2421 Chartered and certified accountants

In short

• ONS unit group 2421, in minor group 242 (Finance professionals) and major group 2 (Professional occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): On the list: Table 1, Table 2.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £49,200 (£25.23 per hour)
  • Table 2, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £36,900 (£18.92 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Chartered and certified accountants provide accounting and auditing services, advise clients on financial matters, collect and analyse financial information and perform other accounting duties required by management for the planning and control of an establishment’s income and expenditure.

Typical entry routes

Entrants usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification. Apprenticeships are also available. To qualify as an accountant, entrants must undertake a period of training within an approved organisation and successfully complete professional examinations. Exemptions to some professional examinations are available to those with appropriate academic qualifications.

Tasks

• plans and oversees implementation of accountancy system and policies
• prepares financial documents and reports for management, shareholders, statutory or other bodies
• audits accounts and book-keeping records
• prepares tax returns, advises on tax problems and contests disputed claim before tax official
• conducts financial investigations concerning insolvency, fraud, possible mergers, etc.
• evaluates financial information for management purposes
• liaises with management and other professionals to compile budgets and other costs
• prepares periodic accounts, budgetary reviews and financial forecasts
• conducts investigations and advises management on financial aspects of productivity, stock holding, sales, new products, etc

Related job titles

• Accountant (qualified)
• Auditor (qualified)
• Chartered accountant
• Company accountant
• Cost accountant (qualified)
• Financial controller (qualified accountant)
• Management accountant (qualified)

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on median Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

2421 Chartered and certified accountants

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Auditors (qualified accountant)
• Financial accountants (qualified)
• Forensic accountants
• Fund accountants
• Insolvency practitioners
• Chartered and certified accountants not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£49,200 (£25.23 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

£44,300 (£22.72 per hour)

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

£39,400 (£20.21 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£34,500 (£17.69 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

Yes

Table 2: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on 25th percentile Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

2421 Chartered and certified accountants

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

2421

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Auditors (qualified accountant)
• Financial accountants (qualified)
• Forensic accountants
• Fund accountants
• Insolvency practitioners
• Chartered and certified accountants not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£36,900 (£18.92 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

£33,200 (£17.03 per hour)

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

£29,500 (£15.13 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£25,800 (£13.23 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

Yes

Other unit groups in minor group 242

• 2422 Finance and investment analysts and advisers
• 2423 Taxation experts

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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