Career change

debbieblueeyes

Hi all,after thinking about my career for nearly 4/5years I have finally decided what career i want to do :T but need advice from anyone. I want to be an accountant/bookkeeper. Where do i start? I have worked in retail since i was 16 (im now 41) ive been up and down the management ladder in various stores.Im good with people and money.I know its going to be hard work well im a hard worker. so any advice is welcome also if you know what courses and qualifications i should have or be doing please let me know.
Thank you in advance

josephfarq

i'd advise you to look up local colleges and find courses in AAT or bookkeeping. Once you get on a course/qualified they will help guide you in to a career in accountancy

i reckon you'll need to gain AAT first then you can work towards ACCA or ACA.

You could always apply directly to companies for trainee roles, your experience in industry will help give you an edge on graduates but they often ask for you to be either AAT qualified or experienced with accounts (hence why it's probably necessary to go to college first)

good luck!

Delphinum

Accounts assistant positions come up quite frequently. If you can get into one of those sometimes you can get employer sponsored AAT courses, etc. The NHS were going to sponsor me to do mine but I moved house so had to give up my job. The car showroom I worked for were also sponsoring another employee to do his ACCA but with the clause that he had to stay employed with them for a certain number of years after he'd completed his studies or he would have to pay back the course fees.

Purchase ledger, sales ledger, payroll, cashier... all of these could lead to a qualification and get you finance experience so keep searching for those roles and hopefully you can find something that will make you some money whilst you study.

Good luck with your search!

debbieblueeyes

Firstly thank you for your advice.ive looked at my local college and the courses their offering are foundation book-keeping level 1 and book-keeping and accounts level 2 both courses for £575, and AAT level 1,2,3,4 for £3,385 and SAGE LEVEL 1,2,3 for £970.I think i have to start with the book-keeping/accounts 1/2 as this is all i can afford at the moment. Unless theres a way of self teach books, on these courses it says i should buy Business Accounts (third edition)david cox apparently this covers both courses, another book is for sage 1-3 which is computer accounting 2nd edition michael farden.if i study these books at home can i go and sit the exam at the college? sorry for going on ,found out yesterday my mum worked as a book-keeper/accountant years ago(1950s/60s) for Henleys in london and Raines(the Queens shoemaker/cobbler) she left to have me n my sisters, did ask her for advice but she said she wouldnt know where to start as things have changed sooo much.:D:cool:

saintjammyswine

There is an accounting apprenticeship which includes AAT as the main aim. These do come up relatively often, contact your local FE College again, if they run AAT they are likely to have the apprenticeship. The will provide you with the training for free.

barrywhittakerbmw

Debbie, since you are relatively new to accounting, I will suggest that you study for AAT's first and then move on to either ACCA or CIMA or some other accounting level. AAT will help you in understanding the basics of accounting and I think your retail background will help you in grasping the subjects very well.

If you are good with numbers and know maths then this is the right field for you. AAT is available from various service providers like Home Learning College, Kaplan, BPP, Eagle's, Premier Training etc. By far, Home Learning and Kaplan's are considered to be among the top service providers for AAT. I have enrolled for my AAT's with Home Learning, and its going good since the past few months. But yes, do bear in mind that they mostly provide distance learning and online learning options. If you have time to spare and would not mind going for a full time degree then I suggest you do some rounds at your local uni. If you are more than happy to work and study at the same time, then the course providers mentioned above would do just good. Start off with AAT level 1 and work your way till level 4.