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Accounting Jobs UK

Find your ideal Accounting job in the UK by applying for jobs and registering with agencies up to two years before you plan to travel to the UK.

Prepare for the experience of a lifetime by reading this page and visiting our essential tips section.

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Learn how to get the UK jobs you really want – Visit our FAQ's section

The “square-mile” in London is an exciting place to be – filled with a mix of British, Aussie, Kiwi, South African and North American professionals all helping to ensure London, after 300 years, remains the financial centre of Europe. Apart from the square-mile, other parts of the UK also offer excellent job opportunities. As the traditional role of accounting expands to include all aspects of businesses from performance to growth strategy, the future of accounting employment in the UK for working travellers and expats is very bright indeed.

In globally tough economic times, the accounting jobs market in the UK will also be affected, however job seekers with solid experience or qualified accountants there are always excellent job opportunities in the UK. Be sure to apply to suitable jobs and register with suitable agencies if you have plans to go to the UK.

Be sure to register with WORKgateways if you have plans to go to the UK in the next few years.

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Travelling to the UK and interested in a job within the accounting industry? Register now.

Accounting Jobs UK

All about UK Accounting jobs for overseas candidates!

Can I secure a UK job prior to leaving Australia/ New Zealand/ South Africa/ Canada?

It is not common to secure a position in the UK prior to leaving your home country. This is mainly because UK employers have enough qualified candidates in front of them and ready for interview without having to cast their eyes towards overseas recruitment. However, there is much you can do pre-departure to make the employment process faster and less stressful upon arrival! It is WORKgateways’ goal to establish links for traveller’s like you pre-departure that make the recruitment and general UK transition process more effective and enjoyable. Register to enjoy the benefits or see About WORKgateways and FAQ's

Which types of Accounting jobs are available in the UK?

Whether a part or fully qualified accountant, or you have good experience in general accounts, there are UK jobs to suit you. For those with accounting experience coming from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (and for a growing number of Canadians) contract jobs range from Data Entry to Part Qualified to Chartered Accountant. There are also permanent jobs available. For both job types, a suitable UK Visa will be required. UK accounting jobs can be found within the private and public accounting sectors, in-house or within large accounting firms including banking accounting, management accounting, treasury and audit.

Some common UK Accounting jobs are:

  • Accounts Assistant
  • Fund Accountant
  • Payroll Supervisor
  • Fund Tax Accountant
  • Accounts Payable
  • Project Accountant
  • Financial Controller
  • Reconciliations Accountant
  • Internal Auditor
  • Unit Trust Accountant
  • Senior Audit Manager
  • Fixed Income Accountant

Apart from the conventional accounting roles you would expect to find in a thriving metropolis there are possibly two major areas that stand out in the UK - Public Sector and Banking.

Contrary to popular belief, public sector accounting in the UK is diverse and thriving, including local and federal government and the National Health Service, which are all evolving to become far more commercially focused.

The Banking and Finance sector, in London in particular also provides exciting opportunities and continues to provide excellent job options for many Antipodeans. Some common areas are financial accounting/ reporting and financial analysis.
Another big area is commerce where responsibilities for accountants vary from management/financial accounting through to business analysis and project driven roles.

In general, experience of relevant industry systems, specialised products and competency in using a spreadsheet are all skills that you should ensure are communicated clearly on your UK resume. Also if you are multilingual be sure to also put this at the top of your resume, there are a considerable number of accounting jobs in the UK that require competency in another language.

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Where are the Accounting jobs in the UK?

There are a wide variety of accounting jobs UK wide. In the city for example, within banking there has always been a high demand for contractors. Outside of London, there is also a wide range of opportunities on offer. Many companies have offices just outside of London in the nearby counties. Working in these counties, such as Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire and Surrey enable many travellers to live just outside of London in what some call “real England” or alternately enjoy the many fruits of living in London with the advantage of an easy commute against the traffic. A smaller but growing number of travellers are also finding jobs in the major centres such as Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Register now for accounting jobs - UK wide.

How much will I earn in salary or wages as an Accountant in the UK?

Pay rates of course depend on your specific experience and on the company or institution that employs you. As a general rule, as you gain UK experience on your resume you will be more on par with your UK experienced counterparts and your pay rates will go up accordingly. UK qualifications and part-qualifications such as ACA, CIMA, and ACCA may also factor into the equation.

