How to become an accountant: qualifications, routes and skills needed

If you are considering a career in accounting, or are already training to become an accountant, you might be thinking about which educational route and career path would suit you best. Understanding your options can help you make informed decisions and explore accountancy roles that suit your needs and long-term professional goals. 

There is no single route into accountancy. Some people start with a degree and join a graduate scheme, while others begin in an entry-level finance role, apprenticeship or trainee position and study while they work. The best route will depend on your existing qualifications, the type of finance role you are interested in and whether you want to work in practice, industry, the public sector or not-for-profit. 

To build a successful career in the finance and accountancy sector, it’s important to understand the training, qualifications and practical experience that employers are looking for. This could include AAT, ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA qualifications, depending on your chosen route and the type of role you want to pursue. 

Fortunately, accounting offers a great deal of flexibility as a career path, meaning there are numerous potential routes candidates can take to gain relevant qualifications, develop essential skills and explore roles that suit their experience, interests and long-term career goals. 

Here, we will discuss the various pathways that accountants, or those thinking about a career within the sector, can explore to gain relevant accounting qualifications, as well as the additional skills and experience that can strengthen their career prospects. 

What is an accountant?  

An accountant is a finance professional responsible for managing, interpreting and reporting on financial information for individuals, businesses and organisations. Their role may involve recording financial transactions, preparing accounts, analysing performance, supporting budgeting and forecasting, advising on tax or compliance, and helping leaders make informed financial decisions. 

Accountants can work across a wide range of sectors, including accountancy practice, private businesses, public sector organisations, charities, housing, education and healthcare. They may also specialise in areas such as audit, tax, management accounting, financial accounting, forensic accounting, payroll, treasury, FP&A or business partnering. 

As a career, accountancy offers impressive progression as well as earning potential. Accountancy salaries are based on level of experience, industry, qualifications, company size and location, amongst other things.   

Accountancy specialism  

Accountancy is a diverse field, and as you gain experience and qualifications, you may choose to specialise in a particular area. Some common specialisms include: 

• Tax – advising individuals or businesses on tax planning, compliance and filing. 
• Audit – reviewing financial statements and processes to ensure they are accurate, compliant and reliable. 
• Forensic accounting – investigating financial discrepancies, fraud, disputes or legal matters. 
• Management accounting – working closely with leadership teams to support budgeting, forecasting and strategic decision-making. 
• Financial accounting – preparing financial statements, reports and accounts for businesses or organisations. 
• FP&A and business partnering – using financial insight to support planning, performance improvement and commercial decisions. 
• Public sector and not-for-profit finance – supporting financial management, reporting and decision-making across local government, housing, health, education, charities or other public services. 

What are the different routes into accountancy? 

One of the most positive aspects of accountancy is the range of routes available. You do not always need a degree to start a career in accountancy, although some qualifications, graduate schemes and employers will have specific entry requirements. Many people build successful finance careers through apprenticeships, entry-level finance roles, professional qualifications or a combination of study and workplace experience. 

Your route may depend on your current qualifications, whether you want to work in practice or industry, and whether you are interested in private sector, public sector or not-for-profit finance roles. 

Professional qualification routes: ACA, ACCA, CIMA and CIPFA 

Many accountants choose to study for a professional qualification while gaining practical experience. The right qualification will depend on the type of accountancy career you want to build. 

ACA is often associated with chartered accountancy, audit, practice and advisory roles, although it can also support a move into industry later in your career. 

ACCA is a broad and flexible qualification that can support careers across practice, industry, the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. 

CIMA is commonly suited to candidates interested in management accounting, commercial finance, business partnering and strategic decision-making within organisations. 

CIPFA is particularly relevant for candidates who want to work in public sector finance, including local government, housing, health, education, charities and other public service organisations.  

A degree can be helpful, and some candidates enter the profession through graduate schemes, but it is not the only route. Many candidates begin their careers through apprenticeships, trainee roles or entry-level finance positions and study for professional qualifications while working. 

Becoming an Accountant through apprenticeships or entry-level finance roles 

Another common route into accountancy is to start in an entry-level finance role, apprenticeship or trainee position and study alongside work. This can be a strong option for school leavers, career changers or candidates who want to gain practical experience while working towards recognised qualifications. 

