I Have Finished My Accounting Qualification, Now What?

An ICB Accounting Qualification can give you a very rewarding career. With this qualification, you can have a wide choice of careers within the finance

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Last Updated : July 18, 2022

Now that you have finished your Accounting Qualification, here are your options:

Look For Employment Opportunities

As soon as you decide that you want to look for employment opportunities after you have finished your Accounting studies, here is what you need to do:

    • Join professional bodies – By joining professional bodies, you show your potential employers that you value your profession , and you want to grow within it.  Here are some of the professional bodies that you can be a member of:
      • SAIT – South African Institute of Tax Professionals 
      • SAIBA – The South African Institute of Business Accountants 
      • IAB – International Association of Bookkeepers (UK)
      • IAAP – International Association of Accounting Professionals (UK)
    • Create a CV – Create a CV that an employer can find irresistible. Include the following:
      • Your format must be extraordinary
      • Important information must be at the top
      • Personal profile
      • Education and qualifications
      • Membership in professional bodies
      • Work experience
      • Skills and achievements
      • Interests 
    • Decide whether you want your specialise – Here are some of the employment opportunities that you can get with an Accounting Qualification:
      • Accounting Clerk
      • Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk
      • Accounting Information System Specialist
      • Actuarial Accountant/Insurance Accountant
      • Bookkeeping
      • Budget Analyst
      • Capital Accountant
      • Comptroller/Financial Controller
      • Cost Accountant
      • Payroll Accountant
      • Business Valuation Specialist
      • Certified Financial Planner
      • Financial Analyst
      • Tax Consultant
      • Cost Estimator
      • Forensic Accountant
      • Real Estate Appraiser
      • Tax Accountant
      • Tax Attorney
  • Identify employment opportunities through the following:
    • Networking – When you network, you will meet with people from various industries and professions. Employment agencies – It is also prudent to register with a number of  employment agencies, for example, Indeed
    • Job portals – Job portals can also help you in your search for employment opportunities, for example, LinkedIn
  • Prepare well for your interview – Consider the following when preparing for your interview:
  • Research the industry and company
  • Anticipate the interviewer’s concerns and reservations
  • Prepare for common interview questions
  • Line up your questions for the interviewer
  • Practice
  • Make the most of the  “Tell me about yourself” question 
  • Take along a copy of your CV
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Be A Freelance Accountant

After your Accounting Qualification, you can choose to work for yourself as a freelance Accountant. Here are the steps that you can take:

  • Get registered
  • Open a bank account
  • Be a member of a professional body
  • Gain experience
  • Choose an industry
  • Sell different packages
  • Market yourself

Get Registered

Get your freelance business registered. If your business is registered, it gives legitimacy to your operations. In addition, you will be complying with the laws. This is because the law also requires you to pay income tax.  

Open A Bank Account

Open a bank account in the name of your registered business. When your clients pay you, they will deposit the money into a business account and not in a personal one. This goes a long way to show how professional you are. Your clients will take you seriously.  

Be A Member Of A Professional Body

Membership in professional bodies can boost your profile. Clients can have confidence in you knowing that you are recognised by a professional body in your industry. Membership in a professional body is an accreditation. If a client has to choose between an accredited Accountant and a non-accredited one, they will choose an accredited Accountant.    

Gain Experience

Perhaps you should also choose to gain some experience before you embark on your freelancing journey. Most clients prefer people with experience to work for them. Your experience assures them that you can do a good job. Here is how you can get some experience: 

Choose An Industry

Although you can freelance for any industry, choosing an industry to specialise in has the following advantages:

  • You can become a master of that industry
  • Gain reputation in that industry
  • Gain more clients
  • You can become an industry financial authority

Sell Different Packages

When you are selling your services, you can package them in such a way that your client is tempted to buy more than one package. For example, you can have three packages as follows: 

  • Bookkeeping
  • Accounting
  • All Accounting Services  

Market Yourself

An online footprint will assist you in digitally marketing yourself. Here is how you can set up your online presence:

  • Build a website
  • Be active on social media
  • Facilitate online payments
  • Drive traffic to your website by implementing a Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) strategy
  • List on all relevant online directories
  • Implement a Search Engine Marketing (SEM) strategy
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Study Further

Here is what you can study further on completion of your ICB Accounting Qualification:  

  • Study other ICB Courses
  • Study the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting (CIMA) Courses
  • Study the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Courses

Study Other ICB Courses

The three ICB Programmes share common subjects. However, there will be specialist subjects for each Programme. 

For example, the ICB Financial Accounting Programme has four (4) common subjects with the ICB Office Management Programme and five (5) common subjects with the ICB Business Management Programme. 

This means that when you will only have to complete seven (7) subjects for the ICB Business Management Programme and six (6) subjects in the ICB Office Administration Programme.

The following are the common subjects in all ICB Courses:

  • Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB)
  • Financial Statements (FNST)
  • Business Literacy (BUSL)
  • Research Theory and Practice (RTAP

Study The Chartered Institute Of Management Accounting (CIMA) Courses

You can study CIMA Courses when you complete your ICB Financial Accounting Qualification. Here are six (6) subject exemptions that you will be granted: 

  • BA2 Fundamentals of Management Accounting
  • BA3 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
  • BA1 Fundamentals of Business Economics
  • B4 Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law
  • P1 Management Accounting
  • F1 Financial Reporting

Study The Association Of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Courses

You can study ACCA Courses when you complete your ICB Financial Accounting Qualification. Here are six (6) subject exemptions that you will be granted: 

  • Accountant in Business
  • Management and Cost Accounting Techniques
  • Financial Accounting
  • Corporate and Business Law
  • Performance Management
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Which Certification Is Best For Accounting?

The ICB Financial Accounting Programme is best for Accounting. The Programme consists of four (4) courses which you study in succession. You cannot study the next course before you complete the previous one. Here are the courses in the Programme:

Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate 

This is the foundation stage of the programme. It teaches you Bookkeeping skills. Bookkeeping is the foundation of Financial Accounting. To study this course, you need to meet these requirements: 

  • Grade 10 or Grade 10 Equivalent Certificate 
  • Be 16 years or older
  • Be able to read, write and understand English 
  • Be able to study through distance learning

Bookkeeping: ICB FET Certificate 

In this course, you will study advanced Bookkeeping. In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of Financial Accounting. To study this course, you need to meet these requirements: 

Technical Financial Accounting: ICB National Diploma

This course will lay your Accounting foundation. With the course, you can be a Technical Accountant. This means that you will be able to carry out various aspects of the Accounting functions under the supervision of a Senior Accountant. To study this course, you need to meet these requirements:  

Study through distance learning

Author: Collin Wilbesi
Editor: Sive Ncanywa
Date: July 18 , 2022