Newly Qualified ACA – What next?

Congratulations! You have successfully passed your ACA, which we appreciate is no mean feat. The great thing about this valuable qualification is that you have a wealth of opportunities available to you. From media and advertising to corporate finance and insurance you are at a point in your career where you are highly sought after by the best companies in the market.

The only issue about so much choice is it can often be difficult to decide what the best option is for you. With that in mind, we've used our accounting and finance recruitment expertise to put together a comprehensive guide that explores the wide range of career opportunities available as well as interview tips and advice on how to get your ideal job.

Banking and Financial Services

This market offers a dynamic environment for you to fully utilise your ACA skills. The variety of opportunities available for qualified ACAs in banking is seemingly unlimited and there are many impressive roles that you simply will not find in other industries. From the deal rooms of the investment banks to financial control or planning of new business, banking and financial services will offer the right role for you – a career in banking will equip you with an enviable skill set for the future. According to Deloitte, the industry is witnessing workforce virtualisation, meaning that you can enjoy more flexibility in your role. We have a team of highly experienced consultants who have a number of job opportunities for qualified ACAs – check out our latest banking and financial services jobs.

Commerce and Industry

Commerce and industry offers newly qualified ACAs the opportunity to work for a diverse range of companies from FTSE 100 PLCs to entrepreneurial start up businesses. The companies on offer vary from household brand names to PLC head offices, all of which will offer you the challenge that you require. The roles on offer to a newly qualified vary from technical, commercial, analytical, operational and project focused work. Check out the latest commerce and industry finance jobs and get in touch with our team of specialist consultants who will be able to offer you the in-depth market knowledge you require to make your next career move. 

Investment Management 

This sector is often regarded as a glamorous sector within financial services. There are a plethora of roles available to newly qualified chartered accountants across the length and breadth of fund management. This is an ideal first move for someone looking for a technically challenging role in an innovative and entrepreneurial environment. As a newly qualified accountant, the skills you have learnt in practice are hugely transferable into fund management, with the majority of employers focused more on softer skills like career aspirations, drive, motivation and personality as well as your technical abilities. With investment management becoming a digitally-charged industry, there's the opportunity to use sophisticated tech stacks and develop your technical expertise. Browse our finance and accountancy job vacancies within investment management and private equity to find your ideal job. 

Insurance

Insurance is seen by many as an attractive and infinitely fascinating industry with strong roots in the London market and a powerful network of companies offering long-term job security and international scope. With a high demand for new employees, opportunities are hotly contested and exceptional candidates will never struggle for options and often have total job security throughout their working life. Take a look at our latest insurance job vacancies to find your ideal job and apply.

Public Practice

Accounting firms within public practice offer a wide variety of careers for ACAs, with attractive earning potential and unrivalled job security, many ACAs see their future within public practice. We are in the envious position of being able to offer recently qualified ACAs opportunities at Big 4, Top 20 and more specialised accounting firms. Browse our current public practice vacancies to find your ideal finance job or contact our team for a confidential discussion.

Tax

Tax impacts all our lives, through both personal and business avenues and can offer a stimulating and varied career - tax never stands still and nor will your career. It is unique in the number of diverse career opportunities available; no matter what your background, a career in tax opens up movements throughout the financial services, commerce and industry, public practice, legal and HMRC. It requires you to be numerate, think laterally and creatively, whilst being logical and persuasive. It is less a number-crunching profession and more an organisation and management career as more companies look towards their tax departments to add value across all divisions of their business. Check out our latest taxation jobs.

How can Marks Sattin help you take your next career step?

Marks Sattin is committing to supporting our candidates through every step in their career, including providing end-to-end coaching and career advice, covering everything from the format and structure of their newly qualified ACA finance CV to how to resign successfully. If you'd like more personalised advice, please contact one of our specialist consultants who’ll be happy to help you in any way they can.

Or, find out more about the career paths for newly qualified accountants.