Is there any hope of getting an accountancy job with a 2:2?

spl00sh

I've just graduated this July with a 2:2 in Mathematics and Finance and I want to get into accounting.
I've searched through endless recuitment sites and apply to any trainee accounting jobs avaliable (normally about 2-3 a day) but I haven't had any interviews! I've had my CV and cover letter checked out by 2 specialists who have said they were fine
I tried searching for specialists accounting firms on google but couldn't find any reputatable ones expcept Reed and Hayes who both said they couldn't take me on because i didn't have any experience.
So is there anything more I can do?

spl00sh

Where do I find these firms! lol

PasturesNew

You have to keep looking. Not sure what you're after or anything about the industry, but I have a friend who dropped out of Uni (or was kicked) for smoking weed... I don't think he even did one year. He got a job and they have provided him with full training to CEMAP. He's just finished that and is now earning £25k .... but it is London and you can do anything in London. If you live up a mountain in Scotland or Wales maybe there's a lot less opportunity

spl00sh

hooope! and I'm in london! maybe i'm not applying to the right places >_<
also does anyone know any good temping agencies so I can build up my CV?

PasturesNew

Ah, if you're in London, do book keeping courses at evening class exist? There are always a ton of jobs where people want accounts staff .... enrolling on the course would show you a different side to finance - and - show an agency that you weren't "too good" to do a week's placement as a Purchase Order Clerk. At the moment you're "another person with a degree", offices using temps will be looking for lower level accountancy cover ... so doing the book-keeping (if it exists) would let them know you're prepared to "take anything"... although it is exceedingly well paid compared to just "doing temp work".

Just a thought. I actually know nothing.

purplepardalis

And apply for credit control and accounts payable admin roles. Temp or otherwise. Once you're in and show how competent you are they'll want to keep you.

Start sending CVs and cover letters to all FTSE 250 companies with offices in London. Most have a careers section on their website or an email address you can send a CV into. And all of them want to save on agency fees by hiring direct.

You may not get answers from most but it's worth your time applying - just in case!


Good Luck!

dmg24

PasturesNew wrote: »

You have to keep looking. Not sure what you're after or anything about the industry, but I have a friend who dropped out of Uni (or was kicked) for smoking weed... I don't think he even did one year. He got a job and they have provided him with full training to CEMAP. He's just finished that and is now earning £25k .... but it is London and you can do anything in London. If you live up a mountain in Scotland or Wales maybe there's a lot less opportunity

CEMAP is not accountancy, and IMO not a graduate qualification (no offence to your friend!).

spl00sh, have you looked at the big accountancy firms? They usually have continuous graduate recruitment, however this year may be the exception to the rule for obvious reasons. Most will accept a 2.2 for the more generalist roles.

You are too late for any of the big graduate schemes this year, but I would agree with PasturesNew in that you should spend some time getting some experience. Then perhaps you could apply for next year?

The NHS run a Graduate Financial Management Training Scheme that will accept people with a 2.2. The benefit of schemes like this is that after the initial sift, your classification is not looked at again. Having said that, there can be up to one hundred applicants for every place, so you need something to make you stand out.

Good luck!

spl00sh

thanks everyone! I got a list of big/medium accountancy firms off the internet when I first started searching (towards the end of my degree) but obviously most accounting firms had finished recuiting for that year so might try again
I personally don't think I have any chance of being accepted into a big firm as they pretty much all require 2:1's
Thanks dmg24 what are generalist roles?
I've already applied for a few advertised NHS jobs

spl00sh

Do you have to sign onto temping agencies to find temp jobs? I can't find any that don't require relevant experience!

PasturesNew

dmg24 wrote: »

CEMAP is not accountancy, and IMO not a graduate qualification (no offence to your friend!).

I know nothing
I've never had a friend with a degree.

dmg24

spl00sh, you are right, I have had a quick look at KPMG and Deloitte and they both now have a minimum requirement of a 2.1. Even the provincials such as Grant Thornton want a 2.1.

If it is any consolation, it was only two years ago that most of these would have accept a 2.2, so the situation could change again once the economy picks up. My feeling is that there is a greater supply of candidates this year than usual, and a much lower demand.

Generalist roles are audit, assurance, tax etc. I'm sure some people would shoot me for calling them generalist, it is maybe better to say that they are less specialised than company secretarial services or actuarial sciences.

Definitely look at the NHS Scheme (and apologies if they have raised their criteria too!). I left after a year for personal reasons, but I would still highly recommend it.

PasturesNew, you have many friends with a degree, even if some are only virtual!