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Feel like there must be more to life than slugging away behind a desk and giving businesses manage their taxes? You might be right — here are a few ideas to help you make a successful transition to something new.
Is your heart telling you it’s time for a career change from accounting? Maybe you entered the field for job security or financial stability, but now you feel unfulfilled.
Leaving behind a respected profession may seem daunting, but there are plenty of jobs for accountants outside of accounting that leverage your skills in new and exciting ways.
We’ll run through everything you need to know before leaving the accounting world for good, along with the top options for you to consider. These range from becoming a no-code programmer (yes, really) to a teacher. So, make sure you stick around!
If you’ve been searching Google for alternative careers for CPAs, or something similar, chances are that you’re ready to make a change. But sometimes, we find ourselves doubting our feelings and need some affirmation.
How do you know for sure? Here are some key indicators.
1. You Don’t Feel Intellectually Stimulated
Feeling some level of intellectual stimulation, passion, or enjoyment toward your work shouldn’t be a luxury. The more you enjoy what you do, the more likely you are to feel motivated enough to progress and earn more.
Plus, if you find your work too routine and easy, it may signal you’re capable of achieving more.
2. You Constantly Research Non-Accounting Jobs
If you regularly searching for accounting career switch ideas, this could be a sign you’re ready for a new path.
To a certain extent, it’s a natural human instinct to wonder what life would have been like if we’d taken Path A instead of Path B. But if you find yourself daydreaming about careers after CPA or you spend a lot of time researching alternative careers, this could be a sign you’re ready for a new path.
3. Your Work Negatively Impacts Your Mental Health
We should work to live and not live to work. If the dread or negativity you feel toward your job has started to encroach on your personal life, it’s a huge red flag. Stop punishing yourself and look for work that won’t hurt your mental health - learn some tips to balance work and personal life during career transitions.
4. You’ve Become Complacent
This one connects to Sign 1. Once you no longer feel your job challenges you, chances are that you’ll become complacent. In other words, you may stop caring about trying to do the best you can in every task or aim for that promotion. Instead, you spend your time at work procrastinating and watching the clock.
Look out for signs of complacency, and work hard to combat them.
5. Even a Raise Doesn’t Excite You
Not everyone needs to enjoy their job every single day; some people are happy to know they’re providing for their family or earning enough to maintain a high quality of life. But if you’ve reached the point in your job where even the prospect of getting a raise isn’t enough to keep you motivated, it might be time to say goodbye to your role.
You don’t need to relate to all the five signs outlined above to give yourself permission to launch into a career change. But if a few of them are resonating with you, that’s a sign that it may be time to seriously consider going down an alternative path.
Okay, so you’ve identified the signs and you’re becoming increasingly convinced that making the shift could be the right decision. What’s next?
Changing careers doesn’t mean abandoning your hard-earned experience. Here are a few things you need to know.
All those years spent training and working as an accountant don’t need to go to waste just because you’re switching careers. Here are some critical skills that will help you to progress as you pursue something new.
Reliability
Accountants are often so inherently reliable that they don’t even realize what a valuable skill they have and how rare it is. In your applications, highlight the times you’ve stuck to deadlines, juggled projects, or handled sensitive information while following proper conduct.
Technology literacy
Sure, as an accountant, you might not be hacking into NASA. But it’s a career that requires you to use software on a daily basis and requires a level of digital literacy you can apply to other fields.
Analytical
Accountancy is all about analyzing vast amounts of data and being able to come to conclusions about what it means and how you should act on it. That’s invaluable for many other professions.
Communication
To an outsider, accountancy might seem like the kind of job that’s all about working with numbers. In reality, you’ll often have to explain your work and its implications to non-accountants, meaning that written and spoken communication skills are essential.
Numeracy
Working with numbers day in and day out shows that you know how to work with data. This is fast becoming something all professions require, from marketing to sales to journalism.
Skills-to-Career Mapping Table
Below is a breakdown of how transferable skills from a CPA apply to other careers:
Now, we finally reach what is arguably the most important part of this article. How can you make that career change from accounting?
Although there are some variations depending on the job you’re hoping to land in the end, you should be able to follow the basic framework below.
1. Decide on your end goal
We’ve mentioned multiple career paths you could consider, and your first step should be narrowing things down. Randomly applying for jobs in different fields and hoping that things fall into place or that somebody else will make your decision for you? Probably not going to work.
