Routes into accountancy

Student and graduate opportunities are available in-house or in an accountancy firm. Most accounting graduate schemes are open for applications from September to December - but the smaller the firm, the later the deadline.

To get a graduate position in accountancy and financial services it certainly helps (although it’s not essential) if you have already completed an internship of some sort. Many firms run programmes in the summer holiday and the deadlines for these usually fall in February and March.

Don't leave it to the last minute to apply; recruiters tend to look at applications as they receive them rather than waiting until the deadline has passed.

The typical selection process for the larger firms includes an online application form and often an online test to assess verbal and numerical reasoning . It’s also increasingly common for firms to assess candidates through situational judgement tests and questionnaires.

If successful at this stage, you will usually be invited to up to three further rounds of interviewing. Part of the interviewing process sometimes includes working on a case study in a group or alone and then talking about that case study to one of the interviewers.

Companies typically offering graduate schemes

Here are just some of the employers who typically offer accounting graduate schemes. Search LSE CareerHub for more accounting graduate schemes.

• Allianz - graduate careers

  One of the largest insurers in the UK.

• Anderson Anderson Brown

  One of the leading independent firms of chartered accountants in Scotland.

• Armstrong Watson

  Provides accounting and business advice.

• Aviva - graduate careers

  The world's sixth largest insurance group and the largest in the UK.

• Baker Tilly

  Working in accounting and business services.

• Barber Harrison & Platt

  Chartered Accountants - Sheffield

• Barnes Roffe

  A London based accountancy firm.

• BDO

  Audit, accounting and business services firm.

• BDO - graduate careers

  THE DIFFERENCE INSIDE: Vacancies at BDO, At BDO we recruit throughout the year, so any time is a good time to be looking at our vacancies. But since our twice-yearly intakes are in September and December - and they fill up fast - it's a good idea to apply

• Blick Rothenberg

  A leading, independent firm of London chartered accountants.

• Buzzacott Chartered Accountants

  A financial services and consultancy firm.

• Catlin Group - careers

  A global specialty property / casualty insurer and reinsurer, writing more than 30 lines of business.

• Chantrey Vellacott DFK

  A provider of accounting, taxation and related advisory services.

• Deloitte - graduate careers

  Global, integrated and innovative Audit, Tax, Consulting & Corporate Finance services across a variety of industries.

• Dixon Wilson

  An financial services firm providing private client, entrepreneur and corporate clients with accountancy, audit, tax and trustee services.

• Finance The Future

  A training scheme for Public Finance accountants: working for Local Authorities in London.

• Francis Clark Chartered Accountants

  A chartered accountancy firm based in South West England.

• Goodman Jones

  Central London Accountants advising large owner managed businesses, international groups & small growing organisations.

• Grant Thornton

  A leading firm in the independent assurance, tax and advisory sectors.

• Haysmacintyre

  A leading firm of Chartered Accountants and tax advisers.

• Hazlewoods

  Of the UK’s Top 40 independent chartered accountants and business advisers.

• J.P. Morgan - graduate careers

  Global financial services firm.

• Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants

  Scotland’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers.

• Kingston Smith LLP

  One of the UK's top 20 audit and chartered accountancy firms.

• KPMG graduate scheme

  Gives an overview of the graduate schemes at KPMG, complete with case studies and FAQ's.

• Littlejohn LLP

  An independent firm of chartered accountants and business advisors.

• Lovewell Blake

  Specialist Chartered Accountants based in East Anglia.

• Mercer UK

  The global leader for trusted HR and related financial advice, products and services.

• National Audit Office

  Holding to account and advising the government on public spending.

• PKF (UK)

  A leading firm of accountants and business advisers.

• Price Bailey

  Price Bailey is a leading firm of business advisers and accountants with eight offices throughout East Anglia, London and Guernsey.

• PricewaterhouseCoopers

  One firm - a powerhouse of a commercial enterprise that does the right thing for our clients, our people and our communities.

• Saffery Champness

  An independent top 20 firm of chartered accountants with nine offices across the UK and offices in Guernsey, Geneva and Zurich.

• Schroders

  Investment management firm.

• Shipleys LLP

  Providing accountancy services, detailed budget analysis, and tax advice to individuals and businesses, with offices in London, Godalming and Saffron Walden.

• Smith & Williamson

  A leading independent financial services firm combining an accountancy practice, investment management arm and a private bank.

• Standard Life plc

  A leading long term savings and investments company operating internationally.

• Streets Accountants

  A top 40 UK firm of chartered accountants, tax specialists and personal financial advisers.

• UHY

  A top 20 group of UK chartered accountants.

• Wilkins Kennedy

  A chartered accountancy and business advisory firm.

• Zurich - graduate careers

  World-leading financial services organisation

• Zurich UK

  Key focus on general and life insurance.

Get experience

It is important to gain experience in order to put you in a good place when applying for graduate training positions. Don’t neglect the smaller or niche firms. In fact, in smaller organisations, you may get greater responsibility sooner.

To get a position in one of these niche/specialist firms, you may have to apply on a speculative basis with a CV and covering letter.

• Ask an accounting firm in the ICAEW directory if they can give you work experience, apply speculatively
• Get involved in LSE SU's Accounting Society to demonstrate commitment on your CV
• Find out about LSE alumni careers, internships and related employment sectors by clicking on the LSE Career Insights brochure.