Career Zone
Career ZoneCareer Research and PlanningExploreEmployment SectorsAccountancy, Banking, Finance and InsuranceAccountancy and Tax

Accountancy and Financial Management

This sector covers diverse graduate careers dedicated to understanding, managing, and reporting financial information, enabling effective business decision-making and strategic planning. Roles span accountancy and audit, taxation, management accounting, forensic investigation, and the advisory functions essential to all sectors; commercial, public, and not-for-profit. Graduate roles are intellectually demanding, requiring strong analytical skills, integrity, and commercial awareness, with opportunities to shape organisational success and influence key strategic decisions. 

Accountancy and Audit 

Graduate careers in accountancy and audit involve evaluating, analysing, and verifying financial records and providing strategic business insights. These roles typically start in professional services firms (such as the “Big Four”: EY, PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG) or in-house finance departments across a wide variety of sectors. 

  • Chartered Accountant – Manages the finances of clients, from individuals to multinational organisations, through maintaining financial records, auditing accounts, and providing strategic financial advice. Graduates gain chartered status after a period of relevant work experience and completion of a chartered accountancy qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA). Visit Prospects to learn more about being a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Certified Accountant.
  • Audit – provides independent assurance on financial statements and business practices, assessing accuracy, compliance, and risks to support investor confidence and governance. External Auditors work for an auditing company outside of the organisation being audited, moving from client to client. Internal Auditors work in an organisation’s auditing department checking for any internal risks or fraud.  Further insights on Audit roles available on TargetJobs and Prospects.
  • Management Accountant – Focuses on financial analysis and strategy, guiding senior management on budgeting, forecasting, and operational efficiency. Common qualifications are via the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Learn more about being a Chartered Management Accountant on Prospects.
  • Forensic Accountant – Specialises in investigating financial discrepancies, fraud, and legal disputes, working closely with legal teams to present evidence clearly and accurately. More on forensic roles at Prospects.   

Tax Advisory 

Careers in taxation blend accounting, law, and consultancy to help individuals and organisations navigate complex tax landscapes. Tax Advisers develop strategies to optimise tax positions, specialising across diverse areas such as corporate, personal, international, or indirect taxes such as VAT. Visit Prospects to learn about being a Tax Adviser and Tax roles at HMRC. 

Public Sector and Not-for-Profit Finance 

Graduates also find opportunities within the Civil Service, NHS, government departments, local authorities, and charities, often working towards the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) qualification. 

Corporate Treasury 

Corporate Treasurers ensure a business has the right mix of liquidity, funding and risk management to operate and grow. Working in this area involves forecasting cash flows, overseeing investment portfolios, managing working capital and banking relationships, and using hedging instruments to mitigate currency, interest-rate and commodity exposures. Roles often sit within finance rotational schemes or in-house treasury teams across sectors such as manufacturing, retail or energy. Learn more on the Prospects profile: Corporate Treasurer 

If you are interested in these roles you might also be curious to read about: 

Skills employers look for

Every employer is different, so there are no definitive lists here. These are intended as a guide and should be considered alongside person specifications, job descriptions, and adverts for each role you apply to. 

  • Analytical thinking and problem-solving: Ability to evaluate complex financial information, identify discrepancies, and develop insights to inform strategic decisions.
  • Numeracy and financial literacy: Strong grasp of accounting principles, financial reporting standards, and the ability to interpret budgets, forecasts, and performance metrics.
  • Commercial awareness: Understanding of the economic, regulatory, and business context in which financial decisions are made, including awareness of industry trends and ESG considerations.
  • Attention to detail:  Essential for ensuring accuracy and compliance in financial statements, tax filings, audits, and advisory work.
  • Communication and interpersonal skills:  Confidence in explaining financial information clearly to non-specialists, supporting clients or colleagues, and presenting strategic recommendations.
  • Ethical judgement and integrity:  Crucial in maintaining trust and meeting professional standards, particularly in audit, forensic, and public finance roles.
  • Organisation and time management:  Ability to manage multiple deadlines, balance professional exams with client work, and work efficiently under pressure.
  • Teamwork and collaboration:  Working effectively with internal teams, clients, and stakeholders—often across functions or geographies—to deliver projects and meet objectives.
  • Digital and technical skills:  Proficiency in Excel and financial software (e.g. Sage, SAP). Increasing value placed on data analysis, automation tools, and familiarity with emerging technologies such as blockchain. 

To develop these skills, remember Career Zone offers a range of Personal and Professional Development sessions which are available to book on Handshake and run at least once per term.  Please also read through the sections about Gaining Experience and Further Study and Professional Development to discover how you can develop your skills through experience and by gaining further knowledge or qualifications.

Gaining Experience

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs/societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills. You may wish to consider involvement in: 

Structured internships and placements 
Many large accountancy firms, including the Big Four (PwC, Deloitte, EY, and KPMG), offer highly competitive summer internships and industrial placements. These typically take place in your penultimate year and often feed directly into graduate recruitment. Insight days or spring weeks may also be available for first-year students to explore different service lines.  See the section on Finding advertised graduate roles, placements and internships below.  

