Ideally a recruitment training scheme??

mjc2012

Good evening!
I have been studying AAT part time alongside my full time job for 3 years and am now a part qualified accountant. I have quite a string interest in the area of tax and have recently had a mini epiphany making me start to look into recruitment schemes with chartered accountants ... the big4 springing to mind primarily.
I have not been to university and don't have the best A level results, but of course now have a diploma.
Can anyone suggest/advise a route which they know of or have heard about which you may think is worth enquiring about as websites just don't give the exact answers I need!!

Any thoughts to bash around would be brilliant!
Thank you in advance.

persa

mjc2012 wrote: »

Good evening!
I have been studying AAT part time alongside my full time job for 3 years and am now a part qualified accountant. I have quite a string interest in the area of tax and have recently had a mini epiphany making me start to look into recruitment schemes with chartered accountants ... the big4 springing to mind primarily.
I have not been to university and don't have the best A level results, but of course now have a diploma.
Can anyone suggest/advise a route which they know of or have heard about which you may think is worth enquiring about as websites just don't give the exact answers I need!!

Any thoughts to bash around would be brilliant!
Thank you in advance.

How part qualified are you and do you have any accountancy experience? I'm guessing your AAT is completely separate to your current job?

The Big 4 are slightly more lenient towards those who they deem to be 'Experienced Hires', but as a general rule of thumb, they refuse to consider candidates with a less than perfect school record (and that goes as far back as GCSEs, not just A Levels). Retakes are generally looked upon badly too.

I don't want to be negative, but if you ever had a couple of Cs at GCSE, your Big 4 dream may well be over before it began...

Becoming Chartered is a worthwhile aim, but you may be better off looking at smaller firms who are willing to take you on and design your own training route. Looking for smaller sized ICAEW/ICAS/ICAI authorised training firms in your area would be a good move, but failing that, any accountancy firm can put you through ACCA - they don't need to be approved.

Best of luck in getting where you want to be.

MoneySavingUser

Big4 have non-graduate entry routes aswell i.e. http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/jobs/view/1778/School_and_college_leaver_programme_with_PwC_Tax_Technician_2012

But if you don't meet the minimum grade requirements you are out of luck (though see the bottom part about extra-curricular activities). Otherwise as mentioned try mid-tier and smaller firms.

You can also register with agencies and see if they can get you something.

mjc2012

Thank you both.
I have 10 A-B GCSE's and A level D-E So I guess not looking too great!! I have now started to look throught the ICAEW site for training contracts with smaller firms, which to me sounds great too - I am extremely flexible with where I can be based & am just trying to find a way in really!
Do you think it would bode well to keep studying part time but work in a practice ... no idea if this is possible! I have done bookkeeping & VAT returns etc - fairly sporadic account job as I actually work in marketing!

WOuld love you to try and unfuzzle my head for me please!!!

persa

MoneySavingUser wrote: »

Big4 have non-graduate entry routes aswell i.e. http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/jobs/view/1778/School_and_college_leaver_programme_with_PwC_Tax_Technician_2012

But if you don't meet the minimum grade requirements you are out of luck (though see the bottom part about extra-curricular activities). Otherwise as mentioned try mid-tier and smaller firms.

You can also register with agencies and see if they can get you something.

School Leaver schemes are open to those who have left school and who haven't done any further study - the OP has already started the AAT.

Many people think that becoming part qualified shows commitment and will make them become more attractive, but where the Big 4 are concerned, they like people fresh out of school or uni, or people who have finished their qualifications and have relevant experience. Getting into the Big 4 is very difficult for anyone who is somewhere in between (not impossible, but difficult) and highly unlikely for anyone with a D and E at A Level. (Sorry!)

OP, as you have a little experience and a part qualification in AAT, I would suggest writing to small firms, local to where you are, to ask for an entry level position. They may not have a HR department or any formal hiring policy, so if you sound interesting, the partner(s) may well call you in for a chat. Smaller firms are often more flexible like this.

Should you get a job in accountancy, it is likely that your employer will pay for you to go to evening classes or go off on block release so you can finish your AAT and then maybe go on and do another qualification. Employers within this profession are generally very keen to encourage studying, so I wouldn't be concerned about having to get only a part time job, or put your studies on hold.

