Is It Worth Moving Jobs While Part-Qualified?
This is one of the most common questions part-qualified finance professionals ask. You’re progressing with your exams, gaining experience, but not yet fully qualified so does moving roles help or hinder your long-term career?
The answer is simple: it depends on the reason for the move and what the new role offers.
Why Part-Qualified Professionals Consider Moving
Most moves are driven by sensible concerns, including:
- Limited exposure beyond transactional work
- Lack of progression or role development
- Poor or inflexible study support
- Salary stagnation despite growing responsibility
- A desire for broader commercial experience
In the right circumstances, moving while part-qualified can be a strategic step forward.
When Moving Roles Makes Sense
A move is usually beneficial if it adds genuine long-term value, such as:
- Broader experience in areas like management accounts, budgeting, analysis or business partnering
- Clear progression post-qualification, not just a short-term salary increase
- Stronger study support, including realistic workloads around exam periods
- Stalled development, where responsibility has increased but the role has not evolved
- When Moving May Not Be the Right Decision
Moving can be counterproductive if:
- You are changing roles too frequently during qualification
- You are chasing job titles rather than meaningful experience
- The move disrupts exam momentum at a critical stage
- You cannot clearly articulate how the move improves your long-term prospects
A Crucial Point on Study Support
Before making any move, it’s essential to review your study support agreement. Many employers require repayment of exam fees, courses or study leave if you leave within a certain timeframe.
Candidates should:
- Check whether they are contractually tied to the business for a set period
- Understand exactly what costs may need to be repaid
- Factor this into the overall decision, particularly if the financial impact is significant
- Overlooking this can turn an otherwise positive move into an expensive one.
What Employers Tend to Look For
Hiring managers generally value:
- Evidence of progression and increasing responsibility
- Stability alongside ambition
- Commercial awareness and communication skills
- A clear, well-reasoned explanation for any move
- A strategic move that adds capability is viewed positively; a reactive move is not.
The Bottom Line
Moving jobs while part-qualified isn’t inherently right or wrong. The strongest candidates move with purpose, ensuring each step builds skills, supports qualification, and strengthens their long-term career prospects.