Imperial College London
London, United Kingdom
QS #2Merit scholarships
Computing · Electrical & Electronic Engineering · Mathematics
- Tuition
- Est. £38,000–£50,000 per year for international students
- Deadline
- Typically late January
All careers
Finance
Accountant / Auditor
Prepares and checks financial records so organisations stay accurate, compliant and well run.
What this career is
Accountants manage financial reporting, tax and controls; auditors independently check that statements are true and fair. Professional qualifications like ACCA are central to the career.
What professionals do
- Prepare financial statements
- Audit records and test controls
- Advise on tax and compliance
- Use Excel and accounting software daily
Outlook: Stable demand; ACCA-qualified accountants are especially sought after in Central Asia.
Official occupation data
Tasks, skills, US pay and job growth from O*NET and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Key skills
Accounting fundamentals
analyticalAccounting is the language of business; it underpins finance, consulting and entrepreneurship.
Start with
- · Learn the accounting equation and double-entry
- · Read an annual report of a company you know
Excel & spreadsheets
technicalFinance, consulting and business roles rely on spreadsheets daily for analysis and communication.
Start with
- · Learn lookups, pivot tables and charts
- · Rebuild a simple budget or financial statement
Financial modelling
analyticalCore to investment banking, equity research, corporate finance and many consulting cases.
Start with
- · Learn the three financial statements and how they link
- · Build a simple DCF valuation
Structured problem solving
analyticalConsulting case interviews and analyst roles test this directly.
Start with
- · Practise issue trees on everyday problems
- · Do two case interviews per week with a partner
Education paths
- 1Bachelor's in accounting, finance or economics
- 2Professional qualification (ACCA, CPA, CIMA)
- 3Graduate programme at an audit firm
Universities strong in Finance & Accounting
The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
QS #11Merit scholarships
BBA (Finance) · BEcon & Finance · Bachelor of Laws
- Tuition
- Est. HK$180,000+ per year for non-local students
- Deadline
- Main rounds typically from autumn into January
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA, United States
QS #15Limited need-based aid
Wharton Economics · Huntsman Program in International Studies & Business · Computer Science
- Tuition
- Est. above $60,000 per year before aid
- Deadline
- Typically 1 November
Typical entry-level roles
Audit AssociateJunior AccountantTax Associate
Build your profile
Recommended extracurriculars
- · Accounting society
- · Case competitions
- · Volunteer bookkeeping for a non-profit
Recommended competitions
PrizesIn person
- Location
- Local, regional and global rounds
- Deadline
- Typically autumn, through your local CFA society
Recommended internships & programmes
PaidIn person
- Location
- Offices worldwide
- Deadline
- Most summer roles open in late summer/autumn
PaidIn person
- Location
- Offices worldwide
- Deadline
- Most summer roles open in late summer/autumn
Certifications that help
Finance & Accounting
ACCA Qualification
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
A globally recognised chartered accountancy qualification.
- Cost
- Registration, annual and per-exam fees — see ACCA for your country
- Time
- 2–4 years alongside work/study