Accountant

What does an accountant do?

• Prepare financial statements, budgets and management reports.
• Check that records are accurate and follow accounting standards such as IFRS.
• Prepare tax returns and advise on how to meet tax rules efficiently.
• Audit the accounts and internal controls of organisations.
• Analyse costs, cash flow and profit, and suggest improvements.
• Use accounting software and spreadsheets to keep records up to date.
• Explain financial results to managers, clients and boards in plain language.

Where do they work?

Some accountants work in public practice, which means accounting and audit firms that serve clients. Others work in industry, inside the finance teams of companies, or for governments, hospitals, universities and charities. Some run their own practice and serve small businesses. The work is mostly office-based, and hybrid working is common. Year-end, audit season and tax deadlines often bring long hours.

What skills do you need?

• Financial reporting and accounting standards
• Tax rules and compliance
• Auditing and internal controls
• Accounting software and advanced spreadsheets
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Analytical and commercial thinking
• Professional ethics and judgement
• Explaining numbers to non-specialists

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• interpret financial statements
• manage accounts
• prepare tax returns forms
• draft accounting procedures
• prepare financial statements
• follow the statutory obligations
• check accounting records
• explain accounting records
• ensure compliance with accounting conventions
• attach accounting certificates to accounting transactions
• prepare trial accounting balances
• analyse financial performance of a company

Essential knowledge: financial statements · commercial law · accounting techniques · tax legislation · statistics · depreciation · fraud detection · accounting entries

How do you become an accountant?

Most accountants have a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics or business, although many professional bodies also accept graduates in other subjects, and some accept school leavers. The key step is a professional qualification. You usually pass a series of exams and complete supervised work experience, which normally takes around three years or more alongside a job. Examples include the CPA in the United States, Canada and other countries, chartered accountant titles in countries such as India, the UK and South Africa, and ACCA, which is offered internationally. Career changers often start with an accounting technician qualification or join a trainee scheme.

1. University degree. A three- or four-year degree in accounting or finance gives you the technical basics and may give exemptions from some professional exams. Many firms run graduate training schemes that support your professional qualification while you work. Graduates in other subjects can join the same schemes but usually take extra exams.
2. Apprenticeship or technician route. In some countries, such as the UK and Ireland, you can start after secondary school as a trainee or apprentice. You usually begin with an accounting technician qualification, then move on to a full professional qualification. This route lets you earn while you learn, but it takes discipline to study alongside work.
3. Career change. People from banking, administration or other business roles can move into accounting by taking bookkeeping or technician courses, followed by a professional qualification. Some professional bodies offer a foundation level for people without a relevant degree. Experience in a finance team, even at junior level, helps you get a trainee role.

Degrees that lead to this career

• Accounting and finance

  An accounting and finance degree teaches how organisations record, report, analyse and manage money, from financial statements and tax to investment and risk.

  6 linked careers

• Economics

  An economics degree studies how people, businesses and governments make choices with limited resources, and how markets, money and policy affect jobs, prices and growth.

  6 linked careers

• Business management

  A business management degree teaches how organisations are run, including strategy, marketing, finance, people management and operations.

  6 linked careers

• Mathematics

  A mathematics degree develops advanced reasoning and problem-solving through pure mathematics, such as algebra and analysis, and applied areas, such as statistics, modelling and computing.

  6 linked careers

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Do you need a licence to work as an accountant?

Accounting is partly regulated. In most countries anyone can do bookkeeping and many kinds of accounting work without a licence. However, titles such as CPA and chartered accountant are protected, so only members of the relevant professional body can use them. Signing a statutory audit, the legally required check of a company's accounts, is usually limited to registered or licensed auditors. In the United States, CPA licences are issued by each state. Rules on tax work vary, so check with your national professional body or regulator.

How much does an accountant earn?

Pay in the United States

• $83,680Median annual wage, May 2025
• $56,020–$144,090Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 1.4MPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 13-2011, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 2, "Professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes accountant and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Trainee or junior accountant
2. Qualified accountant
3. Senior accountant or audit manager
4. Financial controller or partner
5. Finance director or chief financial officer

Job outlook

Every organisation has to keep accounts and pay tax, so demand for accountants is spread across the whole economy and is fairly stable. Software and AI now handle much routine bookkeeping and data entry, which reduces some junior tasks. Employers increasingly want accountants who can analyse data, advise on decisions, manage risk and understand new reporting areas such as sustainability. Qualified accountants with these skills are in demand in many countries.

Questions about becoming an accountant

Do you need a degree to become an accountant?

Not always. A degree in accounting or finance is the most common route, and some countries, including the United States, require university-level study before you can become a licensed CPA. However, ACCA and many national institutes accept school leavers or trainees, who start with foundation or technician exams and work up to full qualification.

How long does it take to become a qualified accountant?

After a degree, most professional qualifications take around three years or more, because you combine exams with supervised work experience. The time depends on the professional body, any exemptions you have and how quickly you pass the exams. Starting after secondary school through a technician route usually takes longer overall, but you earn a salary throughout.

Which accounting qualification is recognised in the most countries?

ACCA is designed for international use and is recognised in many countries. CPA is the main licence in the United States, and national chartered or CPA titles are strongest in their own country. Some professional bodies have mutual recognition agreements, which can shorten the route if you move abroad. Choose the qualification that employers ask for where you want to work.

Will AI replace accountants?

AI and automation are taking over routine work such as data entry, matching transactions and basic reports. This changes junior roles, but organisations still need people who understand the rules, check results, apply judgement and advise managers. Accountants who build data and analysis skills, as well as technical knowledge, are likely to stay in demand.

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Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 13-2011, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 2411.1

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become an accountant: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/accountant/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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