2 Mins
Looking for your next step, check out our guide to career growth with HL >
Accountancy covers a wide range of career paths, from audit and tax to advisory and forensic accounting. Each specialism offers something different depending on your skills and interests. Click below to find out more about the different areas you can explore within the profession.
Tax
What can I expect from a career in Tax?
The range of work you do will vary according to the type of firm. Tax trainees start out with preparing tax returns for individuals or companies. You will receive training in tax concepts and tax law, as well as accountancy concepts and how to use tax return software. Then, under supervision, you may progress on to:
- Meet clients, as part of the tax team
- Carry out tax research and summarise findings
- Analyse data
- Respond to correspondence from HMRC
- Preparation of tax accounting calculations and tax notes for accounts and reporting
Audit
What can I expect from a career in Audit?
Audit is a critical service that provides independent verification of a company or organisation’s financial statements. It’s not just about “ticking boxes” — it’s about protecting the integrity of the financial system and supporting good decision-making.
In simple terms, audit means:
- Checking if a company’s accounts are true, fair and accurate.
- Understanding how money flows through a business.
- Making sure businesses follow the law and best practice.
- Giving shareholders, boards, and regulators confidence in the information reported.
Auditors are problem solvers, investigators, and trusted advisors. It’s a role that builds commercial awareness and develops your understanding of how different businesses really work.rs. It’s a role that builds commercial awareness and develops your understanding of how different businesses really work.
ABS
What can I expect from a career in ABS?
The work you do will evolve as you gain experience and progress through your ACCA qualification. You’ll start by preparing accounts and supporting compliance tasks, then move on to more advisory-focused work such as:
- Meeting clients and building trusted relationships.
- Analysing financial performance and offering improvement recommendations.
- Implementing accounting systems and providing software training.
- Assisting with business plans, forecasting, and financial modelling.
- Contributing to internal projects and process improvements.
Looking for your next step, check out our guide to career growth with HL>