Complete a recognised accounting certification (national chartered/certified track) — the missing credential is the hardest cap on both title progression and pay in this field.

Reach professional working English and add it to every profile — in a high-wage non-English market this alone unlocks the international-firm salary band, typically +20-30% comp.

Move from routine bookkeeping toward automation-resistant work: controlling, audit, or tax advisory — the transactional layer of this role is being absorbed by software within this decade.