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Job pathway · UK and Australia

Accounting and finance jobs in UK and Australia

Accounting is degree-level and globally standardised, which makes it one of the more portable professions. The question is rarely whether the occupation qualifies, but whether your professional body is recognised where you are going.

Where to look Start a CV

Your resume stays on your device.

Which routes are open

Status reflects the official position at the time of writing. Rules change often — follow each link and confirm before you act on it.

  • UK Skilled Worker visa

    Open

    Chartered and certified accountant roles are degree-level and sit above the RQF 6 threshold. Finance roles below that level were largely removed from eligibility in July 2025, so the specific occupation code matters more than the job title.

    Check the official source

  • Australia Skills in Demand (subclass 482)

    Open

    Accounting occupations appear on the Core Skills Occupation List, with a skills assessment normally required through CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA before nomination.

    Check the official source

What you need before applying

  • A recognised professional qualification: ACCA, ACA, CIMA for the UK; CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA for Australia.
  • A skills assessment for Australia, which also checks your English and may require additional exams.
  • Mutual recognition agreements mean some bodies convert more easily than others — check yours before assuming it transfers.

Where to find the jobs

Go to these directly. Applying at the source beats applying through a reposting aggregator, and the official registers let you verify an employer before you commit anything.

What your accounting and finance CV must show

  • Put your professional body and membership status in the first line — ACCA affiliate and ACCA member are different things, so be precise.
  • Name the standards you have worked under: IFRS, UK GAAP, AASB, and any local equivalents.
  • Quantify scope: turnover of entities handled, size of ledger, team supervised, audit client sectors.
  • Name the systems — SAP, Oracle, Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite. These are searched on directly.

Write it now. Open the accountant example in the builder and replace the details with your own. It saves in your browser — no account, nothing uploaded.

Accounting and finance in UK and Australia — FAQ

Does ACCA let me work anywhere?

It is widely recognised and travels better than most, but recognition is not the same as a licence to sign audit opinions. Check what your specific role requires in the destination country, not just whether the body is known there.

Do I need a skills assessment for the UK?

No. The UK route depends on the job, the sponsor and the salary rather than on an assessment of you. Australia is the one that requires the formal assessment step.

Are Big Four firms the best route?

They sponsor regularly and have established processes, which makes them a reliable target. Mid-tier firms and industry finance teams also sponsor and are often less competitive at experienced-hire level.

Is bookkeeping sponsorable?

Generally not in the UK, because it falls below the degree-level threshold. Qualified accountant roles are the ones that remain eligible, so the distinction in your job title is worth getting right.

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