Accountants are professionals required in every field of every industry. No matter how big or small the corporation is, chartered accountants are always hired to maintain the financial books and statements. To become a chartered accountant in the UK, one needs to acquire qualifications from the authorities in the UK responsible for chartered accountant accreditation. The work of a chartered accountant is tricky, but the salary justifies the work. Read on to know about the ACCA Salary in UK, what factors affect their salary and which companies are the best to work in for a satisfying career.
Overview of Chartered Accountants in the UK
Companies from all around the world hire accountants and chartered accounts. To become an accountant in the UK, one must hold a bachelor’s degree in accountancy, finance, or business. As for becoming a chartered accountant, one must complete an additional two-year program in accounting. Students aspiring to create a base in accountancy can also acquire an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification. Chartered accountants are the ones responsible for everything related to accounts in a company. They also handle the tabulation of financial reports and statements and provide the management with a general overview of the company’s financial health. If you study to become a chartered accountant in the UK, you can also acquire a certification from a regulatory authority to become a certified chartered accountant. This increases your credibility as a chartered accountant and increases the salary you can command. The following authorities in the UK provide professional accounting certifications:
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Dependent Factors for the UK CA Salary
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A chartered accountant’s salary is highly dependent on their credibility as an accountant. The following factors help in increasing a chartered accountant’s credibility and thus, increase their pay scale as well.
Years of Experience
Work experience is an important aspect of every profession. To build a successful and rewarding career, chartered accountants need to gain experience in their field. As they gain experience, their skills and knowledge increase as well, and they can command a higher salary in the later years of their career.
Skills
Working on additional skills related to accounting can help chartered accountants fetch a better salary. As per payscale, the following skills can help in increasing the salary of CA in the UK:
- Financial Reporting
- Auditing
- Financial Analysis
- Account Management
- Tax Compliance
- Tax Consulting
- Budget Management
- Financial Analysis
- Financial Reporting
- Payroll Administration
Location
The UK has a variety of locations within its boundaries. Different locations have different saturation of companies that offer chartered accountants jobs in their company. The cost of living in the city also affects the salaries offered by companies in the city. Some locations pay higher UK chartered accountant salaries than others. As per Indeed, the highest-paying locations for accountants in the UK are as follows:
| Location | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| London | £42604 |
| Derby | £38945 |
| Oxford | £37411 |
| Reading | £37281 |
| Glasgow | £36701 |
| Edinburgh | £35990 |
| Manchester | £34795 |
| Swindon | £33696 |
Qualifications
Becoming a certified chartered accountant in the UK can bear fruits in terms of higher pay packages and better job opportunities. There are a number of organisations in the UK that provide professional certifications to chartered accountants. The qualifications provided by the associations are as follows:
- ACCA qualification – Chartered Certified Accountant
- CIMA qualification– Chartered Management Accountant
- ICAEW qualification– Associate Chartered Accountant
- ICAS qualification– Chartered Accountant
Specialisations
Specialisations are part of almost every profession in the world. Expertise in a particular field opens up new job opportunities for you that are inaccessible to the general accountant. Along with more job opportunities, specific specialisations also help you secure a job with a higher pay package. Upon completion of your course and training, you can choose to specialise in management accounting or financial accounting. There are further specialisations in these fields which you can specifically study to increase your caliber as a chartered accountant. They are mentioned below:
- Audit and insurance
- Tax
- Corporate finance
- Forensic accounting
- Business insolvency and recovery
Also Read: Average CA Annual Salary in UK
ACCA Salary In UK based on Certifications
Certifications are necessary for chartered accountants to practice independently in the UK. Different certifications from different regulatory bodies provide different pay packages to chartered accountants. These pay packages are variable as per the certification as the certifications provided by the different accounting associations vary in their structure and course difficulty. The pay packages according to certifications are listed below:
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) – £16,181 per annum
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) – £52820 per annum
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) – £112348 per annum
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – £36890 per annum to £55335 per annum
Top Recruiters for Chartered Accountants in the UK
As per Payscale, the average base salary of a chartered accountant in the UK is £35,704 per year. This salary increases with specialisations, work experience and certifications. Indian CAs can also work in the UK with their ICAI certification. The Indian CA salary in the UK is much higher than that of a CA working in India. According to data provided on Indeed, the most common job profiles in the UK that chartered accountants work in are tax accountants and internal auditors. Tax accountants earn an average salary of £42,372 annually, and internal auditors earn an average salary of £48,756 annually. There are several accountancy firms located in the UK that specifically focus on hiring chartered accountants. These firms are multinational organisations and provide exceptional salary packages to their employees. The most popular employers for chartered accountants in the UK, according to Payscale and Glassdoor, are:
| Companies | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| EY (Ernst & Young) | £34000 |
| PricewaterhouseCoopers | £47000 |
| KPMG, LLP | £38362 |
| Deloitte | £35000 |
| Saffery Champness | £48294 |
| BDO | £44,000 – £50,000 |
| PKF Littlejohn | £46,000 – £87,000 |
| Menzies | £48,000 – £56,000 |
| Dixon Wilson | £50,000 – £66,000 |
| Marks & Spencer | £48,000 – £53,000 |
| Lloyds Banking Group | £81,000 – £87,000 |
| CreditSuisse | £58,000 – £63,000 |
| Infosys | £90,000 – £98,000 |
Conclusion
Chartered accountancy is a rewarding profession in the UK. Chartered accountants can work their way up through experience and skills and are provided regular increments as well. An estimated 80,000 accounting jobs are expected to be created in the UK within the next three decades. Thus, accountants are expected to be in high demand in the coming years. Securing the correct accountancy qualifications is necessary to secure a job in this field as the field is highly competitive. To help you with this, we at Leap Scholar have curated a wide range of resources to help you reach the UK and acquire the educational qualifications you want. Check out our blog library and study in the UK section to get the exact info you need and plan your career today.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What courses can be done to build a foundation in chartered accountancy?
The following courses can be studied as a foundation for chartered accountancy:
a. Bachelors of Finance
b. Bachelor in Finance Management
c. Bachelor in Commerce (BCom)
d. B Com Accounting and Finance
e. Bachelors in Business Management
f. Masters in Finance
g. Masters in Finance Management
h. Masters in Commerce (MCom)
i. Masters in Business Management
j. MBA in Finance
k. MBA in Business Management
l. MBA in Financial Modelling
m. MBA in Investment Banking
n. MBA in International Finance
2. Can Indian CAs practice in the UK?
Yes, Indian CAs certified by the ICAI can practice in London. The ICAI has an agreement with the ICAEW that allows CAs from both accounting bodies to work in the other country.
3. What positions can a CA take up in the future in a company?
The career of a CA can be highly variable. They can choose to work in a company or do the public practice. In case they choose to continue working in a company, they can take up the following positions:
a. Management accountant
b. Finance manager
c. Finance controller
d. Finance director
