Accountancy jobs - what's yours?

Any

I am sorry, but I also don't know what ICB is....

Depends on the area, but £14k is about right entry I would say. Do you have any admin experience or something like that? None of the ledger clerks I ever worked with had any specified qualifications for that (I didn't employ them, but my FD who is ACA never bothered about qualifications for clerk's jobs) so it probably is only about lack of experience and lack of jobs. You just have to keep trying.

valos_mummy

It's the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers

I've had a lot of admin experience, my last perm role was with a company that processed payments for mortgage brokers, then sending payments/statements and dealt with the insurance companies. I myself chased up any broker debts with the companies and sorted out payments so a lot of speaking to both parties. I also looked for discrepancies within the process (if there was money sitting in an account that shouldn't be for example).

My temp role that I just finished with (I say temp, but I was there for a year and a half) dealt with a lot of spreadsheet work, so I have a fair amount of experience with that too.

Might just be lack of jobs, I don't know. Do you think it would be worth going for AAT, considering there might be people who look at my CV and go "meh" (I do have it on my CV under the full name, not just ICB) because it's ICB and not the AAT that I keep seeing in job specs?

Either that, or they can see my work history (moved to Hampshire with ex but have been back home for nearly 2 years), see me move from one place to another, and think I'm going to sod off somewhere else again. I have had a few questions at interview stage asking why I moved down south.....

valos_mummy

Would anyone say the ICB exams are roughly the equivalent of any AAT level? The way I'm reading my CV now (after yet another rejection letter this morning....) if my manual level one and computerised level two put me at the same level of knowledge as any of the AAT foundation levels, maybe I should mention this on my CV - that the exams I've taken mean I am at a certain level of know-how.

Right now I need something to make all these AAT loving employers take notice of me too. After all, if I can complete the AAT skillcheck at 85% (test was all about double entry, ledgers and trial balance) I'm not exactly thick when it comes to this sort of thing. After all, if Any, with what they do, didn't know what ICB was there's going to be others out there who also don't know. And some of them might be potential employers!!!

kat10

Hi, I am also studying AAT i'm coming up to the end of level 3 next month and have not been able to get any sort of job in accountancy. The problem that I face is that I don't have any work experience in the accounting field other than what I have done at college. I have found it a really good course but I am now unsure if to start level 4 this september.

Hellz85

I'm currently doing the technician level of AAT through Kaplan. I work in Events which means that my time is very limited. I know I don't want to work in Events forever because the hours really aren't great but I'm more than happy with my pay atm. I keep pushing at work to 'help' the accountant. The more I can take on the more I will learn without having to leave the job. In the long run I will then have experience too. I'm slightly concerned about how far I can take this though. I will finish the AAT in December (hopefully!) and will still want to keep learning. I don't want to do another degree though (I've got one in religion.) Ideally ACCA looks like the path I want to go down but will I be able to do this in my current role?

jessicamb

Hellz85 wrote: »

I'm currently doing the technician level of AAT through Kaplan. I work in Events which means that my time is very limited. I know I don't want to work in Events forever because the hours really aren't great but I'm more than happy with my pay atm. I keep pushing at work to 'help' the accountant. The more I can take on the more I will learn without having to leave the job. In the long run I will then have experience too. I'm slightly concerned about how far I can take this though. I will finish the AAT in December (hopefully!) and will still want to keep learning. I don't want to do another degree though (I've got one in religion.) Ideally ACCA looks like the path I want to go down but will I be able to do this in my current role?

You can always study the exams regardless of where you work but you almost certainly wont get the experience you need to satisfy the practical experience requirements for the qualification. At some point if you go down that route you will need to get a more suitable, dedicated finance role. If I was in your situation I would now be looking to find a new role to make the most of what you have already learnt with AAT. A lot of employers will pay for accountants to study professional qualifications so you might be lucky enough to get ACCA paid for you then.

geek84

Hi Folks

I was made redundant from my office administration job a few months ago. I am now in my mid 40s and was wondering if you folks think it is too late for me to start a career in accountancy. The only experience of accounts I have was when I sat the 'O' level accountancy exam in college many many years ago !!

The way I see it, I will first need to study for the AAT, then go on to do the ACCA or CIMA etc. This would probably take a few years to complete. By that time, I will be approaching 50 years of age. On top of that, I don't think any employer will be willing to give me an accounts role to enable me to get the relevant work experiece, due to my age.

Any advaice please, of where I could go from my present situation as someone unemployed and claiming benefits? !!

Icey77

Hi Geek84,

One of my collegues was hitting 50 and sitting her finals in ACCA. Granted she won't have as much time to enjoy the salary that goes with being a qualified accountant as someone in their 30's but she managed it.

The only thing I can suggest is getting your foot in the door with a company that would be willing to stump up the cost of your AAT and then try to work for a promotion and your ACCA/CIMA.

A lot of companies are happy to take on an "older" employee as they are thought to have less family, childcare crisis etc that younger employees. Perhaps you should try pitching that as your area to stand out from other applicants - "My children are grown and I am looking for a role that is stable and that I can make my own" etc etc.

Good luck,
Icey x

geek84

Thanks for your advice Icey77.

The only thing putting me off from starting a career in accountancy is that I do not want to spend all that time and money studying for AAT/CIMA qualifications, only to find that I cannot get a job! I have a family to support and of course the usual expenses - bills, car, mortgage etc.

Do you think that I should play it 'safe' and only do the AAT and try and get a job with just that qualification? How far can I progress with the AAT in terms of career and salary?

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Quiet_One

geek84 wrote: »

Thanks for your advice Icey77.

The only thing putting me off from starting a career in accountancy is that I do not want to spend all that time and money studying for AAT/CIMA qualifications, only to find that I cannot get a job! I have a family to support and of course the usual expenses - bills, car, mortgage etc.

Do you think that I should play it 'safe' and only do the AAT and try and get a job with just that qualification? How far can I progress with the AAT in terms of career and salary?

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Do you have a degree? If so you could skip the AAT completely and go straight into the ACCA or CIMA route and if a relevent degree its possible exempt from a few exams. If not AAT is a good stepping stone onto the ACCA or CIMA which are worthwhile doing in my opinion if you want a career in accountancy. With simply the AAT alone as a qualification and in terms of employment you could probably cover jobs such as assistant management accountant/ credit control/finance assistant/finance officer/ accounts payable roles..I would imagine a salary of upto 21k roughly? If you go on and qualify through ACCA or CIMA this could boost your salary and climb up to the management accountant/ finance manager level (you could reach this stage even if just part qualified also - depending on the organisaton).