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Original poster

Job with lots of annual leave

145 replies

Perfectjobdreaming · 30/08/2025 17:29

I love travelling so looking for a job with good annual leave, possibility to purchase annual leave or work from overseas. Am I dreaming

I am an Accountant; previous job which I am leaving allows you to purchase 10 days annual leave and potentially do unpaid leave

Perhaps working for a school?

OP posts:
Original poster
Perfectjobdreaming · 02/09/2025 18:19

AnneElliott · 02/09/2025 17:56

The civil service allows term time or PT contracts plus unpaid leave so maybe have a look at CS jobs? Plus accountants are in short supply.

Thank you. I applied for a position on the weekend; it was last minute as it was closing so not sure my application was up to scratch. Will see what happens

OP posts:
QuiteEasy · 02/09/2025 18:30

Elmbridge Borough Council have an accountant job advertised.

Annual leave 23 days, rising to 25 after two years, 28 after five years. Plus Bank Holidays.
1 day for your birthday.

Salary start £48,000.
Able to buy up to 10 days leave, subject to conditions.

The recruitment pack has full details of terms and conditions.

Original poster
Perfectjobdreaming · 02/09/2025 18:52

QuiteEasy · 02/09/2025 18:30

Elmbridge Borough Council have an accountant job advertised.

Annual leave 23 days, rising to 25 after two years, 28 after five years. Plus Bank Holidays.
1 day for your birthday.

Salary start £48,000.
Able to buy up to 10 days leave, subject to conditions.

The recruitment pack has full details of terms and conditions.

Edited

Thank you. It sounds like you have to stay for awhile to get to a good annual leave; but at least the idea the possibility of purchasing

OP posts:
AmberDuckBlue · 02/09/2025 19:03

My work policy allows you to work abroad for a fixed period- think it's a couple of weeks once a year. No reason why more places can't offer this.

AmberDuckBlue · 02/09/2025 19:04

I've also seen finance jobs in small charities that allow you to work term time only, you'd have to negotiate it.

AmberDuckBlue · 02/09/2025 19:05

Twilightstarbright · 30/08/2025 19:33

I work in insurance. We get 30
days a/l plus bank holidays and you can buy an extra 5 days. If you have children you can take up to 4 weeks unpaid a year. 2 weeks every six months working abroad in approved countries. Pension is 6% me, 15% them. Plenty of need for accountants.

I previously worked in the charity sector. The benefits were nothing like this.

Wow how do you get into insurance please? 😂

Twilightstarbright · 02/09/2025 20:37

@AmberDuckBlue lots of actuaries! But also other financey type roles too. Then the stuff in every company- marketing, HR etc.

Yesidoactually · 02/09/2025 23:55

Perfectjobdreaming · 02/09/2025 17:31

Thank you all. I think I have discarded schools. Will keep an eye for LA jobs.

I am not sure reg civil service as I may have to wait a few years to build up my annual leave which is no ideal.

Universities still an option, but if they all have July end financial year, does this mean no holiday in summer?

Other option is continue working in private sector, perhaps higher salary and take parental leave; maybe somewhere that offer the possibility to purchase holidays.

Edited

Not sure what the financial year has to do with working in a university. It's only relevant for your first year when you're building it up based on your start date.

I've just had a month off which was the last two weeks of July ( 10 days from 24/25 leave allowance) and the first two weeks of August ( 10 days from 25/26 allowance).

Original poster
Perfectjobdreaming · 03/09/2025 07:23

Yesidoactually · 02/09/2025 23:55

Not sure what the financial year has to do with working in a university. It's only relevant for your first year when you're building it up based on your start date.

I've just had a month off which was the last two weeks of July ( 10 days from 24/25 leave allowance) and the first two weeks of August ( 10 days from 25/26 allowance).

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As an accountant the year end does impact your work load due to closing, reporting, etc.

OP posts:
Yesidoactually · 03/09/2025 08:38

Silly me. In that case I can see it's a problem.

Firefightress1 · 03/09/2025 15:58

What about firefighter. My rota was 4 on 4 off x 7 then 18days off. Loved it!

