduct large-scale recruitment campaigns to find the very best candidates. The expectation will be high and you will have to meet high minimum requirements to be considered. However, SMEs will also be on the hunt for graduates which is usually a great place to start and grow your industry knowledge.
Many businesses will have an internal finance department, you can also find opportunities by contacting businesses directly.
How to enhance your CV
Your degree will provide you with the skills and specialist knowledge of accountancy practices, commerce, industry and finance. In addition, you will have developed other skills which will be transferable across multiple industries. Make sure the following are highlighted on your CV:
- Knowledge and awareness of business organisations
- Numerical and quantitative skills
- Problem-solving and analytical ability
- Oral and written communication skills
- Ability to argue your case and negotiate
- Knowledge of global business issues and language skills, particularly if you study European or international finance
- Entrepreneurship
Further study
You will often be required to take additional finance qualifications to improve your skill set and professional development. Examples of these are:
- Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) professional qualification
- Professional Banker Diploma.
However, depending on the qualifications you gained from your degree and the modules that you studied you may not need to undertake the qualifications above. Some postgraduates may go on to study for a specialised area of the finance sector, such as an MSc in actuarial science.
What are accounting and finance graduates doing?
A popular route for graduates has been to become chartered and certified accountants (27%). Other graduates have explored careers as a bookkeeper, payroll managers and wages clerk (10%). Many graduates do explore career choices related to their degree, with eight of the top ten jobs directly linked to what they studied.
Related Courses
Undergraduate
The BAcc Accounting provides thorough training for a career in accountancy – including financial and management accounting, taxation and audit.
CEOs and boards rely on accountants to help them to make informed financial decisions that contribute to the future success of their organisation – and you can play a part in this.
With an emphasis on the practical aspects of accountancy, you will gain the mix of skills, knowledge and experience needed for a stimulating and rewarding career in accountancy.
Post-graduate
Employers expect graduates to have advanced skills and insight into contemporary issues like financial technology, responsible business ethics, sustainability, and big data.
You can step into an accounting or finance career in just one year with this specialist master’s qualification. This strategic and highly practical course equips graduates with the knowledge and skills to succeed in a challenging business environment.
Based in London, the UK’s largest financial centre, you’ll be surrounded by some of the world’s biggest names in accounting and finance. Immersed in this dynamic business landscape, you’ll study this complex and rewarding subject in a practical way that prepares you for the next step in your career.
