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How to become an accountant

If you are still at school or college and you’re wondering how to become an accountant you can get the low down on different routes into an accountancy career right here.

To become an accountant, you need to gain a formal qualification or a degree. While a university degree was once vital for a career in accountancy that is no longer the case, as there are now different routes into the job.

However, one thing you will definitely need is a head for numbers. The job entails keeping financial accounts for anyone from companies to the government and individual clients. Working either for an accountancy firm, within a company, or even self-employed, accountancy has a wide range of opportunities for those looking to get into the career.

As a career, it can get busy as the financial year comes to a close as tax returns and other matters need to be dealt with. However, it can be quieter at other times, allowing the workload to balance out over the course of the year.

As you gain education and experience within accounting you can become a certified accountant, which allows you a higher level of expertise and opportunities to move into management or specialisation in a particular area, such as tax or forensic accounting.

As well as mathematical skills, a good accountant needs to possess some decent interpersonal and communication skills in order to effectively deal with clients. You will also need to be able to stay organised and keep accurate records as businesses may rely on you to help them make important decisions.

To break into a career as an accountant you can take the university route, or alternatively avoid the debt and get some on-the-job experience with an apprenticeship. It just depends on whether you would prefer the academic or the vocational route.

You can find out more about careers in finance, banking, and accountancy right here also, find out more on getting into accountancy.

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