Original poster
Perfectjobdreaming · 03/09/2025 18:24

Firefightress1 · 03/09/2025 15:58

What about firefighter. My rota was 4 on 4 off x 7 then 18days off. Loved it!

Maybe it is time for a career change, thank you

OP posts:
AmberDuckBlue · 03/09/2025 20:37

Twilightstarbright · 02/09/2025 20:37

@AmberDuckBlue lots of actuaries! But also other financey type roles too. Then the stuff in every company- marketing, HR etc.

Oh wow I think I want to be an actuary! Am I getting sucked into the marketing about solving real world problems? It sounds really interesting. I work in business development but have had no formal training as such (but have a social science degree). I've been pondering wanting to do something that has continued real world applicability. Is it the kind of field that would work if you are a strategy big picture thinker? I'm trying to incorporate this into my next moves.

I have a B in GCSE maths but wasn't allowed to take the higher paper so maximum we could get was a B. In a lot of jobs I've been the person who understands spreadsheets and numbers more than other people, though doesn't mean a lot. I'm good doing numbers manually...mathematical concepts are more of a challenge, I always need to work it through to believe it if that makes sense. Does it sound a terrible fit?

Twilightstarbright · 03/09/2025 20:44

@AmberDuckBlue I’m not an actuary but I suspect that a B at GCSE maths means you aren’t at the right level of ability for maths to be an actuary. The actuaries I work with got straight As and a first in maths at uni.

Firefightress1 · 03/09/2025 21:13

Perfectjobdreaming · 03/09/2025 18:24

Maybe it is time for a career change, thank you

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Best job in the world, I am in a different role now but still in the fire service. I miss all the time off! You were hardly back then off for 18 days again.

Zanatdy · 03/09/2025 21:44

Twilightstarbright · 03/09/2025 20:44

@AmberDuckBlue I’m not an actuary but I suspect that a B at GCSE maths means you aren’t at the right level of ability for maths to be an actuary. The actuaries I work with got straight As and a first in maths at uni.

My son starts his graduate job next week as an actuary; and yes he got straight A*’s and a first class degree. He also won a prize for top mark in an actuary module. DD is following in his maths brain footsteps, certainly don’t get it from me or their father, he got a C in maths GCSE and I got a D!

AmberDuckBlue · 03/09/2025 22:40

Zanatdy · 03/09/2025 21:44

My son starts his graduate job next week as an actuary; and yes he got straight A*’s and a first class degree. He also won a prize for top mark in an actuary module. DD is following in his maths brain footsteps, certainly don’t get it from me or their father, he got a C in maths GCSE and I got a D!

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Thanks for this honest feedback 😊 Well done to your son @Zanatdy , it also instils confidence that there are extremely clever people like your son going into statistics.

Original poster
Perfectjobdreaming · 04/09/2025 06:15

Firefightress1 · 03/09/2025 21:13

Best job in the world, I am in a different role now but still in the fire service. I miss all the time off! You were hardly back then off for 18 days again.

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Sounds amazing as long as there are no fires. Was this time off only for fire fighters? Was it difficult to get in? Do you require lots of training?

OP posts:
Firefightress1 · 04/09/2025 06:57

Perfectjobdreaming · 04/09/2025 06:15

Sounds amazing as long as there are no fires. Was this time off only for fire fighters? Was it difficult to get in? Do you require lots of training?

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Tough training and maintenance of skills. I had a lot of fires, traffic accidents and everything in between.
The shifts are only for firefighters.
Best to check out your local service and look at their terms and conditions and recruitment.
They can be slightly different. I'm in Scotland.

Original poster
Perfectjobdreaming · 04/09/2025 13:10

Firefightress1 · 04/09/2025 06:57

Tough training and maintenance of skills. I had a lot of fires, traffic accidents and everything in between.
The shifts are only for firefighters.
Best to check out your local service and look at their terms and conditions and recruitment.
They can be slightly different. I'm in Scotland.

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Sounds exciting and risky; not sure it is for me but it is good to know.

OP posts:
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