Accountants advised on how to get ahead

With thousands of accountants soon to finish their specialist training schemes in the next few weeks, the annual fight for positions is set to spark into life.

And the chief executive of the Careers In Audit website, Max Williamson, has warned the 3,000 or so newly-qualified chartered accountants to be careful in choosing their first job.

Recently there have been 'a surprising number of recently qualified accountants returning to the market within 12 months of stepping out of practice,' he told recruitment industry website Onrec.com.

'This is usually because they moved to a position that was not suitable or because they did not consider all aspects of what the job would entail.'

Some of the most tempting job offers may not be ideal, as they may lead to a career coming to a dead end some ten or 20 years down the line, Mr Williamson suggested.

'Newly-qualified accountants looking to leave practices need to look beyond the pay and perks to avoid an unsuitable job or ending up in a career rut,' he said.