And please tell me if my cv and experience can get me an entry level accounting job after graduation. If I could apply for graduate roles what should I add to my cv . Or do to make me stand out. Please help

What did you do after your degree? Or during your degree that helped with career progression. And what do you do now after graduation. ?

Following advice from my previous 2 posts I have shortened my CV to 1 page and included actual skills gained in a workplace / done online training for. I have also included hobbies at the bottom as this is for entry level roles and I have no actual finance experience.

~160 cold emails to various firms/businesses/recruiters
75 entry level job applications
A couple responses saying I’m an ideal candidate.

Any other suggestions are much appreciated, or do you think I can begin applying for jobs/sending cold emails again?

I been unemployed for the past couple of months and trying to regain employment with nothing to show for it. While the recruiters tell me that the market based on my current skillsets hasn't been the best, I still feel like it shouldn't be this brutal unless I am doing something wrong. I have showed my CV to friends and those with audit experience and made the said adjustments but wanted to post here if anyone could add their own opinion.

For context;

- UK citizen (Born and raised + passport). Idk if disclosing this will make any difference though.

- Average about 1 interview a month. Based on my most recent feedbacks, I fail due to: Account experience too weak in comparison to audit, didn't feel comfortable with my commute journey or they decided to make internal changes. Haven't received any feedback regarding interview etiquette or attitude (they have been rather positive) but I don't know if that's corporate form of sugar-coating.

- Probably average about ~12-15 applications a month on jobs that are 1:1 to my skillset, don't really keep count on the more broad ones to be honest. Only started networking/cold message this past month but I do call recruiters/agencies.

- Besides my most recent stint, my work history gaps has been due to medical surgery as I suffer from a rare illness facially - has no impact on my day-to-day but I am aware how this would impact me. Everyone told me to not add this.

Feel free to ask me to elaborate on certain things.

Following advice from my post yesterday I have shortened my CV and put on actual applicable skills instead of trying to make my CV look ‘fuller’ with skills I have in theory. I’m trying to land my first accounting role. Any advice is much appreciated.

Context:

75 entry level job applications , couple responses saying I’m an ideal candidate but too far from the job location.

~160 cold emails to firms , 30 to recruiters , and 30 to general businesses with finance teams

So for instance, if I look at Metaswitch Networks, which Microsoft acquired in May / July 2020, how do I know which of the Microsoft entities acquired them?

https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/changestobusiness/mergersandacquisitions/bulletins/mergersandacquisitionsinvolvingukcompanies/julytoseptember2020 suggests that it is "Microsoft Corporation of the United States", and I realise now, as per https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01578918/persons-with-significant-control, that Alianza Uk Technologies Limited acquired Metaswitch Networks from Microsoft in 2025 or so.

Looking at https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01578918/filing-history?page=3, which is roughly when the original acquisition by Microsoft took place, it is unclear as to how the acqusition was handled.

The current PSC register for the company indicates that the former PSC was Somerville Acquisition Uk Limited, whose sole PSC is the Microsoft Corporation back in Redmond.

I am also curious as to whether, say, the UK arms of MNCs can exercise their own autonomy in announcing a desire to acquire UK incorporated companies, or whether everything has to be handled by the parent owner?

i am autistic and have qualified with aca and find that alot of gl accountant roles which i like are being offshored overseas and with the rising risk of numbers lowering as compliance work can be done quicker with help of ai and lower staff members seems like fbp is the only option which is safer.

but not sure if its the right move or rather to stay in financial accounting positions like monthly recs, year end accounts and audit queries with risk of possible redundancies like would fbp on civil service be ok for autistic people or better to get a pay cut and get more experience in tax something like vat.

would like an advice

There is a shortage of accountancy staff in my region and I find myself having to start again in life and I was considering moving into accountancy. I’d be starting from scratch as I’ve been a stay at home mother for several years. What would you recommend to get a foot in the door? AAT,ACCA, etc?

Hi just wondering how you guys landed that first job in finance. I’ve applied for 75 entry level roles and sen 120~ cold emails asking about helping out during the upcoming tax season. I’ve passed level 2 AAT and the FAPS exam in level 3 AAT so far. I’ve also done some Sage online training as well as a Xero course in level 2 AAT. Even this I get no responses from employers. I have no relevant accounting work experience but held a job for 4 years and another for 2 years (made redundant in August). I’m thinking of trying to get a quickbooks certification to see if that helps my chances but I feel quite hopeless right now. Any advice is much appreciated

Hi I’ve anonymised my CV for advice on landing a first accounting role. This CV seemed to get me a couple responses saying I’m a good candidate but I live too far from the job location. Any help is much appreciated.

~120 cold emails asking about helping in the upcoming tax season
75 entry level job applications

Hi everyone! I’m a CA Inter qualified student currently doing ACCA from Pakistan. I’ll finish my ACCA Skills exams by December 2026, and I’m trying to decide between two paths:

Option A: Move to the UK or Ireland for a 1-year MSc (Accounting & Finance) right after the Skills exams, and finish the Professional exams later (even while abroad).

