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SOC 2421 Business, media and public service professionals

Chartered and certified accountants Salary

Median salary £45,538 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

About this role

Chartered and certified accountants prepare, examine and analyse financial records, ensuring accuracy and compliance with statutory requirements. They provide financial advice, prepare tax returns, conduct audits and support organisations in managing their financial obligations.

Key responsibilities

  • Preparing and analysing financial statements and management accounts
  • Ensuring compliance with accounting standards and tax legislation
  • Conducting internal or external audits
  • Providing financial advice to clients or management
  • Preparing tax computations and returns

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires a professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, AAT for technician level). A degree in accounting, finance or a related field is typical. Ongoing CPD is mandatory.

Career outlook

Steady demand. MTD (Making Tax Digital) and increasing regulatory complexity are driving demand for technically skilled professionals.

Key skills

Financial analysis Attention to detail Regulatory knowledge Analytical thinking Communication

Common industries

  • Accounting firms
  • Financial services
  • All corporate sectors
  • Public sector
  • Non-profit

Data coverage

SOC code 2421
Data source ONS ASHE
Years available 2015–2025
Estimated jobs 75,000

Median Salary

£45,538

Mean Salary

£50,563

Jobs (000s)

75k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £33,974Median: £45,538P75: £64,223
P10: £23kP25: £34kMedian: £46kP75: £64kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,274

0-2 years

Mid Level

£33,974

3-7 years

Senior

£64,223

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +176% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Nominal growth: +26.5%Real growth: -8.4%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 14.8%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£45,538

Full-time Only

£50,062

Full-time premium: +£4,524