Start by narrowing down what it is about your current job you dislike (or like), then think about which jobs might offer that for you. In some cases, you may be able to get what you want from the same position at a different company or a different role at the same company rather than making a career change.
2. Create a strategy
Now you’ve decided on the career you want to pursue, you need to build a plan for how you’re going to get there. You’ll need to:
💡 Consider making a Pre-Career-Change Self-Assessment to help you create a strategy aligned with your necessities and values.
3. Research today’s job market
Put together, this information should help you figure out what steps you need to take to get where you need to be. Time to fire up Google!
4. Upskill
Based on the information you’ve gathered from the previous step, it’s time to upskill by getting the qualifications you need to kickstart your career. However, this will vary depending on the path you decide to take. In some cases, you might decide to complete a Master’s degree; in others, you might be able to learn everything you need to know from YouTube.
However, the most usual case is that you’ll land somewhere in between and complete some kind of license, short course, or diploma — whether it’s at a local center or online.
💡 Discover the Top Programs to Upskill and Change Careers in the Digital Age.
5. Reach out to your network
Reaching out to a network is something you may want to do before or alongside upskilling. But once you have the qualifications you need, it’s definitely time to pay attention to put your focus here.
Let everyone you know about your plans for an upcoming career change, and you never know who they might be able to put you in contact with. It also helps to post on LinkedIn so that an even wider network knows about your ambitions. If you’re lucky, you might be able to meet people for a quick chat and jumpstart your new career.
💡 Learn more about Effective Networking Strategies to Uncover Hidden Job Opportunities
5. Consider a Coach or Mentor
If you’re lucky, you may have stumbled across someone willing to mentor you in the stage above. But if not, now is a great time to work with a formal career coach or mentor to help you get to where you need to be. Yes, it’s an upfront investment — but if it means you land a better-paying job more quickly, you’ll earn that money back straightaway.
A coach may give you some tough love or they may encourage you to apply for that job you feel underqualified for. Either way, you’ll be able to do it in confidence.
6. Start making applications
At this point, nothing is holding you back from starting your job applications. Try to choose quality over quantity here, and take your time applying for the positions you genuinely like and feel a good fit for. To a certain extent, it’s always going to be a numbers game, but you can still influence your own odds.
If you're a CPA looking for a change that still leverages your valuable skills, several exciting career paths await. In 2025, more than one in three UK workers (37%) are thinking about switching careers, with a significant portion of accounting professionals exploring new opportunities.
Let's explore some of the best non-accounting jobs for accountants that align perfectly with your existing skill set.
Average earning potential: $88,614 per year* | Source: Salary.com
A citizen developer creates applications and automates workflows using no-code or low-code tools—no prior programming experience needed. This is a booming field, with companies increasingly adopting low-code/no-code platforms to accelerate digital transformation.
Many companies value accountants’ problem-solving and analytical skills in these roles. The demand for automation in finance and business processes makes citizen developers highly sought after.
Average earning potential: $96,362 per year* | Source: Built In
If you like the idea of working in the tech sector or having a more business-focused role, but you find the prospect of becoming a citizen developer a little too daunting, why not consider project management? Many former accountants thrive in this role due to their analytical skills and structured thinking. Project management roles are in high demand, with a projected growth of 7% by 2033, driven by a talent shortage in the field.
Since citizen developers and project managers often work alongside each other, this can be a useful stepping stone into a more tech-focused career.
Average earning potential: $74,804 per year* | Source: Taylor Method
Many accountants went into the profession because they’re good at working with numbers but get tired of the lack of fulfillment. Financial advisors get a bit of both — you’ll get to see the direct results of helping your clients, but the core skills involved are very similar.
In this position, you’ll help individuals manage their investments, savings, and retirement plans.
Average earning potential: $87,050 per year* | Source: Built In
If you want to do something slightly different from accountancy with the same skillset you have now, a position as a financial analyst could be ideal.
In this case, your focus will be on helping an organization to make future predictions and analyze trends rather than ensuring its finances are in check on a daily basis. This is a great option if you enjoy working with data-driven insights.
Average earning potential: $79,222 per year* | Source: Salary.com
On the surface, working in communication and being an accountant might sound as far apart as you can get. But if you’re dying to learn a brand-new skillset, this could be the perfect way to do it. Most people working in marketing or communications lack specialist knowledge about accounting, yet all accounting firms need help with their communications — meaning there’s a gap in the market for people like you.
