ACA results day: what are your options now you’re qualified? 

For thousands of ACA students, the end of August marks a significant milestone. After years of exams, practical experience and professional development, results day could be the moment you officially achieve your ACA qualification. 

Becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant is no small achievement. You’ve progressed through the Certificate Level, Professional Level and Advanced Level exams while developing expertise across financial accounting and reporting, corporate reporting, financial management, strategic business management, audit and assurance and tax compliance. 

For many accountants, qualification is the goal they’ve been working towards for years. But once the results are in, a new question often follows: what’s next? 

While some newly qualified accountants move into industry or financial services, many choose to continue their careers in practice. And with accountancy firms continuing to invest in audit, accounts and tax teams, qualification can open the door to a wide range of opportunities. 

If you’re approaching qualification and considering your next move, here are some of the most common career paths available within practice. 

Staying in audit: progression, specialisation and leadership 

Many ACA-qualified professionals begin their careers in audit and choose to continue building on that foundation after qualification. 

While some see qualification as the ideal point to leave audit, others find that the most interesting opportunities become available once exams are complete. Without the pressure of studying, newly qualified auditors are often given responsibility for larger clients, more complex assignments and increased team management responsibilities. 

The technical grounding developed through audit and assurance, corporate reporting and financial accounting and reporting provides a strong platform for long-term progression. 

Career progression can accelerate significantly after qualification. Moving from Assistant Manager to Manager and beyond often becomes more achievable once the ACA qualification has been secured. 

Qualification can also open doors into specialist areas, including: 

• Financial services audit 

• Listed and capital markets work 

• International and group audits 

• ESG and sustainability assurance 

• Risk assurance and internal audit 

• Transaction and deal-related services 

For those who enjoy client interaction, project management and understanding how businesses operate, audit can provide a clear route towards senior leadership positions within practice. 

Accounts and advisory: becoming a trusted business adviser

Accountancy practice is no longer solely focused on compliance. 

As technology continues to automate routine processes, firms increasingly value professionals who can provide commercial insight alongside technical expertise. Clients are looking for advisers who can help them make informed decisions, identify opportunities and navigate challenges. 

This creates strong opportunities for newly qualified ACAs working within accounts, business services and outsourcing teams. 

Many accountants progress into roles such as: 

• Accounts Manager 

• Business Services Manager 

• Client Manager 

• Advisory Manager 

• Outsourced Finance Manager 

These positions often involve working closely with owner-managed businesses, private companies and growing organisations, helping them make decisions around growth, profitability, financing and operational performance. 

Knowledge gained through financial management, strategic business management and business, strategy and technology often becomes particularly valuable in advisory-focused positions.  

Likewise, a strong understanding of UK GAAP remains highly sought after by clients looking for practical guidance and commercial insight. 

For accountants who enjoy building relationships and understanding the wider commercial picture, advisory roles can offer significant variety and career progression. 

Tax: a specialist route with strong long-term prospects 

Tax remains one of the most attractive specialisms within professional practice. 

Many accountants discover a particular interest in tax compliance during their ACA studies and choose to develop a career in this area after qualification.  

As tax legislation continues to evolve, businesses increasingly rely on specialist advisers to help them manage risk, meet compliance requirements and plan effectively for the future. 

For ACA-qualified professionals, tax offers opportunities across a wide range of disciplines, including: 

• Corporate tax 

• Private client tax 

• International tax 

• Mergers and acquisitions tax 

• Employment taxes 

• VAT and indirect tax 

• Transfer pricing 

• Tax technology 

One of the greatest advantages of a tax career is the breadth of opportunities available. Professionals can remain in specialist advisory positions, progress into leadership roles, work towards partnership or eventually move into in-house tax teams. 

Tax careers also offer a high level of technical challenge, making them particularly appealing to individuals who enjoy problem-solving and continuous learning.

Should you stay with your training firm or move? 

One of the biggest decisions facing newly qualified accountants is whether to remain with their current employer or explore opportunities elsewhere. 

There is no right or wrong answer. 

Staying with your training firm can provide continuity, familiarity and a clear understanding of future progression opportunities. If your current employer offers the type of work, development and career path you’re looking for, remaining in place may be the right decision. 

However, qualification is also one of the most active periods in an accountant’s career for changing employers. 

Many accountancy firms actively hire newly qualified ACA professionals following the release of ICAEW exam results. A move can provide: 

• Exposure to larger or more complex clients 

• A different sector specialism 

• Increased responsibility 

• Improved remuneration 

• Stronger progression opportunities 

• Greater flexibility and work-life balance 

The key is understanding whether your current environment supports your longer-term ambitions. 

Rather than focusing solely on salary, consider the quality of work, learning opportunities, culture and development prospects available over the next three to five years.

What employers are looking for from newly qualified ACAs

While technical expertise remains important, employers are increasingly looking beyond exam results. 

Completing the ACA qualification demonstrates a strong foundation in areas such as financial accounting and reporting, corporate reporting, financial management, strategic business management and audit and assurance. But firms also want individuals who can translate technical knowledge into commercial value. 

Employers are typically looking for candidates who can demonstrate: 

• Strong communication skills 

• Commercial awareness 

• Relationship-building capabilities 

• Client management experience 

• Leadership potential 

• Project and team management skills 

• A proactive and solutions-focused mindset 

Qualification should not be viewed as the finish line. Instead, it represents the foundation for the next stage of your professional development. 

Candidates who can clearly articulate their achievements, ambitions and impact often stand out most strongly in the market.

Why now is a good time to assess your options

Many firms begin planning post-results hiring activity well before ICAEW results are released. 

As a result, newly qualified accountants often find a broad range of opportunities available shortly after qualification, particularly across audit, accounts and tax functions. 

Even if you’re not actively considering a move, results season provides an ideal opportunity to evaluate your career direction. 

Ask yourself: 

• Am I gaining exposure to the work that interests me most? 

• Do I have a clear progression pathway? 

• Am I developing the skills needed for the next stage of my career? 

• Does my current role align with my long-term ambitions? 

• What opportunities might be available elsewhere? 

Seeking career advice from specialists and trusted mentors can help you understand your options and make informed decisions about your future.

Looking ahead

 Becoming ACA qualified is a significant achievement and one that reflects years of hard work, resilience and commitment. 

For some accountants, the journey started with GCSE results, A-Level results day and university applications submitted through the UCAS Hub.  

Others may have completed ICAEW CFAB, received exemptions from elements of the qualification or compared the ACA with ACCA before deciding on their preferred route into the profession. 

However you arrived here, qualification marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. 

Whether you continue building your career in audit, move into accounts and advisory, specialise in tax or pursue a completely different direction, becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant creates opportunities that simply weren’t available before. 

The important thing is not to view results day as the end of the journey. It’s the start of the next stage of your career.

How we help

At Brewer Morris, we work with accounting professionals across audit, accounts and tax, supporting individuals from newly qualified level through to senior leadership positions.  

If you’re approaching your ICAEW results and would like career advice on your next move, salary expectations or opportunities across accountancy firms, our specialist consultants are here to help