Accountant
Keep organisations financially honest and help them plan what they can afford to do next.
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- Typical pay
- €32k–€81k
- Usual education
- Degree or apprenticeship
- Outlook
- Very stable, with strong pay progression once qualified.
A day in the life
Reconciliations, management reports, forecasts and explaining numbers to people who find them stressful.
Ways in
- Accountancy apprenticeship
- Finance degree plus ACA or ACCA
- School leaver programme
What to study at 16
The subjects you choose for the final years of secondary school can shape which degrees, exams and careers are easiest to reach. This is about choosing courses, not choosing a school.
Spain
Bachillerato de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales
Austria
AHS Oberstufe
A common destination for students on this track.
Belgium
ASO – General secondary
A common destination for students on this track.
Denmark
STX – General gymnasium
A common destination for students on this track.
Portugal
Ciências Socioeconómicas
France
Bac général — spécialités
Skills that matter
Best courses to take
The study routes that lead most directly into this career.
Accounting (ACCA/ACA route)
Chartered accountancy training you can start after school or after a degree.
The professional qualification employers require.
Helpful school subjects: Maths, Accounting
BSc Business Management
Broad grounding in how organisations work: strategy, finance, operations and people.
Common first degree before qualifying.
Helpful school subjects: Maths, Economics, English
Administration and Finance (Grado Superior)
Bookkeeping, payroll, tax basics and office systems — a common route into accounting teams.
Bookkeeping and payroll skills accounting teams hire for.
Helpful school subjects: Accounting, Payroll, Business software
QQI Level 5 Business Administration
One-year Irish further education course that leads to office work or a university place.
One-year Irish course into office and finance roles.
Helpful school subjects: Administration, Bookkeeping, Business communication