From Busy Season to Brighter Horizons: Advice for Newly Qualified Accountants
Now that exams are behind you and you’ve secured your qualification, it’s completely natural to start thinking about the next chapter in your career. Should you stay on with your current firm? Explore opportunities elsewhere? Make the move into industry? Or take a bit of breathing space to figure things out?
These questions come up for nearly every newly qualified accountant, and there’s no single path that’s right for everyone. The important thing is to approach the decision with a bit of reflection, rather than rushing into something just because it’s the expected next step.
Here are a few thoughts that might help you find the right direction:
1. Reflect before rushing
It’s easy to feel pressure to make a quick move once you’ve qualified. But before you jump into something new, take some time to think about what you’ve actually enjoyed during your training contract. Was it the variety of clients? The team you worked with? The pace or structure of the work? And equally, what parts of the job would you be happy to leave behind? Understanding what motivates you (and what drains you) will help narrow down the right kind of roles.
2. Know your options
Qualifying opens a lot of doors. Some people choose to stay in practice, gaining further experience or specialising in areas like tax, advisory, or audit quality. Others move into industry roles — anything from financial reporting to commercial analysis to internal audit. There’s also the public sector, financial services, and more recently, hybrid and project-based opportunities. Don’t just go by job titles, speak to people who can explain what the day-to-day really looks like.
3. Timing is on your side
Just because you’ve qualified doesn’t mean you need to act immediately. While April sees a lot of movement, the market for newly qualified accountants stays active throughout the year. Whether you’re ready to move now or would prefer to wait until summer or autumn, there’s no harm in exploring your options early. What matters most is making a decision that aligns with your goals, not just the calendar.
4. Talk to people who’ve done it
Hearing first-hand experiences from those a year or two ahead of you can be incredibly useful. What roles did they take? What did they learn? Did anything surprise them after leaving practice? Honest conversations like these can give you real insight — and help you avoid some of the more common pitfalls that come with rushing into a move.
5. Get advice from people who know the market
At Downey Osborne, we speak to newly qualified accountants every week, from those staying in the Big 4 to others making their first move into industry or smaller firms. We understand the pressures, the opportunities, and the reality of what different roles actually offer. Whether you're just starting to explore or actively looking, we're happy to offer honest, no-pressure advice tailored to your background and goals.
So, as the busy season winds down and your qualification milestone sinks in, take a moment to recognise how far you’ve come. And when you’re ready to start thinking about what’s next, know that there are great opportunities out there, and people here to help you find the right one.