Average earning potential: $50,000-$70,000*
Feel that you lack a sense of purpose in the accounting world? Teaching offers that in fistfuls. Teachers who go into the profession after working another job first are often able to provide a kind of guidance and real-life experience that many of their peers can’t. While it might not have a reputation for high-paying work, you can make a significant amount if you progress into leadership.
*These figures represent average salaries, and actual earnings can vary based on factors such as location, experience, industry, and specific employer.
Have you ever felt envious of your tech friends? The sector is known for generous pay, a great work-life balance, and a roaring job market.
But did you know that you no longer need a technology-related degree or coding knowledge to join them? Welcome to the world of no-code development. How to Get Into the Tech Industry With No Experience (Yes, It’s Possible)
With the rise of no-code, many professionals are transitioning from accounting into tech roles. The demand for automation in finance and business processes makes citizen developers highly sought after.
The name might throw you off, but essentially, a citizen developer is someone who can do everything a standard developer can without having to code. They’re a “normal person” capable of programming.
These days, plenty of tools and applications make it possible to develop sophisticated applications or designs in accessible and intuitive ways. For instance, you might drag and drop items instead of learning a coding language.
And many firms are embracing the trend — just check out this video from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
You may see citizen developer (or no-code/low-code) jobs advertised with other names, such as a Business Systems Analyst, Business Analyst, Process Improvement Consultant, or Process Automation Consultant, or similar.
A range of $90,000-$125,000 is very possible to achieve.
You might assume starting a new career path that’s (seemingly) unrelated to accountancy would mean you’re starting at square one. However, reaching a good level in accountancy sends a few strong signals to potential employers:
All of this proves that you could thrive in a job where you need to learn a new skill, make business decisions involving data, and communicate and collaborate effectively with a team. So, don’t undersell yourself.
Considering the demand among companies for building applications, you’re unlikely to be out of work for long once you get to grips with the basics.
Impatient about going from a novice citizen developer to a six-figure professional? The best way to get yourself ahead is through training and upskilling.
You’ll need to master essential no-code tools to be able to build marketing and workflow automations, web and mobile apps, and internal business tools.
You can learn a lot from studying on YouTube and reading relevant blog posts, but it can also be helpful to sign up for a course if you want a structured program and some support. NoCode Institute is dedicated to providing exactly this, and its No-Code Foundations Program will walk you through how to become a no-code pro. In just seven weeks, you’ll be able to build everything from e-commerce sites to databases, in addition to receiving support from experts and help with creating a portfolio.
💡 Learn more about How to Become a No-Code Developer
Making a career change from accounting doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Your existing skills—data analysis, problem-solving, and financial literacy—are incredibly valuable in many industries.
Next Steps:
✅ Narrow down your career options
✅ Gain relevant skills through courses or certifications
✅ Network with professionals in your desired field
✅ Start applying for jobs that align with your goals
If citizen development sounds like the perfect transition for you, consider enrolling in No Code Institute’s 7-week Foundations Program. It will equip you with the skills needed to pivot from accounting to tech, with career support to land your dream job.
Ready to start your journey? Apply today and future-proof your career!
What careers can accountants transition to?
Accountants can transition to roles like financial analyst, project manager, business consultant, or citizen developer. These positions leverage analytical, organizational, and communication skills developed in accounting. Salaries range from $70,000 to $125,000 depending on the role.
Can I leave accounting without additional schooling?
Yes, many career transitions from accounting don’t require additional degrees. Roles like project management, consulting, or citizen development can be accessed with certifications, short courses, or on-the-job learning rather than formal education.
What is the salary range for citizen developers?
Citizen developers typically earn between $90,000 and $125,000 per year. This field is growing rapidly as companies adopt no-code/low-code tools to automate business processes, making it an attractive and lucrative option for career changers.
How do I transition from accounting to project management?
Transitioning to project management from accounting involves leveraging your organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Earning a PMP (Project Management Professional) certification, gaining experience with budgeting and risk assessment, and networking with industry professionals can help secure a role in project management.
What are the best online courses for switching from accounting?
Top online courses include PMP certification for project management, CFA courses for financial analysis, and no-code platforms like No Code Institute for citizen development. Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy offer affordable courses tailored for career changers.
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