Charlie Bailey shares his insight into how professionals can get into accountancy without attending university.

People often have the misconception that you need a degree to get into accounting and finance roles. However, this simply is not true. Many pathways to a successful career in accounting don’t require a degree.

Here, I will go through these pathways, and offer some tips on what our GoForma looks for in apprentice and entry-level accounting roles.

A quick note on the word ‘accountant’

Before I discuss the specific pathways into accounting, I should clarify that the word “accountant” is often misused. This profession isn’t a protected term like a doctor or a lawyer.

Try to think of ‘accountancy’ as an industry - that includes roles such as:

• Payroll management
• Financial analyst
• Accounting assistant

When you see a job posting specifically for an “accountant,” they are generally looking for a chartered accountant (remember to double-check the job description to be certain). The term ‘chartered accountant’ is legally protected. Therefore, you need certain qualifications and experience to call yourself one.

Despite common misconceptions, it’s still possible to become a chartered accountant without a university degree.

Alternative ways to become an accountant

Professional qualifications

AAT

While you can start working in an accounting firm with no qualifications whatsoever (albeit in a non-technical role), to work in a technical role you will likely need qualifications from awarding institutes such as the Association of Accounting Technicians (more commonly referred to as ‘AAT’).

The table below shows a breakdown of the AAT qualification and some examples of the job roles that each level will require.

Apprenticeships

While the AAT qualification is a perfect way to get into accounting, there are options to complete your professional qualifications via an apprenticeship - which will also equip you with practical experience.

Apprenticeships are linked to specific job roles to ensure that you develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviours to succeed and excel in your chosen career. They take an average of one to four years to complete, which involves practical work-based projects, workshops, progress reviews, and tutor-led courses.

It's likely that your apprenticeship will provide the option to achieve one of the aforementioned professional qualifications, such as AAT.

A good thing about an apprenticeship is that they are suitable for anyone - whether you’re currently unemployed or looking to upskill or change your career. It’s likely you’ll need to meet entry requirements, such as a specific number of A-C grade (or equivalent) GCSEs, to be accepted. However, candidates who require development of their English and maths skills could receive support from the functional skills tutors at Kaplan.

If you are interested in an apprenticeship, browse current vacancies.

The on-the-job experience of an apprenticeship will (in my eyes at least) make you a stronger candidate for accounting roles than someone with less relevant work experience.

In fact, I’d consider someone who has an AAT Level 4 Diploma gained through an apprenticeship as a stronger candidate for an accounting role than someone with a relevant university degree (this is just my opinion though).

This could mean potentially taking a pay cut if you are a career changer rather than a school leaver. However, the salary of your apprenticeship will depend on the employer.

What if I want to become a chartered accountant?

Further qualifications, such as the ACA qualification, will help you to become a chartered accountant. Your studies will take around three years on average while working full-time.

However, the upsides of becoming a chartered accountant are huge. They include:

• The ability to work anywhere - ACA is a globally recognised qualification so you’ll be able to find employment pretty much anywhere in the world.
• A big earning potential - chartered accountants with five years post-qualified experience earn on average £75,000 a year. This can increase depending on factors such as your experience and workplace.*
• Excellent job prospects - every large company has a finance department that needs chartered accountants, and most medium-sized organisations use a chartered accountant to help them manage their finances.

If you don’t have a university degree, you can start your ACA studies with the full AAT qualification while working in a relevant role.

Admittedly, some workplaces will argue that chartered accountant roles require a relevant university degree, but there are ways around this. They include:

• Internal promotions - applying for internal promotions at your current workplace can work in your favour if your colleagues and hiring managers are aware of your work ethic, competencies, knowledge, skills, and behaviours.
• Networking - reach out to connections you have made throughout your career personally, and tell them your career aspirations. If you can get a hiring manager or decision-maker on the phone, then even better. LinkedIn is your best friend when it comes to networking.
• Your portfolio - building a professional portfolio of your previous work to show alongside your CV, rather than just explaining your competencies, can help you to stand out and show employers what you can bring to the role.

What we look for in non-graduate candidates

This is what my company, GoForma, specifically looks for in entry-level candidates, graduates or otherwise.

• Relevant work experience - by ‘relevant,’ we mean something to do with reporting income and expenditure. This could be as simple as managing stock and inventory for a shop or handling payroll for a pub or restaurant.
• A proactive attitude - the best way of demonstrating you are proactive is by interacting with the hiring manager at the company you are working at. This could be as simple as engaging with their content on LinkedIn, right the way up to calling them up and asking for more details on the role. Asking if they accept non-graduates is a good “excuse” to get your name in front of them.
• Computer skills - especially Microsoft Excel skills. Pivot tables and Vlookups also need to be part of your arsenal.

We look for the same skills when hiring apprentices. You don’t have to be a recent school-leaver to do an apprenticeship. In fact, many recruiters and hiring managers value real-world skills and experience extremely highly when looking for the perfect candidate for an apprenticeship.

Final thoughts

In a nutshell, you don’t need a university degree to get into accounting.

A university degree will essentially get you to the point of an AAT Level 4 Diploma. But usually, this is at a higher cost and with fewer opportunities to gain relevant work experience.

Some employers advise they prefer degrees, while others focus more on experience and skills. The best way to find out what an employer is looking for is by contacting them directly, explaining your situation, and being proactive.

Start your career in accountancy

Whether you’re looking to gain professional qualifications independently, as part of your current job role, or via an apprenticeship programme - we can support you.

Browse our current apprenticeship vacancies, or read more about how to talk to your existing employer about starting an apprenticeship.

Alternatively, have a look through our professional qualifications, which include both AAT and the ICAEW ACA qualifications.

*Hays UK Salary and Recruiting Trends 2024