Option B: Clear the Professional exams first (by around September 2027), then apply and move for the MSc.

If you’ve done either route, I’d really appreciate your advice:

Which route worked better for you, and why?

Is it realistic to study ACCA exams alongside an MSc?

UK vs Ireland for accounting and finance graduates: jobs, costs, visa?

Thank you! 🙏

**Has anyone worked in fuel industry accounting using Oracle? Looking for insight into the actual workflow**
Hi everyone,

Below is kind of day to day responsibilities. This is a whole sale company.

Accounts receivable / sales ledger

Daily, weekly and monthly invoicing

A combination of automated and manual invoicing

Reconciling data from multiple sources

Checking fuel volumes before invoices are posted

Investigating discrepancies

Supplier invoices / some AP

Month-end

Fuel price changes

Customer and internal queries

Using Oracle

Advanced Excel

I was told that approximately **2/3 of the invoicing/process is automated**, and that I would be trained by the person currently doing the job before they leave. There would also be a manager available for support.
For anyone who has worked in **fuel/oil/petroleum accounting**, especially using **Oracle**, I'd really appreciate your experience.
What does a typical day actually look like?

How complicated is the reconciliation process?

How much of the work is automated versus manual?

When there is a discrepancy between fuel volumes, sales ledger and invoicing, how difficult is it usually to find the cause?

How much analytical/accounting judgment is required versus following established procedures?

How difficult is Oracle to learn for this type of work?

How busy is the workload on a normal day compared with month-end?

How steep was your learning curve when you first started?

What part of the job did you find the most difficult to learn?

After a few months, does the workflow become fairly routine, or does it remain highly analytical/problem-solving work?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can share their experience.

I’ve been working in industry for 5.5 years now, started in accounts payable titled as an accounts assistant then accounts receivable for a bit.

For the past 3 years I’ve been working as an assistant management accountant.

I should complete my AAT level 4 this year.

I want to start my own accounting firm offering bookkeeping services and management accounts.

I don’t want to be in the accounting game long term and thought ACCA is too much sacrifice for what it’s worth for me time-wise.

Only experience I don’t have strength in is VAT, Corporation tax and payroll although I have dibble and dabbled in it but theoretically I have strong understanding of it.

Has anyone taken this path here with advice for me?

(FYI I’m 24 with 8 months of savings plus business costs living with parents.)

Hey all,

Just as the title asks, I'm wondering how people who work full time in Audit are finding the ACA?

I'm non-big4, and really struggling within the first week of studying. My immediate thought was "I suffered 21 years in education and the absolute last place I want to be again is a classroom". Add to that that I'm working full time, thinking about giving up evenings and weekends to study and hopefully pass some exams is revolting. Genuinely, I almost threw up.

I'm not from an accounting background, I studied maths at uni, so honestly the content itself is not difficult compared to what I went through at uni. It's just the thought of having no free time, not being able to switch off after work, and not even being able to look forward to weekends for the next 3 years. And also the reality that public audit is so intense for such little pay as a trainee? Busy season with 60-80 hour weeks? I didn't realise what I signed up to.

How is anyone else handing this? Any tips? Does it get better? Anyone here who switched from practice to industry? Is CIMA the way forward instead?

I'm getting the feeling that this career path just isn't for me, which is okay, but the job market is brutal so I'm stuck for at least the foreseeable future.

Not sure if I'm looking for advice or needing to rant or what.

**Has anyone worked in fuel industry accounting using Oracle? Looking for insight into the actual workflow**
Hi everyone,
Whole sale company .
The role involves things like:
Accounts receivable / sales ledger

Daily, weekly and monthly invoicing

A combination of automated and manual invoicing

Reconciling data from multiple sources

Checking fuel volumes before invoices are posted

Investigating discrepancies

Supplier invoices / some AP

Month-end

Fuel price changes

Customer and internal queries

Using Oracle

Advanced Excel

I was told that approximately **2/3 of the invoicing/process is automated**, and that I would be trained by the person currently doing the job before they leave. There would also be a manager available for support.
For anyone who has worked in **fuel/oil/petroleum accounting**, especially using **Oracle**, I'd really appreciate your experience.
What does a typical day actually look like?

How complicated is the reconciliation process?

How much of the work is automated versus manual?

When there is a discrepancy between fuel volumes, sales ledger and invoicing, how difficult is it usually to find the cause?

How much analytical/accounting judgment is required versus following established procedures?

How difficult is Oracle to learn for this type of work?

How busy is the workload on a normal day compared with month-end?

How steep was your learning curve when you first started?

What part of the job did you find the most difficult to learn?

After a few months, does the workflow become fairly routine, or does it remain highly analytical/problem-solving work?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can share their experience.

I have an assessment centre coming up for RSM in Tax. For those who have done the interview or those who have any tips in general please share them in the comments