Accountancy jobs in London
The UK’s accountancy sector is a large and multi-faceted one, e rating body of the Financial Reporting Council, the industry is continuing to expand at a fairly rapid pace.
Commenting on the findings of the November 2006 publication, Paul George, the Director of the Board, stated, “The overall picture is of an accounting profession in good health with the numbers of students and members continuing to grow.” This means that jobseekers should have little difficulty in finding suitable accountancy jobs in London, while those still studying can look forward to a range of job opportunities following the successful completion of their qualifications.
The “Big Four” London accountancy firms
Many newly qualified accountants aspire to work at some of the country’s largest and most respected firms. According to the Professional Oversight Board’s report, the UK’s four biggest companies are Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers. All of these firms have offices in London, so professionals seeking accountancy jobs in the city may not necessarily need to relocate should they secure positions at one of the “Big Four”.
Recently qualified accountants starting their careers at large accountancy companies will, in all likelihood, start in very junior positions. Beginning at the bottom of the ladder, graduates who dream of partnership will need to be tenacious and determined if they hope to climb the rungs to success and achieve their career goals. There is ample room for growth at many large and medium-sized London accountancy firms, but promotions are usually offered to those employees who prove their dedication to the job and their capacity for hard work.
Accountancy services provided by large, medium and small firms
The work that people do after securing accountancy jobs in London is largely determined by the type and size of the company that employs them. You could find yourself working for a firm that specialises in areas such as industry or commerce, health services, or the public or private sectors. Alternatively, you could join a private practice which provides accountancy services for both the public and private sectors.
The professional services offered by particular accountancy firms are often dependent on the size of the company in question. Thanks to their immense capacity, large external accountancy firms such as the “Big Four” mentioned above are able to provide a wide range of expert services to their clients, including:
- Assurance and Auditing
- Corporate Finance
- Corporate Recovery/Insolvency
- Forensic Accounting
- Taxation
- Financial Outsourcing
Aside from these professional services, large London-based accountancy firms may also provide insurance and pension advice, actuarial services, IT assistance and human resource solutions. Other large and medium-sized accountancy businesses usually offer similar services to those provided by the Big Four, while small practices tend to focus on the auditing, tax and financial accountancy requirements of smaller local businesses.
Internal providers and consultants
The majority of qualified accounts are employed in internal firms, operating from within multinational companies, educational institutions, banks, manufacturers, local authorities, building societies and insurance companies. All of these institutions have their own internal accountancy departments, and the services offered by these internal accountancy providers generally include:
- Internal auditing
- Financial Accounting
- Management Accounting
As time progresses, qualified accountants may wish to become self-employed after gaining sufficient work experience in accountancy jobs in London. As private consultants, they’ll offer a variety of services and professional advice to a range of private clients, while possibly even creating new jobs in the accountancy field.
Read more about expected earnings and accounting qualifications.
