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Accountant

Also called auditor, bookkeeper, cost accountant

Accountants review and analyse financial statements, budgets, financial reports, and business plans in order to check for irregularities resulting from error or fraud, and provide their clients with financial advice in matters such as financial forecasting and risk analysis. They may audit financial data, resolve insolvency cases, prepare tax returns and provide other tax-related advice in reference to current legislation.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospectsShortage in 11 countries now. 57 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree8 in 10 have a degree.Business and administration professionalsWill AI change it?SignificantlyLevel 5 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Accountants · ILO

What you'd do

Accountants · ILO
  • Advising on, planning and installing budgetary, accounts controlling and other accounting policies and systems
  • Preparing and certifying financial statements for presentation to management, shareholders and statutory or other bodies
  • Preparing tax returns, advising on taxation problems and contesting disputed claims before tax officials
  • Preparing or reporting on profit forecasts and budgets
  • Conducting financial investigations in such matters as suspected fraud, insolvency and bankruptcy
  • Auditing accounts and bookkeeping records
  • Conducting investigations and advising management on financial aspects of productivity, stockholdings, sales, new products, etc
  • Devising and controlling a system to determine unit cost of products and services
Analyse financial performance of a companyInterpret financial statementsPrepare financial statementsExplain accounting recordsEnsure compliance with accounting conventions+ 10 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Accountants and Auditors"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

11 EU countries are short of accountants now, and many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration professionals in the EU
6.65m9.73m13.35m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
2,909,000 new jobs 3,080,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration professionals57
All jobs29
Right now
11 of 27 countries report a shortage of accountants, 3 a surplus.
Accountants · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in accounting and taxation is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 81%Vocational 11%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 2%
Fields that teach it
Accounting and taxation · Finance, banking and insurance
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Significantly

AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.51 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Preparing and certifying financial statements for presentation to management, shareholders and statutory or other bodies0.65
Devising and controlling a system to determine unit cost of products and services0.60
Conducting investigations and advising management on financial aspects of productivity, stockholdings, sales, new products, etc0.56
Preparing or reporting on profit forecasts and budgets0.52
Preparing tax returns, advising on taxation problems and contesting disputed claims before tax officials0.47
Advising on, planning and installing budgetary, accounts controlling and other accounting policies and systems0.46
Auditing accounts and bookkeeping records0.43
Conducting financial investigations in such matters as suspected fraud, insolvency and bankruptcy0.41

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for accountants. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).