How to become a Chartered Accountant

How to become a Chartered Accountant Have you got a great head for figures? Do you like the idea of working on a variety of different financial projects for various clients? Then why not train to be a Chartered Accountant?Such professionals can work in public practice, for charities or in industry and are tasked with providing detailed and reliable advice on financial records.You might be required to carry out tax audits, for example, or do forensic accounting and manage business accounts for small firms.Day-to-day activities will vary depending on which industry in which you work, but typical tasks for a Chartered Accountant include:Managing budgetsCarrying out independent financial auditsOffering financial adviceTax planningPreparing annual accountsAnalysing risk and preventing fraudIs it right for me?If you hated maths at school and struggle with the numbers round on Countdown, then Chartered Accountancy isnt for you. If, on the other hand, you enjoy meticulous investigations and excel at mental arithmetic, then read on.A good Chartered Accountant will be:Highly motivated and committed to every projectAble to communicate well with all types of clientsHighly organisedGood with IT such as spreadsheetsExcellent at problem-solvingTrustworthy and reliableCareer Progression? Junior AccountantUp to 22,000 AccountantUp to 35,000 Chartered AccountantUp to 50,000What's it really like? Everyone believes the old stereotype that accountancy is boring, but I actually think it's tremendously interesting. I get to put my detective's hat on to investigate problems for clients almost daily, plus I'm effectively paid to be nosy. I love number puzzles and each case is just like an extended logic game - some days don't even feel like work at all. Get qualifiedThere are a number of different routes into this profession, but the most common is via university; graduates have the highest chance of securing a job once fully trained, although it may also be possible to train with an employer straight from school or six th form. However, in order to become a Chartered Accountant, you will need to be a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.