Joining a professional body (typically ICAEW/ACCA/CIMA or AAT), passing professional exams, completing 3 years of supervised experience, and if you want to sign statutory audits registering with a Recognised Supervisory Body (RSB). Most new accountants complete the pathway in 3–5 years depending on route and exemptions.
The market size, students, demand (2024-25)
Profession size & pipeline: The UK accountancy profession keeps growing. The regulator’s latest Key Facts & Trends (KFAT 2024) reports membership rising again and student numbers stabilising (-0.2% in the UK & ROI; +0.1% worldwide). Across the main UK/Irish bodies there are >405,000 members in the UK & ROI, >616,000 worldwide, and >155,000 students in the UK & ROI ( >585,000 students globally).
Economic footprint : A 2024 CCAB/Oxford Economics study estimates the profession supported 910,000 jobs and contributed ~£97.7bn to UK & Irish economies in 2022, with 611k+ members globally and 585.8k registered students that year.
Jobs pulse : The UK labour market cooled in June–August 2025, with total vacancies at 728,000 (38th consecutive quarterly fall) and 2.3 unemployed people per vacancy-important context for applicants competing for trainee roles. Professional services (where accounting sits) remains a major employer even as vacancies ease.
Apprenticeships & early-career routes: England recorded 339,580 apprenticeship starts in 2023/24, with strong growth at Level 6–7 (degree/master’s) to 50,110 starts (14.8% of all). In accountancy specifically, completions for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard hit 4,155 in the year to Feb 2024, and independent analysis puts 2023/24 Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional starts at ~9,200 (making it one of the largest L7 programmes).
Graduate outcomes : In 2024, the employment rate was 87.6% for graduates (vs 68.0% for non-graduates), underlining the value of degree-plus-professional training routes into accounting and finance.
Pay & progression (what you can realistically earn)
A clean, government-anchored benchmark: the Skilled Worker “going rate” (based on the ASHE median) for SOC 2421 Chartered & Certified Accountants is £49,200. Newly qualifieds often cluster around this median, with region, sector and firm size pushing pay up or down. (Recruiter salary guides for 2025 generally place newly-qualified auditors in the mid-£50Ks, finance accountants in the high-£50Ks, and finance directors at £150K+.)
Routes at a glance (you’ll dive deeper in the next sections)
ICAEW ACA (public practice/industry): 15 exams across three stages, 450 days of relevant work experience; typical 3–5 years via a training agreement. Excellent if you want audit, deals, advisory, or commercial finance.
ACCA (broad, global): modular exams + 36 months of PER; average 3-4 years depending on exemptions; widely recognised for audit, reporting and commercial roles.
CIMA/CGMA (management accounting): three levels plus case studies and 3 years’ experience; average completion 4 years; popular for FP&A, business partnering and industry roles.
AAT (technician level): great entry route (often with apprenticeships); can ladder into ACCA/ICAEW/CIMA with exemptions. (We’ll show the step-ups and credit maps later.
A quick blueprint from NWC team: How to become an accountant in the UK
Step
Action
Details
1
Complete basic education
Finish HSC/A-Levels (or equivalent) with strong Maths/Business to keep accounting routes open.
2
Choose a university and course
Pick an Accounting/Finance or related degree in the UK; check which programs offer exam exemptions for ACCA/ICAEW/CIMA.
3
Get a Student visa
Apply for the UK Student visa (formerly Tier 4) with a CAS from your university; understand work-hour limits during term time.
4
Consider foundation courses (optional)
If your grades/subjects don’t meet entry criteria, take a UK foundation or international year one to bridge gaps.
5
Earn professional qualifications
Start a recognised pathway: ACA (ICAEW), ACCA, or CIMA (CGMA). These are the main chartered routes in the UK.
6
Gain practical experience
Secure internships, apprenticeships, or part-time finance roles (AP/AR, bookkeeping, audit trainee). Log experience for PER/ACA requirements.
7
Apply for a Graduate visa
After graduating, apply for the Graduate visa (up to 2 years; 3 for PhD) to build full-time experience in accounting roles.
8
Register with a professional body
Join ICAEW/ACCA/CIMA (or AAT if starting at technician level) and maintain student membership while you study.
9
Engage in CPD
Keep skills current (tax changes, audit updates, Excel/Power BI/ERP tools). Complete annual CPD once qualified.
10
Apply for relevant roles
Target trainee and graduate roles: Audit Associate, Assistant Accountant, Management Accountant, Financial Analyst; progress to chartered status.
If you want, I can also turn this into a downloadable one-pager or expand each step with timelines, costs, and recommended UK job boards.
How long does it take to become a chartered accountant?
Becoming a Chartered Accountant usually takes around 3 to 5 years. It mostly depends on your accountancy qualifications and the route you choose.
Here’s an approximate timeline:
University Degree: 3 years (Bachelor’s in Accounting or related field)
Professional Qualifications: 2-3 years (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA)
Work Experience: Gaining practical experience may overlap with your qualification process and take 2 years.
So, if you follow a straightforward path, you could become a fully qualified Chartered Accountant in about 5 years.
What other careers are available for those interested in accounting?
There are plenty of alternative career paths you can explore beyond the usual accounting jobs.
Here are some exciting options to consider:
Actuary: Specialising in financial risk assessment and insurance
Financial Planner: Helping people and businesses on managing their finances
Management Consultant: Advising companies on financial planning
Tax Consultant: Offering services on tax planning, filing, and compliance
Internal Auditor: Checking that companies follow regulations & have proper financial controls.
You can also tap into the resources at university career centres to help you choose the perfect career related to accountancy. With so many exciting options, your future in accounting is full of possibilities.
Ready to become an accountant in the UK? Let NWC Education guide you start to chartered.
NWC Education helps you move from “I’m interested” to ICAEW/ACCA/CIMA-ready with a clear, personalised plan:
Course & university match: We shortlist UK degrees, foundations, and apprenticeships that maximise exam exemptions and ROI.
Application done right: UCAS or direct—statements, references, and document prep handled with care.
Visa success support: End-to-end guidance for the Student visa now and the Graduate visa later, with compliance checklists.
AAT → Chartered pathway: Not sure where to start? We map your step-ups (AAT to ACCA/ICAEW/CIMA), including timelines and costs.
Career launchpad: CV & LinkedIn revamp, interview coaching, and targeted roles (Audit/FP&A/Assistant Accountant) while you study.
Apprenticeships & internships: We help you find earn-while-you-learn options and log PER/ACA experience correctly.
Professional body onboarding: Student membership, exemptions, ethics modules, and exam booking—sorted.
Skill boosters: Excel/Power BI primers, accounting software (Xero/Sage/QuickBooks), and CPD workshops so you hit the ground running.
For internationals: Country-specific guidance, financial planning, and settlement-minded career strategies.
Get started in 3 steps
Book a free consultation with our advisors.
Get your personalised roadmap (course, exemptions, budget, timeline).
Apply with confidence—we manage the details while you focus on results.
Want your accounting career fast-tracked—and future-proof? Message us now to claim your free planning session and your customised UK accountant pathway.
