AAT Bookkeeping home learning.

cheeks

Hi all!
I'm looking for some advice about accountancy training.
I have been a full-time Mum for the past 8 years, and now that my youngest child has started school i am thinking about re-training as an accountant.
I haven't done this type of work before so have no experience.
To do a college course i would have to wait until next September, but i would like to make a start now.
I have seen the AAT Bookkeeping course http://www.aat.org.uk/servlet/file/AAT_Award_in_Bookkeeping.pdf?ITEM_ENT_ID=65486 and wondered if anyone has any experience of it. I thought this might be a good starting point to see if i enjoy this type of work.
I'm wondering whether the materials and support they provide would be sufficient for a complete newbie.
I have looked at the Kaplan courses which look good and have good reviews, but cost more than the Bookkeeping course and would be a waste of money if i find that i don't get on with it.
I have never done a distance learning course before, so i don't even know whether it would suit me or whether i would learn better in a classroom setting.
Please help me, i'm desperate to get going but don't know where to start! :undecided
All thoughts gratefully received x

Oldernotwiser

Have you looked at studying Accounting with the OU? If you are new to the subject you would start with this module

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/b190.htm

and then move on to

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/k01.htm

Registration closes for the introductory module at the end of this month.

brightonman123

AAT is something i may need to do, at some stage.. personally, have preferred class study..

so easy to get distracted at home, and no one to compare answers with!

PS- does that OU starter (B190) course count towards an AAT?

cheeks

Thanks for your reply, it is certainly food-for-thought!
The introductory module looks very interesting and covers more than just the Bookkeeping side of accounting, so would perhaps give me more of a feel for the work than the AAT Bookkeeping course would.
The details of the OU Professional Certificate in Accounting course states "We expect that the Professional Certificate in Accounting will be accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)." Suggesting that it isn't accredited yet? I wouldn't want to do all that studying and then find that my qualification isn't professionally recognised.
Thanks again for your reply, you've definitely given me something else to consider!

cheeks

I agree with you there Brightonman, about getting distracted at home! I've never done home-learning before so i'm not sure whether i'll have the self-discipline for it!
But if i want classroom study i'll have to wait another 10months!

Oldernotwiser

cheeks wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, it is certainly food-for-thought!
The introductory module looks very interesting and covers more than just the Bookkeeping side of accounting, so would perhaps give me more of a feel for the work than the AAT Bookkeeping course would.
The details of the OU Professional Certificate in Accounting course states "We expect that the Professional Certificate in Accounting will be accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)." Suggesting that it isn't accredited yet? I wouldn't want to do all that studying and then find that my qualification isn't professionally recognised.
Thanks again for your reply, you've definitely given me something else to consider!

I'd ring the OU for advice. I believe that this is a new module and the one that it replaced was accredited. See below.

"This certificate is only available until 31 December 2010 and has been replaced by a new Professional Certificate in Accounting (K01).

This certificate caters for people without a degree who want a route into the accounting profession, and anyone who needs fundamental accountancy skills.

You will investigate the role of accounting in businesses organisations, developing knowledge and understanding of basic financial, cost and management accounting, computerised accounting, systems and spreadsheets. You will also learn how to prepare accounts for audit and use accounting information for decision-making. The certificate is accredited with a range of accounting bodies and will enable you to go straight into professional training."

jessicamb

I think they have got the accreditation through now

If you pass both Financial accounting (B291) and Management accounting (B292) you will be awarded the Professional Certificate in Accounting (K01). The Certificate has been awarded exemptions from papers C1 to C5 by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and exemptions have also been applied for from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Applications to other accounting bodies are on-going, and this site will be updated in due course to reflect additional exemptions obtained.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/b292.htm

cannyscot_2

Cheeks I think your idea is probably quite good! I'm a qualified Chartered Accountant and I started out by doing a GCSE in bookkeeping. I enjoyed it and it stood me in good stead for understanding the first stages of the qualification and double entry bookkeeping. Nowadays home learning has all changed. It used to be here is the manuals read them but now you can get online and CBT disks which make a massive difference. I recently did a professional course with CBT and it was torture to learn anything at my age but when I did the exam alongside those who had done the in house course I did as well if not better than some. The online/disk thing is brilliant for mums -you can fit it in when you can -I even took mine with me to a soft play area and did a bit! The AAT does give some guaranteed exemptions from CIMA, ACCA and ACA you would probably get that info on the AAT website. I imagine it will be quite costly to so any of these so if you can do AAT at a reasonable cost and get going at home it could be worth it. See if you can complete a level in time to give you some exemptions and push yourself to go for it. It is actually better to commit yourself to an exam date and bust a gut as if you don't there is always some family thing that gets in the way.


PS Accountancy has been a great career to combine with children -very flexible. I enjoy it and once you are qualified there is so many avenues to pursue. I wish you lots of fun with it , you sound like you are ready for a challenge -go for it -anything else I can help with let me know.

cheeks

Thank you all for your replies.
I like the sound of the OU introductory course. Its more expensive than the AAT Bookkeeping course but appears to cover more than just the bookkeeping side of accountancy.
The OU is a widely recognised and respected organisation, so hopefully it would count towards something if i find i really enjoy it and want to take it further.
But if i do the AAT, i know i can continue it at college next september if i want to!
I'm going round in circles here! I need someone to grab me by the scruff and just tell me what to do!

spike9

I would recommend AAT. You could start by looking at the AAT Bookkeeping certificate which you can do online. If you passed this and felt confident enough you could then go to college perhaps even starting at Level 3 of AAT ( was called intermediate )Alternatively wait and start at level 2. There are big changes from this year with most assessment being computer based.

Oldernotwiser

You need to decide whether you want to be an Accounting Technician or an Accountant. Also bear in mind that OU fees will be paid if your household income is low.