If you're a qualified accountant but considering a rewarding career change, getting into tutoring could be the perfect opportunity for you. A career as an accountancy tutor allows you to share your expertise, utilise your existing skills and knowledge, and inspire the next generation of finance professionals while enjoying a fulfilling profession beyond practice.

We held a webinar to discuss key skills, unique opportunities, and advice for starting this career.

Panellists

Andy Bradley

Head of Academic Delivery at Kaplan UK

Andy has worked at Kaplan for 27 years, starting as a tutor and progressing to Head of Academic Delivery. He qualified with ICAEW at Price Waterhouse (before they became PwC) and then taught AAT, ACCA, CIMA, and ICAEW at Kaplan’s Leeds centre.

Poppy Laila

Careers and Diversity Manager at Kaplan UK

Poppy began her Kaplan career as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo). She progressed to Personal Development and Inclusion Manager and now works as a Careers and Diversity Manager. Poppy is passionate about maximising equity for all learners and is heavily involved in Kaplan’s Enrichment Weeks.

Making the transition from an accountant to educator: Similarities and differences

Transitioning from accountancy to teaching offers the chance to make a meaningful impact on individual lives while enjoying many professional perks. Andy Bradley shared his reasons for the career change and the similarities and differences between this career and others.

Differences

• Work-life balance: Andy shared how teaching provides greater flexibility and autonomy than working in practice. He spoke about how there are no time sheets and less need for oversight, which offers more freedom to do the job.
• Making a personal impact: Unlike accountancy practice, where value is often delivered at a business level, tutors can experience the personal satisfaction of helping individuals succeed. From supporting learners on their study journeys to celebrating their professional milestones, Andy shared that this sense of reward is unmatched.

• Receiving feedback: Andy mentioned that Kaplan tutors frequently receive positive feedback from learners through end-of-course evaluations. He compared this to other job roles, suggesting that many positions don’t offer as much positive feedback as an accountancy tutor would receive.

Similarities

• Use of accountancy knowledge: You can’t become an accountancy tutor without accounting knowledge. Any experience, qualifications, or skills gained by studying or working in the industry will be transferable to a career as an educator.
• Sociability: Andy noted that being sociable is a skill required of accountancy tutors and is similarly found in other roles. He explained that standing in front of a class and engaging learners is a core part of the role. At the same time, tutors often describe this as ‘performing,’ as it requires energy, charisma, and an ability to captivate an audience.
• Teamwork: Collaborating with colleagues is a central part of the job, similar to other roles. Tutors often share experiences, methods, and resources to improve their teaching and support one another.

Key skills needed to succeed as an accountancy tutor

During the session, Andy highlighted the skills that make a great tutor. If you're contemplating this career move, ask yourself if any of these qualities resonate:

• Preparation: Significant time is spent preparing lessons, ensuring you're ready to teach the material in an engaging and understandable way. Andy noted how you have to be self-disciplined to achieve this.
• Passion: Some topics and subjects within accountancy can be complex or less interesting, so having a passionate tutor goes a long way. Andy shared the importance of having genuine enthusiasm for education: “The best tutors have a real passion for doing it, and that comes out in their teaching.”
• Strong work ethic: All tutors at Kaplan work very hard preparing for classes, teaching, supporting learners outside the classroom or providing additional resources to aid their learning.
• Flexibility: Seasonality in education means tutors must effectively manage their time to prepare for peak periods. Openness to change is crucial as qualifications and delivery methods evolve regularly.
• Resilience: Part of the seasonality in education means that certain times are hectic compared to others. Andy stressed the importance of managing your well-being and health and how resilience is key when teaching during busy periods or receiving constructive feedback.
• Empathy and compassion: Studying can be very stressful for learners, and recognising the pressures they face and supporting them through challenges is integral to the role.

• Creativity and imagination: Tutors need to find different ways to explain things and make complex topics sound much more straightforward. Andy admitted, “Accountancy isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but our job is to make it simple and straightforward so learners can understand it.”

Debunking misconceptions about teaching accountancy

Many assume that becoming an accountancy tutor requires years of teaching experience or exceptional academic results during qualification. However, Andy was quick to address these misconceptions during the webinar:

You don't need outstanding exam results

You don’t have to be a prize winner to become a brilliant tutor. While all of our tutors are qualified accountants, your grades don’t need to be perfect.

