What kind of Salary should you expect??

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Comments

  • Rinske
    Rinske Registered Posts: 2,453 Beyond epic contributor 🧙‍♂️
    I definitely got the wrong job! Or am in the wrong place.

    Still waiting to hear if I get a raise in April though! Maybe it's time to chase it up...
  • Lou1234
    Lou1234 Registered Posts: 210 Dedicated contributor 🦉
    sianisian wrote: »
    Anyway, to add my two-pence worth, I am working as an assistant accountant in East Anglia, studying AAT level 4 and I am currently on £24k.

    I'm an assistant accountant in Central London and on a tiny bit more than this in the world of book publishing.
  • Londina
    Londina Registered Posts: 814 Epic contributor 🐘
    My first job in accounts was in 2006 in industry, I was studying Foundation and my salary was £14K.

    In 2007 I changed to practice and my starting salary was £18K, left that position after 2.5 years on £24K

    Now I'm in another practice and my starting salary is £26K (AAT qualified a couple of months ago).

    I believe if I move to industry I could easily get £30K, based on my experience.
  • sianisian
    sianisian Registered Posts: 11 New contributor 🐸
    Monsoon wrote: »
    Sianisian are you working in industry or in practice?

    Monsoon - I work in industry. I did also consider jobs in practice - the maximum salary offered to me was £17k. I have been quite lucky as I really love where I work now, saddo that I am!
  • sianisian
    sianisian Registered Posts: 11 New contributor 🐸
    LucyN wrote: »
    Same here as Sianisian, im an Assistant Accountant in Herts (East Anglia ish, about 9 miles from Stansted Airport) and on 24k, i passed my AAT last month and started a year ago on that salary.

    There are a lot of people moving to this town from all over the country for work atm, maybe the salary is why.

    Lucy, I am Herts too!
  • exam panic
    exam panic Registered Posts: 157 Dedicated contributor 🦉
    I don't think aat count in the money field but experience count I'm not working in accounting but if I move to accounting I have to have big pay cut even though I 'm not on high salary (24ish)I know my finance manager get 40k but she not even hold any accounting qualifications but she is very good @her job .
  • rehana
    rehana Registered Posts: 61 Regular contributor ⭐
    Very true, 22 years of accounts experience and in final year of AAT. Working 20hrs a week and on 28k in London
  • sianisian
    sianisian Registered Posts: 11 New contributor 🐸
    exam panic wrote: »
    I don't think aat count in the money field but experience count I'm not working in accounting but if I move to accounting I have to have big pay cut even though I 'm not on high salary (24ish)I know my finance manager get 40k but she not even hold any accounting qualifications but she is very good @her job .

    I wouldn't have got my job if I only had experience but no exams, and I wouldn't have got it if I only had exams but no experience. So I think they both count. But experience does count for a lot. When my job was advertised they were looking for an AAT-qualified or a CIMA/ACCA PQ - I was still only studying AAT level 3 but had gained a lot of experience in the previous 18 months so I just decided to go for it, and got the job :-)

    I still have a long way to go in terms of salary - before deciding to study accountancy I was working in a vaguely finance related job and A levels were the highest qualifications I had, yet I was on a basic salary of £25k plus guaranteed bonuses of £6k.

    I left that job, began studying AAT and started working as an accounts administrator in Bedfordshire on £21k, after a year I left there and started as an accounts assistant in London on £25k, after 6 months there I left and started as an assistant accountant in Hertfordshire on £24k.
  • exam panic
    exam panic Registered Posts: 157 Dedicated contributor 🦉
    but would be in saint if you say that average aat qualified is 24 k .qualification just the tool to find job but when you in job you all have to do all donkey work for your company .
  • rebecca2
    rebecca2 Registered Posts: 49 Regular contributor ⭐
    I am working as a Purchase Ledger Clerk in Essex, on the outskirts of London, industry, currently studying Level 4, accounts experience of 2.5 years, nearly 2 years at this current job and earning just over £19k.
  • BeccaLouJ9
    BeccaLouJ9 Registered Posts: 896 Epic contributor 🐘
    I work in practice, since I left College, 2.5 years ago. I'm on £14k ish and get my training paid for. I would like more- but at least I know (from boss) that as I progress through my studies, my pay WILL increase! If only slowly!
    x
  • PGM
    PGM Registered Posts: 1,954 Beyond epic contributor 🧙‍♂️
    BeccaLouJ9 wrote: »
    I work in practice, since I left College, 2.5 years ago. I'm on £14k ish and get my training paid for. I would like more- but at least I know (from boss) that as I progress through my studies, my pay WILL increase! If only slowly!
    x

    Its worth it for the training and experiance. Especially at the moment, a lot of people would kill for it!
  • BeccaLouJ9
    BeccaLouJ9 Registered Posts: 896 Epic contributor 🐘
    Yeh I know I'm very lucky. I got taken on as a trainee accountant- with absolutely no experience in accounting or anything really! I hadn't even thought about accountancy until I saw the job ad! Very glad I did now!
    x
  • PGM
    PGM Registered Posts: 1,954 Beyond epic contributor 🧙‍♂️
    BeccaLouJ9 wrote: »
    Yeh I know I'm very lucky. I got taken on as a trainee accountant- with absolutely no experience in accounting or anything really! I hadn't even thought about accountancy until I saw the job ad! Very glad I did now!
    x

    Still, it doesn't stop you wanting the nice car and big house :D
  • BeccaLouJ9
    BeccaLouJ9 Registered Posts: 896 Epic contributor 🐘
    Hmm.. Don't we all! We can dream...! It'll happen eventually- especially when I win the lottery- It's going to happen any day now!

    x
  • MattW
    MattW Registered Posts: 40 Regular contributor ⭐
    There doesn't seem to be any tally with qualifications and job titles here! I'm 1 exam from finishing have a fair amount of experience (28 now, started working in Finance at 20). Based in London as a management accountant by title (+ quite a few other things!) in Not-for-Profit and get in the bracket of £30-40k.

