Accountant Salary UK — 2026 Guide

UK accountant salaries range from £24,000 for entry-level trainees to £80,000+ for senior qualified professionals, with a national average of £45,000. Chartered accountants with ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualifications earn significantly more than their unqualified counterparts, and Big Four experience commands a lasting premium.

Accountant Salary Overview

Accountancy is one of the most established and reliable career paths in the UK. Every business needs someone who understands the numbers, and qualified accountants remain in consistent demand across every sector. From small practices to multinational corporations, the breadth of opportunity is enormous.

The national average salary for an accountant in the UK is £45,000 in 2026. However, this figure varies significantly depending on your qualifications, the type of accountancy you practise, and where you work. A newly qualified chartered accountant in London and a part-qualified management accountant in the North East are in very different salary brackets.

Salary Ranges by Experience Level

Entry Level (0-2 years): £24,000 - £30,000

Trainee and newly started accountants typically earn between £24,000 and £30,000. This range covers graduates starting their training contracts at firms, as well as AAT-qualified bookkeepers and accounts assistants moving into their first accountancy roles.

If you are on a Big Four training contract (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG), you will generally start at the higher end of this range, with structured pay increases as you pass exams. Smaller firms tend to pay less upfront but may offer faster exposure to varied work.

Mid Level (3-5 years): £35,000 - £50,000

Once you are qualified or nearing qualification, salaries jump to between £35,000 and £50,000. This is the stage where your professional qualification makes the biggest difference. An ACCA or ACA-qualified accountant with three years post-qualification experience (PQE) is highly employable and can be selective about roles.

At this level, you might be working as a financial accountant, management accountant, or audit senior. Industry roles (working in-house at a company) often offer better work-life balance than practice, though practice can offer faster progression.

Senior Level (6+ years): £55,000 - £80,000

Senior accountants, finance managers, and financial controllers earn between £55,000 and £80,000. At the top end, finance directors and CFOs at mid-sized companies can exceed £100,000, though those roles typically require ten or more years of experience.

The jump to senior-level pay often comes with a shift in responsibilities from technical accounting work to strategic financial management, team leadership, and stakeholder engagement.

Regional Salary Breakdown

Accountancy salaries vary notably across the UK, with London pulling away from other regions.

London (avg. £56,250) offers the highest salaries, driven by the concentration of financial services firms, Big Four offices, and corporate headquarters. Competition for roles is fierce, but so is the demand for qualified accountants.

South East (avg. £48,150) benefits from many companies headquartering in the M4 corridor and the Thames Valley, offering near-London salaries with somewhat lower living costs.

South West (avg. £43,650) has a solid accountancy market centred around Bristol, with good opportunities in Bath and Exeter. The region offers a genuine quality of life advantage.

Midlands (avg. £41,400) and North West (avg. £41,400) are strong for both practice and industry roles. Birmingham and Manchester both have thriving financial services sectors and growing numbers of shared service centres.

Scotland (avg. £41,400) has a proud tradition of accountancy, with Edinburgh in particular being a major financial centre. Glasgow also offers strong opportunities across practice and industry.

North East (avg. £39,150) and Wales (avg. £39,150) sit at the lower end, though the cost of living in these regions means take-home pay stretches further. Newcastle and Cardiff both have established accountancy markets.

Career Progression Paths

Accountancy offers some of the clearest career progression routes of any profession:

• Practice Route: Trainee, Semi-Senior, Senior, Manager, Senior Manager, Partner/Director. Partnership at a mid-tier or Big Four firm is the pinnacle, with earnings potential exceeding £150,000.
• Industry/Commerce Route: Accounts Assistant, Financial Accountant, Management Accountant, Finance Manager, Financial Controller, Finance Director, CFO. This route offers broader business exposure and often better hours.
• Specialist Route: Tax Adviser, Forensic Accountant, Treasury Manager, Internal Auditor. Specialisms can command premium salaries due to the depth of expertise required.
• Public Sector Route: Local government, NHS, and central government all employ large numbers of accountants. Salaries are competitive, and the pension schemes are among the best available.