Agencies may be helpful, but TBH, they are mainly interested in fully qualified accountants or those who are close to finishing their qualification as the commission is better.;) One thing to bear in mind though, is whether you can afford to leave your (presumably, full time and permanent) marketing job for a 6 month maternity contract and no security. It could be that this is a good move for you now, or maybe a good move for you in a few months' time when you have built up a safety net from saving like mad from your current job.

I do think the Big 4 route is a no go in your case, but that doesn't mean you're not capable of being a good accountant or you should abandon this career move. Do make a list of small firms in your area (as you've discovered, the ICAEW website isn't a bad place to start) and send out a couple of letters to test the water. Best to try our your application technique on a couple of firms at the same time rather than all of them, or there's nowhere to go after that if you discover your technique needs tweaking, apart from out of town!

mjc2012

I see, I did think it was possibly a bit of a crazy idea - the big4.
I have completerd my AAT so have level 4 diploma it's just where to go from here.

I am fairly keen to leave the area purely because I feel a new start and career is sometimes easier when tied together ... maybe!

CruisingSaver

I really think you need to get practical work experience to sit alongside your AAT qualification and the advice of others who've said to look into training contracts with smaller local firms is spot on.

I also think you need to be realistic when looking at potential jobs and look for audit junior type roles to build up your practical knowledge and boost your CV.

I hope this doesn't come across as negative because that isn't how it's meant. I'm an accountant of over 20 years' standing so just wanted to give the benefit of my experience.

Good luck!

mjc2012

No I don't take that as negative - I am realistic & I know I only have the beginnings of the accreditations I will require. I guess I just feel it's a little bit of a shame that it has taken me so long to decide what path I would like to take!
I will look into firms which can help further my studies and also gain me experience.

I suppose my interest in teh tex side of it will also just have to hover while I go up the ladder :-)

CruisingSaver

If you do get work in a smaller practice you'll find that you'll get exposure to a lot of things that trainees in the big 4 can only dream of, and that includes tax work.

OK, you won't get to audit the large blue chip companies like you would in the big 4 firms but that isn't always the be all and end all.

Before moving into industry I worked for 3 practices; the first was a small local practice, second was a large national practice, and the last one was a medium sized local firm with a really good reputation (and who I qualified with). The experience from all 3 was invaluable and really provided a solid platform for moving into industry and now the public sector.

mjc2012

That makes perfect sense. I really should have looked at it like that as I work for a family business & have passed through & still help in all areas - so yes, smaller companies allow a greater scope for experience really.
The big4 idea was only an idea which I suppose I thought may have been a typical way in to the profession but actually it is probably the trickiest!

So if I were to send letters & CV out to local firms who I know are recruiting, would I try and send them to those who have stated they have training contracts or just try and get a job for experience noe necessarily further my studies at the moment??
I was hoping to move to a city purely because I feel like I should at some point in life!! But it might be easier to find smaller firms around here being the midlands.
Hmm, food for thought indeed. I appeciate this very much - I have so many questions so it is really nice to have someone trying to help!!

CruisingSaver

mjc2012 wrote: »

That makes perfect sense. I really should have looked at it like that as I work for a family business & have passed through & still help in all areas - so yes, smaller companies allow a greater scope for experience really.
The big4 idea was only an idea which I suppose I thought may have been a typical way in to the profession but actually it is probably the trickiest!

So if I were to send letters & CV out to local firms who I know are recruiting, would I try and send them to those who have stated they have training contracts or just try and get a job for experience noe necessarily further my studies at the moment??
I was hoping to move to a city purely because I feel like I should at some point in life!! But it might be easier to find smaller firms around here being the midlands.
Hmm, food for thought indeed. I appeciate this very much - I have so many questions so it is really nice to have someone trying to help!!

You're more than welcome and if you have any other questions please ask either on this thread or via PM if you wish.

There's no reason why you can't approach firms who aren't necessarily offering training contracts at the moment as well as those who are. Cast your net as wide as you can!