Retraining - Too expensive

sdt1986

I want to retrain as an accountant, have done for a long time but I just can't afford to do it, I'm in debt and am constantly struggling for money month from month. Along with that I'm finding it difficult to hold down a job because I'm so fed up with my current line of work and feel like I'm going nowhere.

Does anyone know of any cheap ways of retraining in such a field, is it even possible?

Sambucus_Nigra

Do you really think you have the skills to be an accountant; being that accountants need to be hot on the money [as they say].....? Not trying to be rude, just realistic.

somethingcorporate

Ideally you will need a junior job that sponsors you through the training. These are quite rare and highly competitive but if you cannot afford to put yourself through it then the obvious answer is find someone that can!

Often you will need to prove yourself in a role before the company part with the cash to train you.

Good luck.

Oldernotwiser

Although you can't do a full accountancy qualification with the OU, you can work towards a related degree and even the separate modules would enhance your job prospects. As you are unemployed/on a low income, grants would be available for the fees.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/business-and-management/accounting-and-finance/courses/index.htm

xangeleyes

Do you get working tax credit? If so, you can ask your college about a discounted course. Most people who get Working Tax Credit or housing benefit etc can have a course and ONLY pay for the exams and admin.
It's worth a shot. You can do this part time too and find work within accountancy, but as someone said about you being in debt, I think when you're hired as an accountant, they look into your credit history.

sdt1986

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Do you really think you have the skills to be an accountant; being that accountants need to be hot on the money [as they say].....? Not trying to be rude, just realistic.

Yes, very much so.

sdt1986

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Although you can't do a full accountancy qualification with the OU, you can work towards a related degree and even the separate modules would enhance your job prospects. As you are unemployed/on a low income, grants would be available for the fees.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/business-and-management/accounting-and-finance/courses/index.htm

Open university is something I've never looked at for some strange reason, I'll have a look at that after football tonight.

What grants would be available to me, I wouldn't have thought any were available other than the government standard poor courses that they put you on which I don't intend to be unemployed long enough to make use of, any help/advice on that front would be welcome.

Thanks

sdt1986

Rachel_murray wrote: »

Do you get working tax credit? If so, you can ask your college about a discounted course. Most people who get Working Tax Credit or housing benefit etc can have a course and ONLY pay for the exams and admin.
It's worth a shot. You can do this part time too and find work within accountancy, but as someone said about you being in debt, I think when you're hired as an accountant, they look into your credit history.

Accountancy firms do not do a credit check from what I've seen whilst looking and if I'm totally honest that wouldn't be a problem as the whole intention is to have the skills to be able to go self employed starting off looking after family and friends businesses.

However, regardless of which it's an education that I can fall back on in the future when I've sorted my own debt out, my problem is that I haven't got a trade and I flit from job to job, with something to fall back on then it would make an whole lot of difference.

Oldernotwiser

sdt1986 wrote: »

Open university is something I've never looked at for some strange reason, I'll have a look at that after football tonight.

What grants would be available to me, I wouldn't have thought any were available other than the government standard poor courses that they put you on which I don't intend to be unemployed long enough to make use of, any help/advice on that front would be welcome.

Thanks

Grants are available (at the moment) to pay fees for all part time degree level study, based on household (partner, not parents) rather than individual income. There is a very detailed section on the OU website which will enable you to check your eligibility. In addition, there is also a small annual grant to cover study expenses.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/contact/faq.aspx?t=S&cat=1-2IH24G

heretolearn_2

Being in debt shouldn't stop you going into accountancy. There are some rules relating to bankruptcy and IVAs once you get to Chartered level, but just having debts (and working at a lower level than that) isn't a bar. Accountants are only human too and those working in Practice don't have the access to other people's money that, say, a bank worker in money trouble might have...which is why banks are so strict on these things. I suppose some in-house accountants could get up to all sorts, so probably firms recruiting directly will take a firmer line, but in practice these things are not usually checked up on.

westv

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Do you really think you have the skills to be an accountant; being that accountants need to be hot on the money [as they say].....? Not trying to be rude, just realistic.

Isn't it said that the best builders sometimes have the worst houses? :rotfl: