Chartered accountant : Employers and vacancy sources

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1. Job description
2. Salary and conditions
3. Entry requirements
4. Training
5. Career development
6. Employers and vacancy …
7. Related jobs

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Case studies

• Chartered accountant: Kate Baker

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There’s never been a better time to train as a chartered accountant (CA). The services of a CA are always in demand and employers all over the world understand that being ICAS trained means having the all-round business acumen that’s needed in today’s global business environment.

As chartered accountants can opt to work in any sector and in all sizes of organisation there is no 'typical' employer. Although the majority of training opportunities for chartered accountants are in public practice, more and more training contracts are available in industry and there are opportunities for graduates to train with a firm of any size and sector, as long as it is authorised by one of the institutes.

This means that trainees can choose their preferred working environment. Larger firms (where the vacancies are concentrated) have offices in major cities and towns around the country. Smaller firms may be concentrated in a particular location or specialise in a particular type of client.

Employers include:

• public practice, including international accounting organisations or smaller accountancy firms, known as small and medium practices (SMPs) - all providing a variety of accounting and business services to clients;
• industry and commerce, including major commercial companies, such as those in the manufacturing, retail and telecoms industries;
• the public sector, including local and central government, educational institutions, charities and not-for-profit organisations. Historically, the public sector was not a big recruiter of chartered accountants, but opportunities have increased in recent years.

Sources of vacancies  

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• AccountancyAgeJobs.com  
• Accountancy Jobs Online  
• Accounting Web Jobs  
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)   
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)   
• Chartered Accountants Ireland  
• PQ Magazine  
• eFinancialCareers  
• GAAP Web  
• Careers service vacancy lists.

Some trainee vacancies may be available through recruitment agencies, but most employers recruit directly.

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