Andy noted that students often work full-time, study for a limited time, and are under a lot of pressure. However, when they prepare to teach, they have other tutors to help them. They do this as part of their job so they can dedicate more time to developing a deep understanding of the content.

You don't need teaching experience or a teaching qualification

While some tutors pursue teaching certifications, they are not required to begin your career as an accountancy educator. Connecting and empathising with learners is far more critical than prior teaching experience.

Andy also noted that most Kaplan tutors have only recently become qualified in accounting before joining the team. This can be advantageous, as their technical knowledge is very up-to-date. They often have a natural empathy for learners, having been in the same position shortly before. He also suggested that newly qualified accountants who go into teaching can usually readily share tips and tricks they relied on when learning.

At Kaplan, we provide comprehensive training and support to new educators. While an accountancy qualification is required, a teaching qualification or prior teaching experience isn’t.

Joys and challenges

Andy summarised some of his points earlier in the webinar while showcasing the benefits of working as an accountancy educator. Some examples of the ‘joys’ include:

• Making a difference in people’s lives isn’t something found in every career.
• Getting the chance to perform is a key benefit for tutors who are outgoing and like to present to a class.
• Tutoring means meeting people from all walks of life and being surrounded by supportive colleagues.
• This industry is constantly changing, meaning you’ll rarely ever be bored.
• There are opportunities to travel and work globally if you are a tutor.
• A personal favourite for Andy is that he hasn’t had to complete a timesheet for over 27 years!

Moving over to some of the challenges in the job, Andy provided a similar summary:

• Similarly to those working in practice, the seasonality of education can be a challenge. Andy shared how it is usually busier during the later months of the year when teaching as accountants are usually busier earlier in the year, so they will have less time off to study.
• Constant industry change can be a challenge or a benefit, depending on your preferences.
• Managing your own time can require a lot of self-discipline, and embracing the flexibility needed for the role can also be challenging.
• While most tutor feedback is usually positive, it can be difficult not to take the occasional criticism or negative feedback personally.

Additional thoughts and questions

How are the subjects that an individual teaches decided?

Andy explained that the subjects a new tutor teaches usually depend on the business' hiring needs.

The hiring team will consider factors such as an applicant’s past teaching experience and the subjects they have taught, if relevant. Additionally, the team will consider previous work experience in a specialist area and the subjects the applicant is interested in teaching. For example, an applicant who has worked in tax and is interested in teaching this area will be considered for the role of a tax tutor.

To be a ‘qualified accountant,’ does this mean chartered?

By qualified, we mean level 7 qualifications. Level 7 qualifications include ACCA, ACA, CIMA, CTA, etc, or above. It doesn’t have to be an ICAEW qualification.

Does it depend on your qualifications to gain global opportunities?

Andy shared how he has travelled for work with ACCA, which is globally recognised, and he has also travelled with ICAEW. However, he emphasised that he had these opportunities because he is a tutor, not necessarily because of his qualifications.

Do Kaplan tutors teach online or in a classroom?

At Kaplan, all our tutors teach both online and in the classroom. However, some tutors teach more classes online, particularly if they are located near a smaller Kaplan centre with fewer classes. Others teach mainly in the classroom, particularly those in larger, busier centres.

How to get started as an accountancy tutor

If you're interested in exploring this career, Andy offered the following advice:

1. Speak to your tutors

Contact tutors at your learning centre to ask about their experiences. They can provide valuable insights into the role and what to expect.

2. Sharpen your communication skills

Teaching requires the ability to convey complex ideas clearly. Practice explaining accounting concepts to peers or colleagues to build confidence.

3. Stay connected with Kaplan

Keep an eye on our hiring opportunities. Many tutors join shortly after completing their qualifications, and Kaplan offers robust training to help you transition smoothly.

4. Attend related webinars

Events such as Kaplan's Enrichment Week provide detailed overviews and allow you to learn directly from industry professionals.

Is teaching the next step for you?

Becoming an accountancy tutor isn't just a career change, it's an opportunity to shape the future of finance. Whether you're passionate about teaching, eager to achieve a better work-life balance, or excited about new challenges, this path offers countless rewards.

If you're inspired by the idea of making a difference in the lives of learners, consider exploring opportunities with us at Kaplan.

Watch the full webinar recording for more details about the transition to teaching.