Chartered and certified accountants SOC 2421
Chartered and certified accountants (SOC 2421) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £49,200 per year. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
What does a chartered and certified accountant do?
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 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
Typical entry routes and qualifications
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.
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What chartered and certified accountants earn in the UK
UK market basic pay at a glance
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most chartered and certified accountants in the UK earn between £38,376 and £65,780 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £49,200 (SOC 2421), sitting at the 49th percentile of what UK employers pay and £252 below the median.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
How to get sponsored as a chartered and certified accountant
- 1
Find a licensed sponsor on Hunt UK Visa Sponsors
Browse our register of UK companies with an active sponsor licence. Filter by industry, size, sponsor rating, and whether they're currently hiring chartered and certified accountants, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsors - 2
Confirm the salary meets the £49,200 going rate
Your employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for SOC 2421 (£49,200) or the general Skilled Worker threshold of £41,700 per year.
New entrants and ISL roles may qualify for a lower rate. See the New entrant & discount rates section below.
- 3
Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship
Your sponsor issues a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), a reference number the Home Office uses to check the job offer, salary, and duties line up with an eligible SOC code.
- 4
Apply for a Skilled Worker visa at gov.uk
Submit the Skilled Worker visa application online within 3 months of your CoS assignment date. You'll also book a biometric appointment and pay the immigration health surcharge.
Apply on gov.uk - 5
Move to the UK and start work
Travel to the UK before your CoS start date and begin working for the sponsor named on the certificate.
New entrant & discount rates
If you're under 26, switching from a Student visa, or a recent UK graduate, your employer can pay the new entrant rate of £36,900 (70% of the going rate) for up to four years.
Roles under SOC 2421
Recent jobs under SOC 2421
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Related occupations
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (242xx):
Frequently asked questions
Can chartered and certified accountants get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Chartered and certified accountants roles fall under SOC 2421 (Higher Skilled), so they qualify for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer will need a sponsor licence and must pay at least the going rate for this occupation.
What salary do chartered and certified accountants need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Chartered and certified accountants (SOC 2421) is £49,200 (£25.23 per hour). Occupation rate applies. Your employer must pay whichever is higher: this going rate or the general Skilled Worker threshold of £41,700 per year.
What job titles are covered by SOC 2421?
SOC 2421 covers a range of chartered and certified accountants roles, including: Auditors (qualified accountant), Financial accountants (qualified), Forensic accountants, Fund accountants, Insolvency practitoners, Chartered and certified accountants not elsewhere classified.. Keep in mind that the Home Office matches jobs by duties rather than title alone. Two roles with the same title can fall under different SOC codes depending on the actual work involved.
Is there a lower salary for new graduates entering chartered and certified accountants roles?
Yes. If you're under 26, a recent graduate, or switching from a Student visa, you count as a "new entrant" and your employer only needs to pay 70% of the going rate (with an absolute floor of £33,400/year — the new-entrant minimum cannot go below that). For Chartered and certified accountants, that works out to £36,900. The discount lasts up to four years.
Where can I find chartered and certified accountants jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Chartered and certified accountants roles from companies with a Home Office sponsor licence. Scroll down to see what's currently open, or search our full jobs database for more visa-sponsored positions across the UK.
This information is provided as guidance only and should not be treated as legal advice. Eligibility criteria and salary thresholds are based on the latest published government data. Always verify with the official UK government guidance or seek professional immigration advice.