According to a recent survey of chartered accountants and auditors, almost half (48.2%) of respondents said they would prefer to work in-house within a business, rather than at an accountancy practice.
With your accountancy exams behind you it’s time to look towards the opportunities that await and as a newly qualified accountant there are many different career paths you can take.
One of the biggest dilemmas is whether to go into practise or industry. Typically, accountants start their careers working in practice before moving into a role in industry. However, there are a number of things you should consider before making a decision.
industry
Commerce and industry need finance experts more than ever and with your sought after qualifications and skillsets, the world is your oyster. One of the key benefits of working in industry is it offers you the opportunity to work in sectors that are of interest to you, which allows you to develop a strong technical skill set and focus on a core area the business.
You’ll get the opportunity to stand out, make an impact and move things forward within an organisation and roles tend to offer good work-life balance. However, some accountants prefer the variety of a practice role where they get to work with clients from a broad range of industries.
practice
Working in a practice can lead to excellent progressions and allow you to work your way up to partner level, earning you a significant salary. Staying in a practice role also allows you to work across a broad range of clients, working in a more entrepreneurial environment.
Steve Foster, partner at Shipleys LLP, said “I wanted to work in an environment where I’m involved in a client’s business and they see me as part of their team, not just an adviser.”
If you are about to qualify or have recently qualified, visit our newly qualified hub for career advice.
