UK Job Description Template · Accountant
UK Accountant Job Description Template 2026
Job purpose
To maintain financial records, prepare accounts and reports, and ensure compliance with UK accounting standards and tax regulations. Support business decision-making through accurate financial information.
Key responsibilities
- • Maintain general ledger and chart of accounts
- • Process transactions (purchase ledger, sales ledger, journals)
- • Prepare monthly management accounts
- • Prepare year-end financial statements
- • Reconcile bank accounts and balance sheet items
- • Support audit preparation and respond to auditor queries
- • Manage VAT returns and other tax submissions
- • Process payroll (or coordinate with external payroll provider)
- • Maintain fixed asset register
- • Support budgeting and forecasting cycles
Essential skills
- ✓ Strong technical accounting knowledge
- ✓ UK GAAP and IFRS familiarity
- ✓ Excel proficiency (advanced formulae, pivot tables)
- ✓ Accounting software experience (Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite)
- ✓ Attention to detail
- ✓ Time management for month-end deadlines
- ✓ Strong communication for cross-functional queries
Desirable skills
- + ACA, ACCA, CIMA part-qualified or qualified
- + Industry-specific experience
- + ERP system experience
- + VAT/tax specialism
- + Payroll specialism
- + Audit experience (Big 4 / mid-tier)
Qualifications
AAT Level 4 minimum for accountant role. Working towards or qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA for senior role. Specific tax qualifications (CTA, ATT) valuable for tax-heavy positions.
Experience
Junior Accountant: 1-3 years (often AAT-qualified). Accountant: 3-7 years (newly qualified or part-qualified). Senior Accountant: 7-10 years (qualified).
UK salary ranges
Junior
£25,000-£35,000 Junior Accountant / AAT-qualified
Mid-level
£35,000-£55,000 Accountant / Newly Qualified
Senior
£55,000-£75,000 Senior Accountant
Working pattern
Most UK accountant roles offer hybrid (2-3 days office). Standard hours with intensity at month-end (week 1 of each month) and year-end. Smaller employers often more in-office.
Career progression
AAT-qualified accountant → ACA/ACCA/CIMA part-qualified → Newly Qualified → Accountant → Senior Accountant → Finance Manager → Financial Controller → Finance Director → CFO. Specialisations: tax, audit, treasury, FP&A.
Recruiter pro tip
UK accountant JDs often specify ACA/ACCA/CIMA equally but they're not interchangeable in all sectors. ACA tends to dominate in audit/larger corporates; ACCA is broader and more common in industry; CIMA is strongest in commercial/management accounting. Be specific about which qualifications you'll genuinely consider equivalent.
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