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Making the move from practice to industry
Switching sectors might be daunting but it can also be incredibly rewarding
Words Neil Johnson
AT A GLANCE
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Working in practice can equip you for life working in industry.
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Many of the skills you learn in practice are transferrable to industry.
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You learn how businesses work and see the impact of your work.
For many AAT members, starting out in practice is a natural first step. You get exposure to multiple clients, a variety of industries and a crash course in technical accounting. But, as careers evolve, you may opt to cross over into industry – joining finance teams inside the businesses they once advised. The change can open doors to fresh challenges, broader responsibilities and a new sense of ownership.
So, what’s it like to make the switch? Three AAT members – Katarina Collins FMAAT, Isuru Kalhara FMAAT and Carina Dias FMAAT – share their experiences and advice for anyone considering the same move.
Taking the plunge
Why make the switch?
Motivations differ but a common thread runs through all three journeys: the desire to make a deeper impact.
Having spent several years in practice, Dias, now a financial controller, moved into a group accounting role, attracted by a notion of focus. “In industry, I’m able to concentrate on one business and really help it grow and work towards its vision,” she says. “The entities are usually larger and the projects, too.”
Kalhara, who trained with medium-sized firms in Sri Lanka before joining the corporate sector, echoes that sense of purpose. “After spending more than six years in practice, I felt it was the right time to apply my technical knowledge in a more decision-making environment,” he says. “Working in practice gave me exposure to many sectors and business models. In industry, you can actually use that knowledge to help shape the business.”
For Collins, the move was partly practical – a small firm where she trained eventually closed – but also personal. “I wanted to add to what I’d learned and find a role where I could grow,” she says. “It depends on the people you work with but, when you move into a company, you are part of something ongoing. You are not just checking that things are right, you are helping to make them right.”
Carina Dias
Early adjustment: from clients to colleagues
Few moves are seamless. Dias admits that the first few months were a shock. “It was a little tough going to start with and imposter syndrome kicked in,” she says. “But it only lasted a couple of months.”
Adjusting to a different rhythm takes time. In practice, the calendar is dictated by clients and filing deadlines; in industry, it is dictated by business cycles, board meetings and month-ends. Collins describes it as switching from “many small sprints to one ongoing marathon”. She says: “In practice, you’re pulled in many directions – a client calls and suddenly you’re on something completely different. In industry, you’re still busy but it’s focused on one organisation, so you can go much deeper.”
Despite certain differences, most find that the core skills transfer very well. “There is not such a big difference if you’ve had good exposure in practice,” says Kalhara. “Practice provided a solid technical foundation and a deep understanding of controls, compliance and different business models. That helped me handle deadlines and pressure in industry.”
What practice teaches you
All three credit their early practice experience with shaping their professional discipline. “Working in practice was pressured but I gained a wide range of experience that helped me a lot when moving into industry,” says Dias.
Collins adds that practice gives you breadth – a window into multiple business types. “When you work in a small firm, you learn a little bit about loads of different kinds of businesses,” she says. “That’s where you grow faster but you don’t get to see things through in detail. In industry, you do.”
In other words, practice builds your technical muscles while industry lets you use them to lift something heavier.
Challenges and rewards
Once you are inside a business, the perspective changes completely. “You feel a real sense of ownership,” says Collins. “When something’s wrong, you can fix it yourself. You don’t need to convince a client.”
That autonomy can be energising. Collins, now a management accountant in a large construction materials company, enjoys being part of a wider operational team. “I work with engineers, site managers and people testing materials in the lab,” she says. “You learn about how the business really works and you see the impact of the numbers. You would never get that in practice to the same level.”
Kalhara points to professional recognition and variety. “It’s a rewarding career,” he says. “You can get good benefits and social recognition. With new technologies and AI, there are many opportunities for growth. You just need the will and passion to achieve your goals.”
Dias’ career has also accelerated since leaving practice. “I progressed naturally within my first industry job to managerial level and then was headhunted to a financial controller role by my current employer,” she says.
For many, that progression is the appeal. While practice often follows a defined route to partner level, industry opens a broader landscape of roles – from management accountant and finance business partner to CFO or even CEO.
Katarina Collins
Different work, same principles
The day-to-day tasks differ. In practice, you are likely to juggle audits, tax returns and client queries; in industry, it’s more about monitoring performance, planning and improving systems. But both environments rely on the same fundamentals: attention to detail, clear communication and ethical judgement.
“When you move into industry, you still use everything you learned in practice,” says Kalhara. “The difference is you’re applying it continuously rather than project by project.”
Technology can also change the pace. Larger companies often use enterprise-wide software and data analytics, offering exposure to systems smaller practices may not have. Yet, as Collins points out: “It still comes down to understanding the numbers. Software helps but you still need to know why things happen, not just what the computer says.”
Should you make the move?
Dias is unequivocal: “Do it.”
Kalhara agrees, though with preparation. “Get your foundation right,” he says. “AAT gives you a solid start. It covers everything from bookkeeping to advanced financial management. Once you’ve got that, you can move anywhere.”
Collins’ advice is to stay curious. “Don’t be afraid to try,” she says. “You don’t know what will make you happy until you’ve tried it. I’ve moved back and forth between practice and industry a few times and that’s fine. It’s how you find your place.”
She adds that success depends less on the setting than on the people. “It’s not just work, it’s people. Find the environment that lets you grow.”
Isuru Kalhara
Not a competition
Ultimately, it’s not about which path is ‘better’ but which suits your skills and ambitions at a given time. Practice offers technical variety and client exposure; industry offers strategic depth and continuity. Many AAT members move between the two during their careers, taking lessons from each.
As Collins puts it: “Gain your experience wherever you can but don’t limit yourself just because your mate is going one way or the other. Learn, move and see what works for you.”
TOP TIPS
Top skills built in practice
• Broad business understanding: exposure to multiple sectors and clients.
• Strong technical foundation: from bookkeeping and audit to tax and reporting.
• Time management: juggling competing deadlines builds resilience.
• Client communication: explaining finance clearly to non-finance people.
Common first roles in industry
Many AAT members start as assistant or management accountants, financial analysts or accounts managers. These roles build on technical skills while introducing budgeting, forecasting and performance analysis.
FEELING INSPIRED?
Interested in looking for a job in industry? Check out all the opportunities by visiting the AAT Careers Hub.
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