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Guide to UK Accounting Contract Rates and Permanent Salaries

Position Location
Contract Rate Per Hour
 Position Location Salary Range
Payroll Clerk
London
 7 - 11 Junior Ledger Clerk Birmingham 12000 - 14000
Junior Credit Controller London 8 - 11 Senior Purchase Ledger Clerk Greater London 16000 - 20000
Experienced Credit Controller London 14 - 17 Junior Credit Controller London 12000 - 15000
Junior Accounts Assistant London 8 - 13 Senior Credit Control Clerk   16000 - 22000
Senior Accounts Assistant Home Counties 13 - 20 Junior Accounts Assistant Berkshire 11000 - 17000
Senior Accounts Payable Clerk London 12 - 14 Account Supervisor   18000 - 22000
Part - Qualified Financial Accountant London 13 - 16 Accounts Manager Berkshire 21000 - 32000
PQ or Qualified External Auditor London 14 - 20 Credit Supervisor   18000 - 23000
PQ - Assistant Management Accountant London 14 - 16 Credit Manager   22000 - 40000
Assistant Accountant London 11 - 13 Qualified Management Accountant London 25000 - 45000
Part - Qualified Fund Accountant London 15 - 21 Recently Qualified Chartered Accountant London 36000 - 40000
Financial Account Assistant London 22 - 25 Recently Qualified Chartered Accountant Edinburgh 26000 - 30000
Management Accountant London 20 - 30 Qualified Financial Accountant London 38000 - 55000
Finance Manager London 20 - 27  
Specialist Qualified Banking Accountant London 25 - 35

Once you have found a position similar in experience, location and industry to what you will be seeking visit our UK Budget to get an idea of what sort of lifestyle working in the UK will afford you. If you manage your earnings at least semi-wisely, in most cases you’ll be pleased to see that you’ll be able to live comfortably and have a bit of money to spare for European jaunts; perhaps even saving a bit to bring home with you.

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What are the minimum qualifications and experience required?

For a degree-qualified accountant you will ideally be qualified or have 1-2 year’s solid experience in your home country. As an accounts assistant or in general accounts - experience will be the key and once again; 1-2 years experience is accepted. The possible exception to this rule is if you hold an EU passports or UK Ancestry Visa where you can be considered for permanent positions on an equal footing with your British recent graduate counterparts.

Will my overseas qualifications be recognised in the UK?

Degree, diploma and certificate qualifications gained in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or Canada are recognised in the UK. Your experience will be regarded highly although once you gain UK experience on your CV you will find your resume to be regarded as more ‘on par’ with the local competition.

Should I get UK accounting qualifications?

There are four professional accounting qualifications in the UK - ACA, CIMA, ACCA and AAT. These qualifications are given to individuals by the various professional accounting organisations in the UK. There is a perception by UK employers that different qualifications are advantageous for different roles. As with most professions, your experience is the key consideration. If you are planning a long term stay or want to continue along a particular career path you are advised to consider gaining the necessary UK qualifications in line with your aspirations. To secure your first UK job the most important thing is your experience. CA or CPA qualifications are quickly recognised in the UK.

What are the professional qualifications in the UK?

ACA, CIMA, and ACCA are the three major UK qualifications.

  • An ACA is an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
  • An ACCA will have passed the professional examinations required for membership of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
  • CIMA have passed the professional examinations required for membership of the qualified accountants and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants respectively
  • There is also the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAAT) which enables people to study whilst working. It offers practical training and qualifications in key accounting tasks and can lead towards Chartered Accountancy

How do I make best use of my experience and qualifications for jobs UK based?

Your skills and work experience thus far will always be the most important asset you can take with you to the UK. Gaining further accounting experience in the UK will help you even more and often means an improvement in your rate as well as increased job scope and opportunities. Transferring your accounting qualifications can also be advantageous particularly if are thinking longer term. Fortunately, in many cases the qualifications you achieve prior to arriving in the UK can be transferred. In order to achieve the equivalent UK qualification, often you will need to acquire some UK experience and sit some exams. Exactly how much experience and additional study you need to do is a function of the qualifications you currently have, and the country from which you received your qualifications. To determine the qualification that is right for you, first decide what you want to achieve career-wise in the UK then decide which qualification provide the best path.

If you want to know more, here are the links to the 3 major professional bodies

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