What can you do with a degree in accounting and finance?
Accounting is a fantastic degree to study at university that offers you a range of opportunities after you graduate. From having a flexible career path and high earning potential to being able to work in any industry and gaining transferable skills that are highly desirable to employers, an accounting degree will help you kickstart your career.
What can you do with an accounting and finance degree?
Graduating with a degree in accounting and finance means you will have a multitude of diverse career options to pursue. Some typical careers that accounting can lead to include:
Chartered accountant
As a chartered accountant, you can work in almost any industry, meaning you could combine your career path with something of interest to you. You will give advice, audit accounts and offer accounting and financial support. You will typically focus on just one business and manage all of their financial needs. Being a chartered accountant means you will have lots of opportunities for career progression and have a high earning potential.
Forensic accountant
One of the most in-demand career options for accounting and finance graduates, forensic accountants focus solely on fraud, scams, embezzlement and identity theft. With most financial services now online, the threat of any of these happening has greatly increased. As a forensic accountant, you will produce audits of records to determine liability, fraud and valuation. You’ll need an investigative mindset and outstanding attention to detail to be successful, but you will have good career opportunities with the potential to earn high salaries that are typically enhanced with additional company perks.
Stockbroker
As a stockbroker, you will manage clients’ investments through buying and selling stocks, shares and other financial products with the aim of returning a profit. You will be acting as an intermediary between your clients and the stock exchange, charging a fee or working on commission. There are three types of services that stockbrokers offer:
- Advisory - you will advise on investments but will only act on the orders of the client
- Discretionary - you will manage all of your clients’ investments and make decisions on their behalf
- Execution only - engaging in investment activities only on request from clients
Being a stockbroker offers a clear pathway from graduation, with the potential for increasingly higher salaries and bonuses for reaching specific targets.
Other careers with an accounting and finance degree:
- Financial analyst
- External auditor
- Environmental accountant
- Personal financial advisor
- Actuary
- Investment banker
- Retail banker
Careers where your degree could be useful:
- Data analyst
- Economist
- Management consultant
- Arbitrator
- Mortgage adviser
Further education
Accounting and finance graduates can gain further education to help their career paths. You could look at earning additional qualifications such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification or Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) professional qualification – both often required by most accountancy roles.
You could also go on to study a Masters degree at university which will equip you with the knowledge and skills to enhance your career and progress to high-level accounting positions. You could choose a Masters degree in a specialist area to help direct your career path. From banking and finance to investment and financial risk management, there are plenty of postgraduate degrees for accounting graduates.
Employability skills gained from an accounting and finance degree
Accounting and finance degrees provide you with strong knowledge around planning and managing financial resources, summarising and analysing financial transactions and making calculated financial decisions. They also provide you with key skills that are highly desirable to employers such as:
- Time management
- Analytical skills
- Organisational
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Numerical and quantitative skills
Study accounting and finance in the UK
If you’re thinking about studying accounting and finance abroad in the UK then Kingston University, London - International Study Centre offers pathway programmes to prepare you for a degree at Kingston University. Our Business, Management and Law programme will prepare you for a degree in accounting and finance at the University, helping you to develop the English language and academic skills needed to succeed.
Why study accounting and finance at Kingston University London?
- Top 40 UK university (Guardian league table 2021)
- Real-time Bloomberg trading room – giving you access to financial workplace technology
- Opportunity to gain exemptions from exams that lead to professional qualifications
- Programmes accredited by AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)
- Close to London where a range of global accounting companies are based.
Start your journey at the Kingston University, London - International Study Centre
Starting your study abroad journey at the International Study Centre means you will be able to familiarise yourself with the British education system, as well as adjust to living in the UK. You can start making friends, get used to the campus and even gain experience as you work while you study .
Learn more about studying in the UK and find out the entry requirements of the International Foundation Year so you can begin your pathway to studying accounting and finance at university.
Frequently asked questions
Is an accounting and finance degree hard?
Despite what many people say, a degree in accounting and finance is no more or less difficult than other subjects. A lot of people assume it is a hard degree just because it requires working with numbers!
Like any other course, it involves a lot of work and study. An interest and background in maths will help make the course content more accessible.
Is an accounting and finance degree worth it?
Every company and business needs someone to keep track of finances, so there will never be a shortage of accounting jobs across many different fields. There is also high earning potential as you progress in your career, too.
As with any degree and potential career, a degree is only worth it if it is a subject you are interested in studying. Research other career options to make sure this is the right one for you.
How long does it take to get an accounting degree?
It takes around four years to become a chartered accountant. This is a combination of classroom study and work experience in a relevant role.