Hey folks, hoping to get some guidance on career progression here.
I finished my degree about 3 years back and have been in the finance sector ever since. Started as a Junior Accountant for 2 years, then moved into my current role as a Financial Analyst making roughly £25k annually.
I’ve wrapped up my AAT qualification and I’m currently working through the ACCA professional level.
When I check out LinkedIn, I see that several people who graduated around the same time as me have already landed roles like Senior Finance Manager or even Finance Director positions. This got me thinking about what strategies actually work for rapid career advancement in finance.
Is it more about picking the right sector to work in? Building strong professional connections? Making strategic job moves between different organizations? Or does it come down to being in the right place at the right time?
Sometimes I think staying committed to one employer and putting in effort doesn’t really pay off. It seems like promotions only happen when there’s an actual vacancy that needs filling.
those linkedin profiles are mostly inflated garbage anyway. half these “finance directors” manage 2 people at some startup with made-up titles. but honestly - job hopping every 18-24 months is how you get paid. staying loyal just makes you cheap labor. networking helps but don’t expect miracles. most connections disappear when you actually need them. focus on getting into better companies instead of trying to climb the ladder at mediocre ones.
Your timeline sounds pretty normal - you’re building solid foundations with AAT and ACCA. Here’s what most people miss: you need commercial sense, not just technical skills. Don’t just produce reports - understand how finance actually drives business decisions. That’s what sets you apart.
Target high-growth sectors like tech or renewables. Finance people move up fast there because companies are expanding constantly. For internal moves, create your own opportunities. Propose better processes, lead cross-team projects, or jump on M&A work. This stuff shows you can handle bigger responsibilities.
About those LinkedIn success stories - check what they actually do, not their fancy titles. A ‘senior’ role at some tiny company might have less scope than an analyst job at a proper firm. Look for roles with real P&L exposure, stakeholder management, and strategic input.
With your ACCA progress and hands-on experience, you should be targeting senior analyst or finance manager roles within 18 months. Just pick the right opportunities.
Pick up skills managers actually value instead of just checking qualification boxes. I’ve watched people shoot up the ladder by volunteering for projects everyone else avoids - system implementations, budget reviews, that stuff. Extra work, sure, but you become indispensable fast. Don’t sleep on smaller companies either. They promote quicker because they’re growing and need people to step up. I went from analyst to senior analyst in 8 months at a mid-size firm. Would’ve taken years at my old corporate gig. Half the time it’s not about being the smartest guy in the room - just the one most willing to solve problems.