It’s important you choose a career that’s right for you. As a world leading professional membership organisation we’re ideally placed to help you take the first step.
Let’s start by highlighting some of the reasons why we think chartered accountancy is a great career choice.
- You can do it with or without a degree
- Graduate, school leaver, apprenticeship and AAT entry routes offer you the flexibility to choose what’s right for you
- In chartered accountancy every day is different – You could perform any number of roles from technical and analytical work to financial planning and business strategy
- Accountancy is a global profession – The ACA qualification is recognised around the world, enabling you to work in international offices and with global clients
- It’s an exciting career – You’ll have the opportunity to work in any organisation in any sector, with a variety of job roles to choose from, whatever your ambitions
- You’ll develop transferable skills – From communication and team working to problem solving and decision making, chartered accountants develop skills valuable to any organisation
- It’s a career that offers stability – Chartered accountants are highly respected and in demand because of the knowledge, skills and experience they develop through their training
Sound like a career for you? Read the following steps on how you can become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
Choose how you get there
The good news is there’s more than one route to becoming a chartered accountant. If you’re bright, ambitious and want to get your career off the ground now, school leaver, apprenticeship, ICAEW CFAB and AAT-ACA Fast Track programmes offer an exciting alternative to university.
If you’ve decided university is your next step, our strategic degree programmes combine relevant work placements with your degree. If you don’t want to study for an accountancy, finance or business-related degree, don’t worry. Whichever course you do at university will stand you in good stead for a career as a chartered accountant.
Search for an employer
ACA training is done on the job, so you get the opportunity to learn while in employment. But you don’t have to wait until you have a training agreement – you can start ACA training while you are studying, or while you look for an employer. If you are ready to start your journey, our Training Vacancies job portal can help you find an employer, visit icaewtrainingvacancies.com. Register your details, sign up for job alerts, upload your CV and search through a selection of employers around the world who promote their ACA vacancies through this service.
Apply
Employers look for the best candidates to recruit, so they will consider your academic abilities, willingness to learn, commitment, motivation and your desire to work in the profession. They’ll also look at your employability skills such as team working, oral and written communication, problem-solving and commercial awareness. Application processes vary depending on the employer; most will start with your CV or application form. To put yourself in the strongest position, make sure your CV is up to date and includes everything a potential employer will be looking for. Include relevant work experience, as well as examples from school activities or voluntary work – anywhere you have demonstrated any of the above skills. It all counts!
Complete your training
To develop the knowledge, skills and experience you need to have a successful career as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, complete the four integrated components of ACA training.
- Professional development
- Ethics and professional scepticism
- 3–5 years’ practical work experience
- 15 accountancy, finance and business modules
You will be supported by ICAEW, your employer and your tuition provider throughout your ACA training. Visit icaew.com/careers for more details
Become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant
Once you have successfully completed the ACA qualification you’ll be at the start of an exciting journey. You will have achieved one of the most advanced learning and professional development programmes available and be a highly qualified professional.
Apply to become an ICAEW member and you can use the internationally recognised letters ACA after your name. We’ll support you throughout your career, give you access to a range of events, technical and career related support, not to mention access to a global network of chartered accountants!
Want to know more?
Visit icaew.com/careers for more information about chartered accountancy, the ACA qualification and the range of entry routes into the profession. Once there, you’ll find more of our top tips for securing a training agreement with an employer and some more inspirational stories from our current ACA students and members.
You can also:
Find us at facebook.com/ICAEWcareers
Follow us on Twitter @ICAEW_Careers
Email us at careers@icaew.com
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