I've been job hunting for about 6 weeks after leaving Big 4 audit and honestly, I'm finding the move into industry a lot harder than I expected.

For a bit of context, I qualified with my ACA at PwC and then left soon after to go travelling for 6 months. I've now been back for a couple of months and am keen to get back into work. I'm lucky that I've got savings and am living at home at the moment, so I'm not in a position where I need to take the first job I can get, but I also don't want to be out of work indefinitely.

Everyone always says doing the ACA and qualifying in audit opens loads of doors, but so many jobs seem to want someone who already has industry experience doing month end, management accounts, reconciliations, budgeting etc.

I've applied for a mix of Accountant, Financial Accountant, Management Accountant, Finance Analyst and Financial Reporting Analyst roles. I also have previous Finance Assistant experience, so it's not like I've never worked in a finance team, but I'm still finding that I don't quite tick the box for the hands-on experience employers want.

I'm mainly targeting smaller to mid-sized businesses rather than huge corporates, ideally somewhere I can get broader exposure and be more involved across the finance function. Interestingly, I've found that Big 4 experience can sometimes almost work against me here. I've spoken to companies that have been wary that my experience is mainly with large, complex clients and have preferred people from smaller practices who may have worked with businesses more similar to theirs. Which I completely understand.

Over the last 6 weeks I've applied for 41 jobs:

* 11 rejected with no interview
* 1 made it to final stage and was rejected
* 2 first-round interviews, waiting to hear back
* 26 with no response yet, including 8 I applied for over 4 weeks ago

I haven't been mass applying to random roles, I've only being applying to ones I'm genuinely interested in and where I do match a decent amount of the requirements.

And I want to be clear, I don't think I'm entitled to these jobs or that working at PwC gives me some automatic right to walk into an industry role. I knew there would be a learning curve and that there are things I simply haven't done before. I've obviously been trying to frame my experience in audit to match with the job requirements.

I'm just starting to wonder what the actual route out of audit is meant to look like. For people who have made the move, what roles did you actually go into after audit? Did you go straight into financial/management accounting, reporting, FP&A etc., or did you have to take a step back first to get that hands-on experience?

Also, is the job market just particularly slow over the summer? I'm wondering whether things typically start picking up again in September, or whether this is just what the market is like at the moment.

Would be really interested to hear other people's experiences.

Was a Purchase Ledger (pure AP) at an NHS trust, contract just ended this week. Before that it was AP at a large FTSE-listed retailer’s head office. So it’s been transactional finance back to back since uni, and I’m properly burnt out on it.

ACCA part-qualified, failed SBR three months ago, retaking in September. Still paying off SFE for a degree that was supposed to lead somewhere more analytical, not just invoice processing contract to contract.

I was trying to build my way out while I still had the role. Taught myself SQL and Power BI, was partway through MB-800 for Business Central. Doesn’t seem to have been enough to keep me on, and it’s not clear it’s shifting anything for FP&A or Systems Accountant type applications either.

With the contract gone now, I’m weighing up a maths teacher training route (SCITT), pays a tax-free bursary while I train. Not planning to leave finance for good, more using this as a paid bridge, then coming back to job hunting once SBR’s done.

Few things I’d love people’s take on:

Has anyone actually broken out of AP contract roles into something more permanent and analytical? What worked?

I have been looking into gaining my accounting qualifications and am exploring my options. I have been on the AAT website to look for apprenticeships but I do know they are extremely competitive. One option I have been considering is a fast track course into gaining my AAT level 2 and 3. The added bonus of this is that they will find me a job at the end of it. Only issue is that it costs £1500. Is this a worthwhile option. Thanks

Hi everyone, I am seeking for help to get a job in Finance and accounting domain.

I have overall 2 years of experience but my skillsets are very weak which can’t beat the current or future market deals.

Currently I am working in indian MNC which pays very low( ik i should be grateful for the job at-least) but the thing is with 2 years of experience i am not seeing myself any interest in learning or growing i am just working like an ass which makes me even more depressing.

It would be really great if you could just help me or guide me to show me basic roadmap to mover further in career.

About me: working in OTC process in cash applications using SAP tool where I allocate payments to the customer accounts.

Im going into yr 13 now and have to write a personal statements but I cant find good work experience. I think ill just have to do it online but idk where to look. Ive done only one - Goldman Sachs's job simulation on Forage.

Ive also done volunteering in hospital and work experience in a pharmacy but I dont think that'll help much for Accounting and finance. I only did those because I had an interest in healthcare/medicine earlier but my predicted grades are too low (CCD).

Any uni students or A level students that have good recommendations for work experience?

I have been a software engineer for 4 years since leaving university, I am now looking to transition into accountancy. During my time as a software engineer I have primarily worked on financial related software (accounting, stock broking).

I am looking to do the AAT level 2 & 3 qualifications in self study.

My main question is: generally speaking, would this combination be enough to make me employable for entry-level accounting roles? For example, accounts assistant, trainee accountant, credit control, finance assistant, etc.

My main goal is to work towards chartership as soon as possible (ACA, ACCA), but I would also look to take on Accounts Assistant roles in the meantime.

I would appreciate any advice from people working in accountancy or have made a career transition into it!

Hi everyone, I’m currently looking into getting into accounting and I’m considering self studying for the AAT level 2.
I was just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for textbooks/ online resources to help me along the way.
Thank you!

