Yes… but only if you’re in the right field, and only if you are organised.
Fewer Australians and New Zealanders are moving to the UK. If you are an Australian or New Zealand accountant, this is positive as it means less competition for high-demand London accounting jobs. If you’re a qualified accountant, 2026 is a better year to go than 2025.
What the latest visa figures show
The UK government’s February 2026 data shows 12,854 work visas were issued to Australians and New Zealanders in 2025. That is the lowest annual total on record.
- Down 18% on 2024
- Down 26% on 2023
- Down 24% on pre-pandemic 2019 levels
After a post-pandemic bounce to 17,417 visas in 2023, the longer-term downward trend has reasserted itself. In the final quarter of 2025 alone, just 2,409 visas were issued.
Who the London market works for in 2026
The era of the London overseas experience as a rite of passage is largely over.
Today’s mover is a career professional using London as a deliberate step up — bigger roles, more money, a global credential, and Europe accessible on weekends. The market rewards that kind of candidate. It does not reward the underprepared.
London works well if you are:
- A qualified or part-qualified CA ANZ or CPA accountant
- Looking for financial or management accounting, FPA, FBP or finance manager roles
- Prepared to move into contract roles, where most Aussie and Kiwi placements happen
- Planning at least three to four months ahead of your intended start date
London is harder if you are:
- Looking for a role outside core accounting
- Expecting permanent roles as your primary option on arrival
- Waiting for world events to settle before committing
UK job market advice for Australian and New Zealand accountants in uncertain times
It is easy to look at what is happening in the world right now and put your plans on hold.
Drawing on our experience working through economic shocks over the past 25 years, our advice to Australian and New Zealand accountants is to look beyond the immediate crisis.
The UK job market remains significantly larger than that of Australia and New Zealand. There will continue to be plenty of opportunities in the UK for well-prepared and realistic candidates with the right experience.
And despite there being fewer jobs and fewer recruiters, the UK job market quickly finds a new equilibrium as the decline in available candidates matches or exceeds the decline in job volumes due to:
• Some Aussies and Kiwis deferring plans to move to the UK
• People in jobs in the UK are reluctant to move jobs in uncertain times
• Aussies and Kiwis continuing to leave the UK as visas expire
One thing that will not change is that UK recruiters will continue to place 90% of Australian and New Zealand accountants in London. Our UK recruiters fill 72% of these jobs.
However, with smaller recruitment teams facing greater competition for roles, candidates need to make themselves stand out and contact the right recruiters at the right time. It is a subtle but important change that means candidates need to be smart about how they search for a job.
If you are thinking about London in 2026, now is the time to get organised.
The bottom line
If you are an Australian or New Zealand accountant considering London in 2026, the market is more favourable than the headlines suggest. Visa numbers are down, competition is lower, and the contract market is active.
Get in touch with the Global Career HQ team before you go. Most Australian and New Zealand accountants are placed through our network of UK recruiters built over 25 years in the London market, in jobs which are not advertised.
Talk to the Global team before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is it hard to get an accounting job in London as an Australian or New Zealander? For qualified accountants, no. London consistently has a strong demand for Australian and New Zealand candidates, particularly in contract roles. Global Career HQ places 72% of Aus/NZ accountants in London through its UK recruiter network, and most roles are never publicly advertised.
Should I look for permanent or contract roles in London? Most Aussie and Kiwi accountants start in contract roles. The contract market in London is active, pays well, and gives you flexibility while you settle. Permanent roles are available, but are more competitive and slower to move.
When should I start my London job search? At least three to four months before you plan to arrive. Early engagement with recruiters and the hidden job market is the single biggest factor in how quickly candidates are placed.
Do I need a job offer before I apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa? No. The Youth Mobility Scheme visa allows you to live and work in the UK for up to two years without a job offer or employer sponsorship. Most candidates apply before leaving and begin their search upon arrival.
What accounting roles are most in demand in London right now? Contract roles in financial analysis (15%), financial reporting (12%), and general accounting (9%) are the most common roles for newly arrived Australian and New Zealand accountants in London, with management accounting, financial accounting, and finance business partnering consistently seeing the strongest demand for Aussie and Kiwi candidates.
Related reading
- Where do Aussies and Kiwis live and work in the UK, and how does it compare to home?
- What type of jobs do Aussies and Kiwis get?
- How much do Aussie and Kiwi Accountants earn in the UK?
- What are the most common UK accounting finance jobs?
- Which UK industries employ the most Aussies and Kiwis?
- How long does it take to get a job in the UK?
- What is the best way to find a UK job?
- What is the Hidden Job Market, and how important is it?
- How long are contract roles?
- How does Global Career HQ help people find UK jobs?
Last updated: April 2026