UK finance specialists are struggling to find work, new study shows
The UK’s four major accounting firms (Deloitte, EY, PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG) offered 44% fewer jobs for graduates in 2025 compared to 2023, according to recent findings, indicating a sharp decline in accounting job vacancies.
Eager to investigate the matter further, bookkeeping services experts at Archimedia Accounts created an index study analysing relevant data variables to reveal the UK cities where accounting jobs are the most difficult to find.
The top 10 UK cities where accountants are struggling most to find work
Rank | City | Success Rate of Accounting and Finance Graduates After Leaving University (%) | Number of Accounting Job Listings | Accounting Demand Score (/10) |
1 | Wolverhampton | 44 | 86 | 2.8 |
2 | Huddersfield | 61 | 88 | 4.2 |
3 | Derby | 49 | 105 | 4.6 |
4 | Northampton | 42 | 112 | 4.9 |
5 | York | 67 | 87 | 5.1 |
6 | Plymouth | 62 | 100 | 5.2 |
7 | Swansea | 72 | 69 | 5.7 |
8= | Middlesbrough | 73 | 81 | 6 |
8= | Bolton | 71 | 91 | 6 |
10 | Coventry | 72 | 91 | 6.2 |
Please find the complete dataset of all UK cities analysed in this folder.
The study revealed Wolverhampton to be the UK city where accounting jobs are the most difficult to secure, with an accounting demand score of only 2.8/10. In terms of the success rate of the city’s accounting and finance university graduates, that stands at 44%, which is the second lowest, coming after Northampton. When it comes to the available accounting jobs, those currently amount to 86 – the third lowest out of all cities in the study, further attesting to the difficulty of securing a position as an accountant in the city.
Huddersfield comes second, having an accounting demand score of 4.2/10. Situated in West Yorkshire, the city’s active accounting job listings are 88. On the other hand, the accounting and finance university graduates’ success rate is 61%.
Following closely behind, Derby ranks third, with an accounting demand score of 4.6/10. Derby accounting and finance university graduates hold the third lowest success rate of 49%, coming after Northampton and Wolverhampton. Those looking for an accounting position in the city, currently have 105 job listings on offer.
Securing an accounting demand score of 4.9/10, Northampton finishes fourth. At present, 112 accounting job listings are available in the city. However, its accounting and finance university graduates 42% success rate is the lowest out of all other cities.
And rounding off the top five, with an accounting demand score of 5.1/10, is yet another city located in Yorkshire, York. Accounting and finance graduates’ success rate is 67%. Currently, 87 accounting job listings are available in the city, which is among the lowest in the study.
Reading is the UK city where accounting jobs are easiest to find, as the city holds an accounting demand score of 9/10. With 166 available accounting jobs, it’s clear why the city achieved such a high score. Furthermore, the success rate of its accounting and finance graduates is the second highest at 82%, coming after Belfast.
Chris Demetriou, co-founder of Archimedia Accounts, comments: “AI is undoubtedly changing the landscape of accountancy, but rather than replacing accountants, it’s redefining what the role looks like. Our research shows that in some UK cities, job opportunities are already shifting, not necessarily disappearing, but evolving.
“The demand is moving away from purely transactional roles towards positions that require strategic thinking, data interpretation and real-world business insight. This presents a valuable opportunity for both new graduates and experienced professionals to future-proof their careers by building skills in advisory, tech and communications. The firms that embrace this change and the people who adapt with it, will be the ones leading the industry forward.”
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