# What can you do with an Accounting and Finance degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/accounting-and-finance/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** An Accounting and Finance degree commonly leads to roles such as accounts assistant, audit associate and finance analyst (entry). Five years after graduating, Accounting and Finance graduates had median earnings of £37,700 (middle half: £28,500–£51,600), and 87.5% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Business and management graduates is professional, scientific and technical services (16.8% of those in work).

Accounting and finance degrees cover reporting, control, and markets. Professional exams usually continue after graduation. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with an Accounting and Finance degree?

- **Accounts assistant**: Posts transactions, chases invoices, and prepares packs for a qualified accountant. Skills often asked for: purchase ledger, bank recs, VAT support.
- **Audit associate**. Skills often asked for: sampling, workpapers, client requests.
- **Finance analyst (entry)**. Skills often asked for: variance notes, month-end, forecast tabs.
- **Tax associate (entry)**. Skills often asked for: return checklists, client queries, deadlines.

## Where do Accounting and Finance graduates work?

Business and management graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 16.8% | £39,900 |
| Wholesale and retail | 12.8% | £31,800 |
| Finance and insurance | 9.9% | £45,000 |
| Administrative and support services | 9.7% | £33,300 |
| Information and communication | 9.4% | £44,700 |
| Education | 6% | £30,000 |
| Health and social work | 5.6% | £28,500 |
| Manufacturing | 5% | £39,500 |

## How much do Accounting and Finance graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Accounting (CAH17-01-08). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £25,600 | £21,600–£30,700 | 87.4% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £30,700 | £24,900–£39,500 | 89.1% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £37,700 | £28,500–£51,600 | 87.5% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £45,800 | £30,700–£67,700 | 83.9% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Business and management graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [London School of Economics](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/lse/) | £66,200 | 55 |
| [University of Bath](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bath/) | £64,400 | 205 |
| [University of Warwick](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-warwick/) | £60,000 | 100 |
| [University of Bristol](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bristol/) | £59,700 | 65 |
| [Durham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/durham-university/) | £55,600 | 185 |
| [Loughborough University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/loughborough-university/) | £55,600 | 290 |
| [University of Reading](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-reading/) | £55,600 | 310 |
| [University of Exeter](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-exeter/) | £54,900 | 220 |
| [University of Nottingham](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-nottingham/) | £54,900 | 345 |
| [City St George's, University of London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/city-st-georges-university-of-london/) | £54,200 | 190 |

## Is Accounting and Finance the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You like double-entry logic and reconciliations that actually balance.
- You want a path toward professional accountancy or finance exams.
- You are comfortable with spreadsheets as a daily tool.

It may not suit you if:
- You hoped to avoid rules, standards, and audit trails.
- You dislike precise numerical work.
- You wanted a purely qualitative management course.

## Interview questions for Accounting and Finance graduate roles

Accounts, audit and tax-associate interviews usually test accuracy, ethics, and whether you can explain a number. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- A trial balance does not balance by £20. What is your method? (What it tests: A checklist, not panic and not ignoring a ‘small’ difference.)
- A client asks you to backdate an invoice. What do you do? (What it tests: Professional ethics: you escalate; you do not ‘just this once’.)
- Explain depreciation to a non-finance manager. (What it tests: Concept in plain English, not a standards dump.)
- You are given a bank rec with unmatched items. How do you start? (What it tests: Timing differences versus real errors.)
- Why might two ‘profit’ figures both be true? (What it tests: Definitions: gross versus operating, timing, and one-offs.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with an Accounting and Finance degree?

Common starting roles include accounts assistant, audit associate, finance analyst (entry) and tax associate (entry). Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Business and management graduates in work were professional, scientific and technical services (16.8%), wholesale and retail (12.8%) and finance and insurance (9.9%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Accounting and Finance graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Accounting and Finance graduates of £25,600 one year after graduating, £30,700 three years after graduating, £37,700 five years after graduating and £45,800 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is an Accounting and Finance degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 87.5% of Accounting and Finance graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £37,700. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Accounting and Finance 46 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Business and management graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Business and management were at London School of Economics (£66,200), University of Bath (£64,400) and University of Warwick (£60,000). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Accounting and Finance in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Accounting%20and%20Finance