Accountancy jobs - what's yours?

katebl

Hi freakyogre (great name!), what qualification are you looking at? I am studying Level 2 AAT on the old syllabus but just waiting for my exam results (got 1 pass in the post this week, 2 more to wait for hopefully). I study distance learning with Kaplan but have never really used the tutor support. I found it hard to be disciplined sometimes as well as working full time - what is your OU course and is it time consuming? Classes may be better for you as you already study something else.

freakyogre

katebl wrote: »

Hi freakyogre (great name!), what qualification are you looking at? I am studying Level 2 AAT on the old syllabus but just waiting for my exam results (got 1 pass in the post this week, 2 more to wait for hopefully). I study distance learning with Kaplan but have never really used the tutor support. I found it hard to be disciplined sometimes as well as working full time - what is your OU course and is it time consuming? Classes may be better for you as you already study something else.

Hi Kate, thanks for your reply.

I might be a bit vague as I really don't know much about any of it, including what qualifications you can achieve. I was looking to study AAT level 2 (then 3) - I have been told by the HLC that if I sign up and pay for both at the same time, the payment is reduced, but I feel that would be more pressure in case I fail level 2!

I work full time too and although I do have a lot of free time, I also find it hard to discipline myself (I need a good kick up the bum). I am currently studing an introduction course in Forensic Science, but have found that although it is still a subject that interests me, it isn't something I could pursue. This course finishes at the end of July and I don't have any plans to take it further.

The local college offers different study times so I could do two evenings a week and still continue working. At the moment I am thinking college is a better idea, but can't seem to make a decision! The link to their course is here. I am guessing the course is similar to everywhere else, but if you wouldn't mind having a look just to see if it is, i'd really appreciate it. I had hoped to do a basic bookkeeping course first to make sure this is definitely something I want to do, but the only courses run nearby are during the day.

Thanks again for your help.

katebl

freakyogre wrote: »

Hi Kate, thanks for your reply.

I might be a bit vague as I really don't know much about any of it, including what qualifications you can achieve. I was looking to study AAT level 2 (then 3) - I have been told by the HLC that if I sign up and pay for both at the same time, the payment is reduced, but I feel that would be more pressure in case I fail level 2!

I work full time too and although I do have a lot of free time, I also find it hard to discipline myself (I need a good kick up the bum). I am currently studing an introduction course in Forensic Science, but have found that although it is still a subject that interests me, it isn't something I could pursue. This course finishes at the end of July and I don't have any plans to take it further.

The local college offers different study times so I could do two evenings a week and still continue working. At the moment I am thinking college is a better idea, but can't seem to make a decision! The link to their course is here. I am guessing the course is similar to everywhere else, but if you wouldn't mind having a look just to see if it is, i'd really appreciate it. I had hoped to do a basic bookkeeping course first to make sure this is definitely something I want to do, but the only courses run nearby are during the day.

Thanks again for your help.

The college course structure is identical to what I would have studied at home (I did the old framework so three of the units were combined into one - the new structure looks a lot easier actually) and the six hours a week isn't too bad - I think that's roughly what you're meant to put in at home as a minimum when distance learning. The cost is approx. £800 more than what I paid for distance learning through Kaplan but in order to keep you on track it may be worthwhile - I did pay £50-ish to sit the computer based assessment though and seeing as the new framework is full of them if they're included in the cost that brings the difference down.

I had previous experience in book-keeping so found it quite easy to begin with, however it's thoroughly covered in the AAT course so you may find a seperate course unneccesary. Perhaps try and find one of the basic accounting 1 books on ebay for a cheap idea of what's involved - it was known as Unit 30 previously but that is the first book and a read through that should tell if you like it (and save you a fortune!).

Not_a_Newbie

somethingcorporate wrote: »

It's a fruitless (yet always lively) debate since they are different qualifications with different aims. ACCA / ACA has traditionally been more about bean-counting and CIMA more management accounts but nowadays there is not much to tell between them. It's unfair to say one is more "rounded" without providing any evidence to support what you say.

Rather than compare yourself to one colleague with ACA and one with CIMA to give salary comparisons how about you use the official bodies Salary Surveys?? they tend to be a bit more representative. It's unfair comparing my £50k+ benefits package less than 1 year into CIMA to the average NQ ACCA on £30k (in the North) because using that type of evidence (that you do) you would have to conclude CIMA is far superior! You would have thought with an accounting background you would understand how biased your example would be!

From the salary surveys you can tell there is little between them.

Ultimately it depends where you want to end up, if you want to be in practice then ACCA / ACA tend to put you in a far better position, CIMA appears to have a stronger grounding in industry (there are quite a few CIMA qualified CEOs in the FTSE 100).