Speculative applications and where to find opportunities 
If you're unable to secure an internship with a larger firm, consider contacting smaller or regional firms directly with a targeted CV and covering letter. Speculative applications can be particularly effective in securing shadowing or short-term work experience. You may find it useful to read our Researching employers page. 

Part-time work and temporary roles 
Roles in finance, accounting, or business support—even in smaller companies or unrelated sectors—can help develop key skills in budgeting, data analysis, and financial systems. Positions in university finance offices, retail banking, or charity finance teams can all provide relevant, transferable experience. 

Volunteering and not-for-profit experience 
Volunteering with charities, student societies, or social enterprises can offer practical finance experience. Look for roles involving budgeting, bookkeeping, financial reporting, or treasurer duties. These experiences are especially relevant if you're considering a future in the public or non-profit sectors. 

Forage virtual experience programmes 

Complete free online work experience tasks from leading employers at your own pace.  

University of Exeter Employability Schemes 

  • Career Zone Internship schemes: Internships can be extremely useful, so try and get relevant vacation work or placements
  • Exeter Award: The Exeter Award will help you stand out from the crowd and give you the confidence to shout about the experiences you've had at university
  • The Global Leaders Experience is a unique opportunity to develop your intercultural skills as part of a short, outbound mobility experience. 

Societies 

Join student societies such as the Business and Finance Society Exeter Campuses or on Penryn Campus to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, develop commercial awareness, network with like-minded peers, and gain practical experience. 

Societies of potential interest include:  

Taking on roles such as treasurer or committee member in any student society can demonstrate key skills such as financial responsibility, effective communication, and strong organisational ability. 

Finding part-time work  

Gaining part-time work experience alongside your studies, even in a different sector, can still help develop the transferable skills employers value, such as customer service, teamwork, analytical thinking, or commercial awareness. Roles in retail, hospitality, data entry, administration, or finance-related support jobs can all strengthen your CV when positioned well.  

Explore Career Zone Internship schemes and have a look at Handshake, our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students.  Visit our Career Zone webpages for help with finding part-time work. 

Finding advertised graduate roles, placements and internships

Roles in accounting, audit and tax typically involve working toward professional accreditation, so graduate programmes which help you gain these qualifications are common entry routes in the UK. Many graduate schemes, internships, and spring insight programmes in are advertised up to a year in advance, so staying organised and applying early is key. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers. 

  • eFinancialCareers – a leading global site for roles and insights in accounting, audit and finance.
  • Trackr – a dedicated platform that helps students discover and track finance and consulting graduate schemes, summer and off-cycle internships, and spring weeks across multiple firms, all in one place.
  • Bright Network – provides internship and graduate vacancies, deadline trackers, employer events, and advice.
  • TARGETjobs - features internships, graduate jobs and schemes, employer profiles, and industry guides.
  • Prospects - UK-focused career resources, job listings, and profiles for roles in Accountancy and Financial Management.
  • ICAEW Careers - job listing site for ACA trainee, qualified and volunteer roles.
  • ACCA Careers - global employability site for ACCA accountancy and finance professionals.
  • GAAP Web - accounting and finance jobs board for direct entry or experienced hires.
  • AccountancyCareers - specialist job board with role guides and employer directories.
  • RateMyPlacement – useful for finding spring weeks, internships and placement year opportunities.
  • Student Circus - a curated job platform specifically for international students, listing UK-based graduate roles and internships that offer visa sponsorship. 

Many employers also advertise directly via their own careers pages and social media (including LinkedIn), so once you’ve identified organisations of interest, it’s worth setting up alerts and checking regularly. 

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page. 

Placements  

If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad.  

Further sources of support 

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally. 

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal. 

Further study and professional development

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to develop their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. Use the sites below to research your further study options. 

  • Prospects – Postgraduate Study – Offers guidance on whether further study is right for you, how to choose a course, and what qualifications are needed for specific careers. Includes a searchable database of UK postgraduate courses.
  • FindAMasters – A comprehensive directory of taught and research-based master’s degrees in the UK and abroad. You can filter by subject area, university, and funding opportunities.
  • TARGETJobs – Postgraduate Study – Covers how to choose the right course, application timelines, and how further study fits into career planning—especially relevant to competitive industries like finance.
  • UCAS Postgraduate – The official postgraduate route via UCAS, offering application advice, timelines, and course information for UK-based master’s and PGCert/PGDip courses. 

Information and links from professional bodies 

Professional bodies play an important role in the accountancy and financial management sector. They set qualification standards, offer training and accreditation, and provide ongoing support for professional development.  If you have studied a related degree, check if your course is accredited by one of the professional bodies. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector. 

Key professional bodies in accountancy include: 

You can also explore international communities such as Chartered Accountants Worldwide for a global perspective on the profession. 

CIOT (Chartered Institute of Taxation) and ATT (Association of Taxation Technicians) – CIOT offers the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification, the leading credential for tax professionals. ATT provides an entry-level route into the profession. 

ACT (Association of Corporate Treasurers) - Relevant for those interested in financial strategy, liquidity management, or treasury roles within large organisations and financial institutions. 

UK Finance - Represents around 300 UK-based banking and financial services organisations, offering insights into regulation, innovation, and public policy. 

Advice 

If you are considering postgraduate or doctoral level study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for more information about choosing further study.