- ACA is an internationally recognised, highly regarded qualification
- You now have the edge that puts you ahead of the competition
- ACA prepares finance candidates for a wide range of careers
The skills that you have gained through your training will be highly sought after by some of the global market-leaders in:
You know your skill-set is desirable. Now it’s time to make yourself marketable so you can turn every opportunity into a career prospect. Choose your career path now As a newly qualified ACA you can follow a number of routes depending on your training and specialist practical experience, including:
- Commercial, reporting and strategic finance roles:
- Utilizing your analytical, planning and strategic skills.
- Typical roles range from management accounting and group accounting through to Finance Manager and Financial Controller positions in smaller companies.
- More commercial focused positions are available, particularly if you have skills in modeling, M&A/corporate finance or financial analysis. These roles are key to supporting and driving business performance.
- Specialist accounting roles:
- Drawing upon the technical elements of your qualification and experience, some entry positions into commercial firms are either as a Financial Accountant or Group Accountant.
- These roles provide excellent grounding for a move into an FD role later in your career.
- Roles within practice:
- You may be lucky enough to secure a new contract with your current employer and contemplating the next step to managerial level.
- If not consider whether you want to specialise, or if you would rather have a wider remit.
- Decide whether you are looking for the challenge of working for a higher-ranking practice, or a smaller, more intimate environment.
What salary can I expect? Salary levels will vary by sector and the type of experience you have, whether you want to move into a corporate or SME. Corporate finance experience does have a premium. Read our ACA newly qualified salary guide for average salary rates by sector and market insight into which sectors offer the most opportunity for career progression. How do I choose what’s best for me? With many options open to you it can be difficult to decide on the next best step for your career path. Ask yourself:
- Are there long-term opportunities with my current employer?
- What experience will help me develop the skills I need to continue to develop?
- What sectors have I been exposed to during my training, and are any of those of interest to me?
- Is there a specific part of my current role that I would be interested to do more in?
- Have I looked at job adverts to find out more about what opportunities are out there?
What motivates you?
- It may be that the higher remuneration packages of the corporate and financial services sector appeal to you, or maybe you’re looking to play an integral role in a not for profit organisation.
- You may prefer the size and scale of a FTSE corporate, or the challenge of working in a growing SME.
- You may enjoy diving into detailed numbers, being recognised as a specialist or having a broader role that spans the whole business.
What do I do next?