    I've seen stand alone management accounting roles in my sector for AAT quals to £38k (with the experience).

    I also see a lot of AAT roles @ 15-20k - some employers value it some don't. My employer expects me to go on to CIMA later this year, which I will. CIMA (and the others) are so much more valued and as a management accountant (or equiv) in London I would expect around £40k-50k+ with experience and quals depending on sector - that's why i thought the PQ survey was a bit odd.

    Saying that there are others in my sector who have no quals are earn a hell of lot more than me (45-60k), but guess they have the experience and specialty at their level. Accountancy and pay seems to depend on many factors, not just qualifications!
  • exam panic
    exam panic Registered Posts: 157 Dedicated contributor 🦉
    MattW wrote: »
    There doesn't seem to be any tally with qualifications and job titles here! I'm 1 exam from finishing have a fair amount of experience (28 now, started working in Finance at 20). Based in London as a management accountant by title (+ quite a few other things!) in Not-for-Profit and get in the bracket of £30-40k.

    I've seen stand alone management accounting roles in my sector for AAT quals to £38k (with the experience).

    I also see a lot of AAT roles @ 15-20k - some employers value it some don't. My employer expects me to go on to CIMA later this year, which I will. CIMA (and the others) are so much more valued and as a management accountant (or equiv) in London I would expect around £40k-50k+ with experience and quals depending on sector - that's why i thought the PQ survey was a bit odd.

    Saying that there are others in my sector who have no quals are earn a hell of lot more than me (45-60k), but guess they have the experience and specialty at their level. Accountancy and pay seems to depend on many factors, not just qualifications!
    You are very right there and That apply to any job as well
  • LucyN
    LucyN Registered Posts: 23 New contributor 🐸
    Monsoon wrote: »
    Lucy is that in practice or industry? I'm guessing industry but would be interested to know which.

    Hi, that is in practice, working for an ICAEW company.
  • Daz1865
    Daz1865 Registered Posts: 67 Regular contributor ⭐
    messedup89 wrote: »
    I'm an Accounts Assistant in Industry, been in the role for 3yrs, AAT Qualified Feb10, currently studying ACCA, live near Manchester, currently on 12,250
    I think you need to look for a new employer, unless you are part time? Sounds like you are very undervalued!

    In my opinion there is no point in being loyal to a company if you want to earn more money! Some of my friends find it quite strange that I have had several jobs in the past few years, but why wait for a promotion for 20 years, when there are jobs available elsewhere.
  • Londina
    Londina Registered Posts: 814 Epic contributor 🐘
    Daz1865 wrote: »
    why wait for a promotion for 20 years, when there are jobs available elsewhere.

    Exactly, this is what I usually do too
  • mi|kshake
    mi|kshake Registered Posts: 70 Regular contributor ⭐
    I was wondering about salary levels myself. I remember a while back I received a survey from AAT asking about what you earn, where you live etc, but don't remember hearing back - I was curious to know the results because I have absolutely no idea what I should be getting paid.

    I'm up in the Highlands of Scotland and have worked for my employer for 8 years - roughly 4 years doing non-corporate accounts and 4 in personal tax. I am ATT qualified and have full membership (have been qualified for...1 and a half years maybe? Totally can't remember!) and am now studying towards my ATT. (Though the training manager couldn't tell me how much the payrise would be. I do know I get it after I qualify rather than per exam as with AAT and a colleague told me she didn't get much as the qualification wasn't relevant to her job at the time). I'm now on £12,850, but don't know if this is as good as it gets for the city in which I work or not. (Though tbh I'm not sure if I "as good" at my job as other people in my office).

    mi|kshake~
  • Daz1865
    Daz1865 Registered Posts: 67 Regular contributor ⭐
    Hey mi|kshake

    That does sound on the low side, especially as you seem very qualified, loyal and intelligent.

    I guess the difficult thing is that if you live in a remote part of the country, you have less freedom to move jobs, and so employers can take you for granted. Although living costs could be cheaper so its all relative to an extent! Where are you from? :-)

    There was something in the AAT magazine a few months ago about national salary levels. I'm afraid that I don't keep the magazines but maybe someone else would.
  • mi|kshake
    mi|kshake Registered Posts: 70 Regular contributor ⭐
    ^Thanks for the reply!

    I should really read my AAT magazine lol! I'm from Inverness - there are a few accountancy practices around here but I guess I'm torn between wanting more pay and actually liking where I work - like the people and am "settled! Also I wouldn't want to work for one of The Big 4 - I ain't that ambitious! I'd be happy for £15k now (though obviously I'd need a bit more in the future!). I'm 26 this year so it would be nice to be able to afford my own place. I do know a couple of my colleages actually have a second job (and one is studying towards ACCA - how they fit that in I have no idea!)

    mi|kshake~
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