As part of the exclusive Accountancy Daily Top 75 Firms trainees survey, Philip Smith analyses the driving factors shaping the recruitment market for trainees, part qualifieds and newly qualifieds based on Hays data with salaries split by qualification and geographic location
Gaining an accountancy qualification can have a significant impact on your earning potential, according to recruitment consultancy Hays. While a trainee ACA might start on £21,000, by the time they have reached their final exams they can expect to be earning more than £32,000.
And it does not end there. Recently qualified accountants can expect an average of more than £45,000 if they move out of practice and into industry.
‘We are seeing a significant demand for newly qualified accountants,’ says Lee Owen, director at Hays Accountancy & Finance. ‘Clients are paying a premium for such candidates.’
Owen adds that even part-qualified accountants can be attractive to corporate employers. However, he warns that candidates who are mid-way through their training could be hooked into clawback schemes, where the training firm would want to claim back training costs.
