Accountancy jobs - what's yours?

katebl

Hi all,

Just being nosey really... am studying AAT at the moment and don't work in an accounts role so will need to find a job at some point soon - just wondered what everyone does and started out as, and what qualifications you have?

Thanks if you take the time to reply :beer:

dmg24

I started on the NHS Financial Management Scheme (Graduate), studying CIMA. It bored the life out of me, so I now do book keeping (amongst other things) for a small business. The money is not as good, but I am much happier. AAT is much more hands on whereas a lot of the CIMA stuff is strategic, and in hindsight I would have been happier doing the former.

Icey77

I finished my AAT about 5 years ago and went straight on to ACCA, now I'm a chartered accountant - it's a slog but sooooo worth it!

I started as a hotel receptionist, moved to an admin role in a PR agency where I helped out in the accounts dept for several months. On that basis I signed up for the AAT and then got a billing role in a multinational company - dull work but for 2 years it got me in the door and from there I moved to another billing role with more responsibility and then was promoted to a management accountant during which time I finished my ACCA and qualified.

I've been involved in some recruitment and perhaps I'm biased but I would nearly always choose an AAT person over a graduate with no/or little accountancy experience. AAT is a brilliant course and teaches you the basics of accounting which is critical in my view.

Hope you manage to get yourself a job, once you do and if you consider continuing with your studies you will always be able to work - people always need accountants! Good luck! :beer:

Ps - if you wanted to ask anything about ACCA or accounting in general don't hesitate to ask

katebl

Thanks dmg, I think I know what you mean about AAT being more hands on - as I'm progressing and learning more about what management accountancy involves it's not appealing to me much... I'd much rather just the books than the boardrooms

dmg24

Icey77 wrote: »

I've been involved in some recruitment and perhaps I'm biased but I would nearly always choose an AAT person over a graduate with no/or little accountancy experience. AAT is a brilliant course and teaches you the basics of accounting which is critical in my view.

For junior roles, I would definitely agree with this.

Icey77

Katebl, I took the financial accounting (rather than management accounting) route with ACCA and to be honest the qualifications aren't really that different now, there is a LOT of cross over on the syllabus contents.

I've just spent 2 years as a management accountant and this has consolidated my accounting knowledge, I wouldn't be able to move into the job I am starting in 4 weeks time without the experience. I actually found management accounts far more interesting than I expected - producing P&Ls every month that you have full responsibility for and have to report on is good exercise for your skills.

It all depends how far you want to go, how much work you are willing to put in and how much money you want to earn! :beer:

Icey77

dmg24 wrote: »

For junior roles, I would definitely agree with this.

Absolutely, where I work we usually recruit at a junior level as we want to reap the benefits as they develop with us. We can then promote from within and recruit another junior person and so the cycle hopefully continues.

katebl

Thanks Icey, I'm a bit confused by it all really, but it appears ACCA may be better for working in practice - please correct me if I'm wrong?! Also if there's a lot of crossover as you say does that mean the ACCA may be a more all-round qualification?

It's great to hear about your progression - I work in admin at the moment and am limited here to just inputting suppliers invoices and dealing with queries, however I did work previously as a cash manager for a high street bank, balancing the branches accounts, but I was only 19 and it was a lot of responsibility for me to be in charge of 7 cashiers, none of whom could get their tills right, at such a young age! That's where I discovered I liked numbers more than people

katebl

Icey77 wrote: »

Absolutely, where I work we usually recruit at a junior level as we want to reap the benefits as they develop with us. We can then promote from within and recruit another junior person and so the cycle hopefully continues.

This is exactly the sort of role I'd hope for - I know it'll mean taking a pay cut most probably but I would make do for a couple of years just to get the experience...

Thanks to both of you so far for your input, this thread is the highlight of my day :j

Any

HI,
I have something similar to A level in accountancy from abroad but when I moved to UK I couldn't get accountancy job anywhere due to the fact that noone understood what my papers mean:D. So started in the local pub and signed up for ACCA. Within 6 mths I was part qualified and got my first accountancy job via friend as a accounts admin. I did all sorts - cashbooks, billing, purchase ledger, credit control... you name it. Where hand was needed I was sent in. Which was actually brilliant looking back as I gained experience in every aspect.
Later on got my hands on management accounts etc., but not the promotion or money that should have come with it. So I moved.

This was massive jump. I am now Assistant Accountant with the view of being European Financial Controler when my direct boss retires. Still not qualified (as I had to pay for it myself until last year I could only afford 2 exams a year) but if everything goes well I will be in June next year!!

Any

katebl wrote: »

Thanks Icey, I'm a bit confused by it all really, but it appears ACCA may be better for working in practice - please correct me if I'm wrong?!

Better then CIMA you mean? Most definitely.

katebl wrote: »

Also if there's a lot of crossover as you say does that mean the ACCA may be a more all-round qualification?

Yep, I might be biased as I am ACCA student, but I definitely believe that.