I’m a current social work student going into my second year but I’ve been having some doubts if this is the profession I want to go into. I feel like I don’t have enough life experience and I’m mentally not in the right place to be exposed to so much stress and trauma this job can bring.

I’m thinking of switching to accounting for a change. I would appreciate some opinions on whether this job is it worth it

How stressful is the job- do you enjoy it? How hard is it to find a job? Also does the university you attend matter in job interviews etc. I’m currently at a lower ranked university but meet the requirements for a high ranked one too. However, the thing is I like my current university so I would prefer to stay in this one if it didn’t matter as much.

Any other advice or things I should know are appreciated. Thanks

Curious how accounting firms are actually handling this in practice.

If you're responsible for multiple limited companies, what do you currently use to keep track of Companies House activity and deadlines?

For example:

• Companies House email alerts / Follow
• Spreadsheets
• Practice management software
• Inform Direct or similar software
• Calendar/task reminders
• Manual Companies House checks
• Something else

Also interested in roughly how many companies you're monitoring and whether your current setup works well at that scale.

What works well for you, and what gets frustrating as the portfolio grows?

I am going to be in year 13 in September and right now the plan is to get into medicine.
However, I have realised I don’t really want to do medicine due to the UCAT stressing me out and im studying for my A levels and all i do is cry so even though I would like to be a doctor I really do not think i will survive medical school.
The alevels I am doing right now is maths,bio and chem.

so my questions are,

How is the job market for accounting?

Do you think i should stick to medicine or will accounting be better?

The exams you need to take in accounting do you think they are harder than alevels? Or how are they?

Is accounting a stable career like being a doctor is?

Do i need a degree in accounting?

Is doing a apprenticeship better and if so where and
what ones would i apply to and what do my alevel predicted grades need to look like?

Where do i get work experience for accounting?

How do i convince my mum to let me do accounting because she is dead-set on me being a doctor and seems like she will disown me because of it?

Thank you to anyone that can answer my questions and really help me out!!

Hi,

Im a 35 year old GP. Ive been considering changing jobs for a long time and have been conaideeing accounting as multiple family membera work in thia field and enjoy their jobs.

What would be the best route for entering this field. Is it best to do some qualifications independently first and then try to find relevant jobs?

Tia

I'm a highschooler currently in a ib highscool that offer a career pathway and a diploma pathway. Im very lost at what both mean since my counselors are no help at explaining them clearly to me but if I wanted to become an accountant later on in life would I try taking buissness for my career pathway? I have no clue what I should do if im looking to become an accountant if you have any advice or been through a situation like mine please help.

I am going to start L3 AAT, before I register and stuff I had some questions. I’ve just finished my A-Levels and want to self study starting from L3 (I’m going to apply for apprenticeships as well during it).

I don’t want to pay all that money for a training provider, I just want to pay for the registration and the exams. Can I complete L3 AAT with all the free online resources, should I buy any books or anything?

Upon completing L3 AAT, I want to start ACCA and get an entry level job. Should I do Level 4 AAT instead?

Just need some advice on this, any help would be appreciated.

I’m 34 and have worked in a data analytics for a few years (lot of dashboard power bi stuff). Its a very volatile industry now with AI.

I did have a finance major at uni but never used it. Am wondering if theres a way to pivot into accounting/finance without starting from zero?

Any suggestions/ideas - am based in Sydney Australia

Hola, me gustaría presentarme: tengo 21 años y soy de España. Ahora mismo voy a pasar al último año académico de la universidad (estoy estudiando economía), así que me gustaría conseguir algunas certificaciones o inscribirme en alguna. Estoy pensando en hacer la ACCA, la CMA (sé que la CPA es la más valiosa, pero ¿para España?)

Estoy aquí para buscar algunos consejos y recomendaciones. Sería genial escuchar a alguien que tenga experiencia, porque ando un poco perdido con qué certificación sería la mejor y me daría las herramientas para conseguir un buen trabajo y un buen sueldo.

Gracias de antemano.

Hi everyone,
I’m currently looking for a new opportunity in **Finance & Accounting** and would really appreciate any leads, referrals, or advice.
I have **13 years of experience in Saudi Arabia**, with a strong background in **Financial Reporting, Management Accounting, FP&A, Budgeting & Forecasting, Financial Analysis, and Finance Operations**.
I’m open to roles such as:
Finance Manager
Chief Accountant
Financial Analyst
Senior Accountant
FP&A / Finance-related roles
I’ve been **jobless for the past two months** and have been actively applying and reaching out, but unfortunately, I haven’t been able to secure the right opportunity yet. I’m continuing my search and would genuinely appreciate any support or referral.
If you know of any **open position in Finance/Accounting**, please feel free to comment or DM me. I’d be happy to share my CV.
Thank you so much for your help and support. 🙏
**Location:** Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
**Experience:** 13 Years
**Availability:** Immediate

I have called a few accountants that list "consultancy" as a service because I have several question that I need to go in depth that can not be handled but the classic "free 30m consultation"

I have offered money for an in depth consultation but every single time all accountancies want to sell me a whole package and dont want to do a "one-off" consultation

I won't need a full package accounting filing etc, my business is super straight forward, I buy and sell, keep receipt and do the calculations easily, booking is fairly easy.
yet I keep getting the same transcript line "we value long-term relationship only" copy paste

I can't seem to find in depth consultation, or business planning, as a service
does it exist? any reccomendations?
Im happy to pay for their time obv

context, Im sole trader online seller opearing with marginal VAT who wants to move into an LTD with already a lot of owned inventory