The key decision point is whether to stay in practice or move into industry. Practice offers faster technical development and clear progression, while industry offers variety, better work-life balance, and the chance to influence business strategy directly.

Skills That Increase Salary

Beyond the fundamental requirement of professional qualification, several skills can boost your earning potential:

• Professional qualifications: ACA, ACCA, and CIMA are the gold standard. Holding one of these is typically worth £10,000-£15,000 more than being unqualified.
• Technical accounting knowledge: Strong knowledge of IFRS, UK GAAP, and tax legislation makes you indispensable. Staying current with regulatory changes is essential.
• Financial modelling: Advanced Excel skills and experience with financial modelling are highly valued in industry roles. Learning tools like Power BI adds further value.
• ERP systems: Experience with SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite is frequently listed as a requirement for senior industry roles. System implementation experience is particularly valuable.
• Sector specialism: Deep knowledge of a specific industry (financial services, property, technology, healthcare) can command a premium. Employers value accountants who understand their business, not just the numbers.
• Advisory and communication skills: The ability to translate financial data into actionable business insight is what separates good accountants from great ones. This skill becomes increasingly important as you progress.
• Data analytics: Accountants who can use data analytics tools to provide deeper financial insights are increasingly sought after. Python and SQL skills are becoming differentiators.

Factors That Affect Your Pay

Qualification status is the single biggest factor. A fully qualified chartered accountant earns substantially more than a part-qualified or unqualified one. The investment in qualification pays for itself within a few years.

Firm size and type matter. Big Four firms pay well and the brand on your CV opens doors for years. Mid-tier firms (BDO, Grant Thornton, RSM) offer strong salaries with potentially faster promotion. Small practices pay less but can offer excellent breadth of experience.

Sector specialisation pays off. Financial services accountancy tends to pay more than general practice. Tax specialists, particularly those with international tax experience, command premiums.

Moving between practice and industry at the right time can accelerate your earnings. Many accountants complete their qualification in practice, then move to an industry role for a significant salary bump.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the starting salary for a trainee accountant in the UK?

Trainee accountants in the UK typically start between £24,000 and £30,000. Big Four starting salaries are generally £27,000-£30,000 in London and £24,000-£27,000 in regional offices. Smaller practices may start from £22,000-£25,000 but often increase salaries as you pass exams.

How much do qualified accountants earn?

Newly qualified chartered accountants (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) typically earn between £40,000 and £55,000, depending on location and sector. With five or more years of post-qualification experience, salaries of £55,000-£80,000 are common, with finance directors earning significantly more.

Which accounting qualification pays the most?

ACA, ACCA, and CIMA all lead to similar salary levels, though the best choice depends on your career path. ACA is favoured in practice and audit, CIMA in management accounting and industry, and ACCA offers the most flexible route. Employers value all three equally for most roles.

Do Big Four accountants earn more?

Big Four starting salaries are competitive but not dramatically higher than mid-tier firms. The real value comes from the career capital: Big Four experience on your CV typically commands a 10-15% salary premium throughout your career, as employers value the rigour and exposure these firms provide.

How much do finance directors earn in the UK?

Finance directors in the UK typically earn between £80,000 and £150,000, depending on company size, sector, and location. At FTSE 250 companies and above, total compensation including bonuses can exceed £200,000. Smaller companies offer £70,000-£100,000 for FD roles.

Is accountancy a good career in the UK?

Accountancy remains one of the most stable and well-compensated careers in the UK. Demand for qualified accountants is consistent, the qualification is internationally recognised, and the career paths are diverse. The investment in qualification (typically three to four years) delivers strong long-term returns.

Can accountants work remotely?

Hybrid working has become standard in UK accountancy. Most firms and in-house finance teams now offer two to three days of remote working per week. Fully remote roles exist but are less common, particularly in practice where client-facing work remains important.

How long does it take to qualify as an accountant?

Most professional accounting qualifications take three to four years to complete while working. ACA requires approximately three years of study and a training agreement. ACCA can be completed in a similar timeframe, though self-study routes may take longer. CIMA typically takes three to four years part-time.

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