AAT- is it worth it.

dori2o

I've worked for HMRC now for almost 7 years and this morning on the way to work I noticed an advert in the Metro regarding AAT qualifications.

I think I'm pretty good at my job,I like numbers and problem solving and this has really caught my eye.

my salary is not great atm (18K) and I'm wondering if I should go for it, get the qualification, and leave HMRC. With all the cuts coming our way it is not going to be a happy place to work in the next 5 years, and no real prospect of promotion.

Which level would I need to complete to attain a better salary than I am currently on? Is it worth it?

All opinions appreciated.

jessicamb

I haven't done AAT but I am a fan of it as an introductory accounting qualification. I'd suggest researching accounting/finance jobs first and seeing where you want to end up. Then its easier to figure out the best way to get there. From your current salary you might get a modest increase in salary with a couple of years experience under your belt. Depending on other qualifications/career interest though there are other qualifications that might be more demanding but generally have a higher earning power (CIMA/ACCA/ACA etc).

Some examples of areas to consider: financial reporting, audit, management accounting, commercial support, forensic accounting, tax.

Have you considered expanding your role in tax? There are some good qualifications specific to tax I believe but I arent familiar with the detail of the various ones.