Edit: Here is the CIMA salary survey: http://myjobs.cimaglobal.com/careers/2144

I was merely providing another opinion to the one that stated ACCA was a lesser qualification, I didn't realise I needed to back up my every point with evidence.

Obviously I haven't learnt anything in the time I have been counting beans, so I guess I will just keep my opinions to myself in future.....

Oh and I've never found salary surveys to be very accurate.

Any

somethingcorporate wrote: »

It's a fruitless (yet always lively) debate since they are different qualifications with different aims. ACCA / ACA has traditionally been more about bean-counting and CIMA more management accounts but nowadays there is not much to tell between them. It's unfair to say one is more "rounded" without providing any evidence to support what you say.

Rather than compare yourself to one colleague with ACA and one with CIMA to give salary comparisons how about you use the official bodies Salary Surveys?? they tend to be a bit more representative. It's unfair comparing my £50k+ benefits package less than 1 year into CIMA to the average NQ ACCA on £30k (in the North) because using that type of evidence (that you do) you would have to conclude CIMA is far superior! You would have thought with an accounting background you would understand how biased your example would be!

From the salary surveys you can tell there is little between them.

Ultimately it depends where you want to end up, if you want to be in practice then ACCA / ACA tend to put you in a far better position, CIMA appears to have a stronger grounding in industry (there are quite a few CIMA qualified CEOs in the FTSE 100).

Edit: Here is the CIMA salary survey: http://myjobs.cimaglobal.com/careers/2144

I actually think that comparing job for job is very usefull (for ones own purposes). Especially if the 2 of you do the same job - such as the original poster did (ie previous guy and him at the same role).

Even then it is flawed because it is a lot about personality and negotiating skills at the interview!!

I completely agree this argument is fruitless - we are all brain washed by out professional bodies into believing our qualification is the best!!!!!
As has been said - at the end of the day it is about a person, not necesarily the letters behind the name - they are all professional qualifications, non CIMA/ACA/ACCA person wouldn't see any difference between them at all!!!

And do you seriously think that salary survey posted on CIMA own website will be perfectly independent????

Any

Freakyogre - I seem to remember few threads about HLC and their practices... especially for courses where they make you sign up for 2 years... Do a search.

And personally - I would always recommend attending college, especially if you have no previous experience at all. There is an actual live person who you can ask questions, have it explained again and again and clarified anything you don't understand!

And also - there is the issue of self discipline.. for some not a problem, but I tell you I would never finish my studies doing home learning only!! Sometimes after full day at work I really need to kick myself into revising, never mind taking in new subject entirely!

geek84

Hi Folks

At present, I am studying the AAT and out of work. I have sent off loads of copies of my cv to accountants for the chance to get work experience.

I don't often get a reply, but sometimes on the rejection letter it states that they are only a small firm of accountants and so cannot afford to take on anybody new.

My question is - How do I find out the size of the firm? Are there any specific websites which give that type of info?

Thanks in advance for your response.

relic

geek84 wrote: »

Hi Folks

At present, I am studying the AAT and out of work. I have sent off loads of copies of my cv to accountants for the chance to get work experience.

I don't often get a reply, but sometimes on the rejection letter it states that they are only a small firm of accountants and so cannot afford to take on anybody new.

My question is - How do I find out the size of the firm? Are there any specific websites which give that type of info?

Thanks in advance for your response.

You can go to the local library and find out what new businesses have been formed, and where they have gone. You could look at what groups they are a member of. You won't get a good idea until you know them, or work in the business.

I wouldn't look at accountants either especially with an AAT, try SME's especially engineering / trade places as they most likely have some sort of book-keeper in house. You'll be far more likely to find some work out of them, even if it is part time.

freakyogre

Thanks again to Kate and Any for your replies.

I'm going to call the college tomorrow just to confirm a few things and hopefully arrange to visit and apply.

somethingcorporate

Not_a_Newbie wrote: »

I was merely providing another opinion to the one that stated ACCA was a lesser qualification, I didn't realise I needed to back up my every point with evidence.

Obviously I haven't learnt anything in the time I have been counting beans, so I guess I will just keep my opinions to myself in future.....

Oh and I've never found salary surveys to be very accurate.

You didn't provide an opinion, you stated categorically that ACCA was more rounded than CIMA. For such a sweeping statement I think it does require a bit of support, don't you?

Salary surveys whilst are not exactly 100% representative provide a less biased answer than comparing 2 people in 1 job with different qualifications. There are a whole bunch of reasons that mean someone can be better paid than someone else aside from what type of accountant they are!

Just my opinion - please feel free to discuss