Accountancy jobs - what's yours?

Amara

Hi!
Local posh school advertised for an accounts assistant, I sent my applicationa form. My chances are very little, but hey, let's try. I always got my little business to enjoy

geek84

Hi Folks

I graduated about 20 years ago (although with a not very good pass mark!), and now want to go into acountancy - my background is in office administration and credit control. I started on the AAT course about 6 months ago (as advised by the people at the AAT), with the aim of going onto studying the acca or cima.

However, recently I have heard that a graduate can start on the acca or cima straight away, without having to go through the AAT route? Is that true?

If so, do you think I have wasted the last 6 months or so, studying the AAT? If it is better for me to go on to the acca or cima straight away, then shall I drop the AAT course?

Thanks in advance for your response.

kborom

ACA here (or rather FCA as I am a bit old;)), but regard it as an essential part of my skill set and have worked in IT for 15 years, currently looking for a new CIO role.

I realised the other day that I had not put together a set of accounts for about 25 years, respect to those of you who do this monthly but it really was not my cup of tea.

Anyone thinking of studing good luck to you, do not worry about which one to go for as all accountancy qualifications have great value to both yourself (the feeling of achievement when I passed will be remembered for the rest of my life) and also current/prospective employers.

Any

geek84 wrote: »

Hi Folks

I graduated about 20 years ago (although with a not very good pass mark!), and now want to go into acountancy - my background is in office administration and credit control. I started on the AAT course about 6 months ago (as advised by the people at the AAT), with the aim of going onto studying the acca or cima.

However, recently I have heard that a graduate can start on the acca or cima straight away, without having to go through the AAT route? Is that true?

If so, do you think I have wasted the last 6 months or so, studying the AAT? If it is better for me to go on to the acca or cima straight away, then shall I drop the AAT course?

Thanks in advance for your response.

You don't need to be even graduate to start ACCA. Some A levels are enough and if you are older 21 you don't even need that.

If you are graduate from certain subjects you can even be excused from the first few exams in ACCA.

So no, the AAT was not necessary at all. However if you have no idea about accounting at all it is good to start with AAT as first you learn the basics and details of basic accounting and then you find the ACCA course easier to go through, as quite a lot of it relies on assumed knowledge from the first levels (though which ACCA goes quite quickly and not in such a detail-lots of self study required I would say).. Some people choose to go AAT route first and some just tought it out straight on ACCA.

Also once you have AAT you will again be exempted from some ACCA exams...

Entry requirements
http://www.accaglobal.com/join/acca/entry

No idea about CIMA, but I imagine it will be similar.

Quenastoise

Would second what Any said

Please don't let yourself be discouraged if you are currently hitting a rough patch with your AAT - the knowledge you've gained with the AAT will not be wasted whether you drop out of AAT or not. The knowledge will certainly be useful when you move to ACCA, whether you can claim exemption or as basis for future learning (advanced financial reporting for instance).

I would recommend continuing with the AAT then starting the ACCA. By then you'll have the piece of paper and will feel more confident in your abilities, having jumped the first hurdle.

Any accounting qualification is a hard slog, how long it takes depends on many circumstances and is no reflection on your abilities.

geek84

Hi Folks

Thanks vey much for your advice. The only thing 'bugging' me is that I am in my mid 40s, and by the time I finish my acca (hopefully completing the aat first), I will probably be over 50 years of age, and a lot of employers may not want to take me on at that age!

What are your thoughts?

katebl

Hi geek84, how far into the AAT are you? I am going to book my Unit 31 (old style diploma student here) simulation for the end of next month, then aim to have the H&S booklet done by mid march - wish me luck! Personally I chose to study AAT instead of going for a higher qual. as I thought the groundwork was important - I'm only likely to get a menial accounts job to start with so figured I should know as much of the basics as possible. There is so much brillaint advice on this thread, worth having a read back through to get some inspiration.

BTW, the treasurer role on my other thread (sorry I haven't updated it recently) is a volunteer role but i thought it would look great on my CV and help with putting my (rusty) book-keeping skills back into practice.

geek84

Hi katebl

Thanks for your reply. I did the unit 31 actual test just before Xmas. I have been told that it takes about 4 weeks to get marked - since they have to send it off. I am therefore expecting to receive the result towards the end of January. However, to tell you the truth, I don't think I did too well! Although I did read the required text book up to chapter 8.

I am now learning SAGE which is also part of the course, while waiting for the result.

What learning provider are you with? I am with Training Link.

Can you tell me what the H&S booklet is please?

Any

geek84 wrote: »

Hi Folks

Thanks vey much for your advice. The only thing 'bugging' me is that I am in my mid 40s, and by the time I finish my acca (hopefully completing the aat first), I will probably be over 50 years of age, and a lot of employers may not want to take me on at that age!

What are your thoughts?

However on the other hand you will have AAT, once you finish that you will always have that piece of paper.
If you did just ACCA and for what ever reason didn't finish it you would have nothing.
And you will be exempt from the first three exams... So you are not adding that much time on the hopeful finish.
And by the way-don't wait until you are finished to look for job-employers take on trainees, not fully qualified (and therefore expensive) people with no experience!!!

geek84

Hi Folks

I am on the certificate stage of the AAT and not working at the moment. I am thinking of sending out a fair amount of speculative letters to local employers in the hope of finding suitable employment (anything to do with accounts/book keeping).

I have 2 questions -

Could someone please advice what I should write in the spec letter (cover letter)? I want to ideally highlight the things I have learned in the course so far, but they are already covered in the CV!

After I have produced the letters, hopefully via merge mail, does anybody know of any typing services, or similar, who could print all those letters out for me on a good quality printer?

Thanks in advance.