Accountant
Accountants prepare, check and explain financial information so that organisations pay the right tax, follow the law and make better decisions.
What can you do with an accounting and finance degree?
Also called: Accounting · Accountancy · Finance · Financial management · Banking and finance
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
An accounting and finance degree teaches how organisations record, report, analyse and manage money, from financial statements and tax to investment and risk. Many graduates train as accountants or become financial analysts, while others work in banking, insurance, consulting or the finance teams of companies and governments. Most accounting careers also need a professional qualification after the degree.
Careers with an accounting and finance degree
Most graduates start in accounting firms, banks, insurance companies or the finance departments of businesses, charities and governments. Common first roles include trainee accountant, audit or tax associate and junior financial analyst. Many later become financial planners, business analysts or management consultants, or move into senior finance roles. Graduates with strong mathematics sometimes become actuaries after further professional exams. Less obvious options include fraud investigation, public sector audit, treasury management in large companies and finance roles in technology start-ups.
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Financial analyst
Financial analysts study financial data, markets and company performance to help businesses and investors make decisions about money.
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Financial planner
Financial planners help individuals and families manage their money and plan for goals such as buying a home, paying for education and retirement.
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Actuary
Actuaries use mathematics, statistics and financial theory to measure and manage risk, especially in insurance, pensions and investment.
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Management consultant
Management consultants help organisations solve problems and improve performance, for example by changing strategy, reducing costs, reorganising teams or introducing new technology.
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Business analyst
Business analysts help organisations improve the way they work.
Other roles graduates go into: Tax adviser · Risk analyst · Credit analyst · Financial controller · Compliance officer · Treasury analyst
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Financial accounting and reporting
- Management accounting and budgeting
- Auditing and assurance
- Taxation
- Corporate finance and investment
- Financial markets and institutions
- Business law and ethics
- Accounting information systems and data analysis
Skills you gain
- Preparing and interpreting financial statements
- Analysing numbers to support business decisions
- Using spreadsheets and accounting software
- Applying rules and standards accurately
- Assessing risk and comparing investment options
- Explaining financial information to non-specialists
How the degree differs around the world
The degree usually takes three years in the UK, Australia and much of Europe, and four years in the United States, Canada and many other countries. In some places accounting is a major within a broader commerce or business degree. Many programmes are accredited by professional accounting bodies, which can exempt you from some professional exams. The degree alone rarely makes you a qualified accountant: in most countries you also pass professional exams and complete supervised work experience. In the United States, each state sets its own education and experience rules for the certified public accountant licence.
How do accounting and finance graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Business and administration”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 119 (2023) | 90.2% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Sweden | 117 (2023) | 89.2% (2024) | 89.6% |
| Austria | 111 (2023) | 84.0% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Norway | 110 (2023) | 90.1% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Latvia | 110 (2023) | 87.7% (2024) | 87.7% |
| Canada | 110 (2020) | 80.6% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Portugal | 108 (2020) | 89.7% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Switzerland | 108 (2023) | 88.2% (2024) | 89.5% |
| United Kingdom | 108 (2020) | 84.4% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Mexico | 108 (2023) | 80.8% (2024) | 81.5% |
| South Korea | 108 (2023) | — | — |
| United States | 107 (2023) | 85.5% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Germany | 105 (2020) | 88.3% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Australia | 105 (2020) | 88.0% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Chile | 103 (2023) | 83.7% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Luxembourg | 102 (2023) | 87.8% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Finland | 100 (2022) | 89.4% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Slovenia | 97 (2020) | 91.2% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Romania | 97 (2023) | 91.0% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Estonia | 95 (2023) | 87.3% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Costa Rica | 91 (2023) | 54.5% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Iceland | — | 95.2% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Netherlands | — | 92.2% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Poland | — | 91.7% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Lithuania | — | 90.2% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Croatia | — | 90.0% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Slovakia | — | 89.7% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Czechia | — | 88.6% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Ireland | — | 88.6% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Belgium | — | 87.0% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Greece | — | 86.7% (2024) | 82.3% |
| France | — | 86.5% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Hungary | — | 85.8% (2024) | 76.2% |
| Italy | — | 85.5% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Spain | — | 83.9% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Peru | — | 79.7% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Türkiye | — | 72.9% (2016) | 72.9% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone. Where a country publishes only broad fields, we use “Business, administration and law”.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Accounting” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £25,600 | £21,600 | £30,700 | 87.4% |
| After 3 years | £30,700 | £24,900 | £39,500 | 89.1% |
| After 5 years | £37,700 | £28,500 | £51,600 | 87.5% |
| After 10 years | £45,800 | £30,700 | £67,700 | 83.9% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment. More UK detail on CourseToJob.co.uk
Is an accounting and finance degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You are comfortable with numbers and enjoy getting details right.
- You like understanding how businesses make and lose money.
- You want a career with clear professional qualifications and steps for progression.
Think twice if
- You find detailed, rule-based work and strict deadlines tiring.
- You do not want to study for professional exams while working after you graduate.
- You dislike spending most of the day with spreadsheets and data.
Further study
Most graduates who want to become accountants take professional exams while working, rather than a master's degree. A master's in finance, accounting or business analytics can help for investment, research or international roles. Some finance professionals take a recognised investment qualification, and an MBA is common later for people moving into senior management. A PhD leads to university teaching and research.
Questions about studying accounting and finance
What jobs can you get with an accounting and finance degree?
The most common jobs are accountant, auditor, tax adviser and financial analyst. Graduates also become financial planners, business analysts, management consultants, risk and compliance specialists and finance managers in companies, banks, insurers, charities and government. With extra exams in mathematics and statistics, some move into actuarial work.
Do you need an accounting degree to become an accountant?
Not always. In many countries you can qualify through professional exams and supervised training after a degree in any subject, and some countries offer apprenticeships or routes for school leavers. An accredited accounting degree can exempt you from some exams and shorten the route. In the United States, the certified public accountant licence usually requires a set amount of accounting and business study at university.
Is accounting and finance a hard degree?
Most students find it demanding but manageable. You need to be comfortable with numbers, but most modules use practical mathematics rather than advanced theory. The main challenges are the large number of rules and standards to learn and the need for accuracy. Some finance and economics modules are more mathematical, especially options in investment or econometrics.
Will AI replace accountants?
Software and AI already handle much routine bookkeeping, data entry and basic checking, so entry-level work is changing. Accountants who can interpret results, advise clients, understand tax and regulation, and check automated work are likely to remain in demand. Building data and technology skills during your degree will help you adapt.
Related subjects
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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.
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Business management
A business management degree teaches how organisations are run, including strategy, marketing, finance, people management and operations.
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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.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH17-01-08 — Accounting
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0411, 0412
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with an accounting and finance degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/accounting-and-finance/ (accessed September 26, 2026)