Typical starting roles might include Accounts Assistant, Finance Assistant, Purchase Ledger Clerk, Sales Ledger Clerk, Payroll Assistant, Credit Controller, Assistant Accountant or Trainee Accountant. 

Some candidates begin with AAT, which can provide a strong grounding in accounting principles and practical finance skills. From there, they may choose to progress onto a professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA, depending on their career goals and employer support. 

This route allows candidates to build workplace experience while studying, which can be highly valuable when applying for future roles. It can also help you understand which area of accountancy you enjoy most before committing to a particular specialism. 

Which route is right for me? 

When choosing the right route, think about the type of finance career you want. If you are interested in audit, tax or advisory work, practice may be a good starting point. If you are more interested in budgeting, forecasting, reporting, commercial finance or business partnering, an industry or public sector role may be more suitable. If you are drawn to local government, housing, charities, education or healthcare, CIPFA or a public sector finance route may be worth exploring.  

Choosing the right training pathway will depend on your existing qualifications, the type of role you want to pursue and whether you are interested in practice, industry, the public sector or not-for-profit finance. A degree can be helpful for some routes and graduate schemes, but it is not the only way to build a successful accountancy career. 

For example, if you are interested in audit, a practice-based or chartered accountancy route may be a suitable starting point. If you are more interested in budgeting, forecasting, commercial finance or business partnering, an industry, public sector or not-for-profit finance role may be more relevant. When you are just starting your career, you may not immediately know which accountancy specialism is right for you, so taking time to work this out can be very helpful in mapping out a career route. 

You should also remember that many careers within accounting can be quite fluid, allowing you to switch the focus of your job over time as your skills and interests evolve. Many chartered accountants move into industry roles later in their careers to gain broader commercial exposure, work more closely with business decision-making or pursue different progression opportunities. Other professionals may move between roles and accountancy specialisms, using their transferable skills to pursue new challenges.  

Whether this will be possible for you will depend on your specific skills. For example, auditing experience can transfer well into general accounting and reporting roles, while tax experience may be more specialised depending on the role, employer and career route. 

What other skills are accountancy employers looking for? 

When applying for a finance job, it is vital to remember that employers will also be assessing your practical skills in addition to your accounting qualification status. This means you will need to work on cultivating and obtaining any additional soft skills and qualifications that may help to differentiate your application from others. 

Although these practical skills will depend on the exact role, many employers will be looking for the following: 

• Good working knowledge of finance systems and technology is increasingly important. Microsoft Excel remains a key skill in many finance roles, while employers may also value experience with platforms such as Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, Power BI or other ERP, reporting and data tools. 
• Digital and data skills are also becoming more important across finance and accountancy. Employers may value candidates who are confident working with data, using reporting tools, improving processes, supporting automation or understanding how technology and AI are changing finance teams. 
• Personal attributes such as problem-solving, self-motivation, attention to detail and a commitment to high standards are also important. To succeed in accountancy, you will need motivation, commitment and a willingness to continue learning as you work through your qualifications and develop your career. 
• Strong communication skills are essential, especially as finance professionals are increasingly expected to explain financial information to non-finance stakeholders. Being able to turn numbers into clear insight can help you progress into more senior, commercial or business partnering roles. 
• Commercial awareness is valuable in private sector roles, where finance teams often support business growth, profitability and decision-making. In the public sector, employers may also look for an understanding of governance, value for money, budget pressures and the impact finance decisions can have on services and communities. 
• Attention to detail is vital as accounting involves working with numbers and financial reports, where accuracy is critical.  

By developing the right mix of qualifications, technical knowledge, workplace experience and soft skills, you can strengthen your accountancy career prospects and make more informed decisions about your next move.  

Find out more 

If you are looking to start or progress your accountancy career, Sellick Partnership can help you understand the finance and accountancy jobs market, explore suitable opportunities and identify the skills and qualifications employers are looking for. 

For more detailed guidance on accountancy career paths, skills, progression and opportunities, read our Finance and Accountancy careers guide. 

Learn more by visiting our  Finance & Accountancy  recruitment hub, where you can  browse our latest finance & accountancy jobs, or call us on 0161 834 1642.