Accountancy - career change?

acbrom

Hi,

I am looking for a bit of advice / idea generation with regards to my career. I feel as though I'm stuck in a bit of a rut for months (maybe even years!) and am hoping that by starting this thread I might 'get the ball rolling!'...

I left school and started an apprenticeship in accountancy over 7 years ago and have since qualified AAT and just recently completed ACCA and became a member.

I have worked for three small accountancy practices (moved to progress and obtain payrise's due to pay freezes at previous employment - new employment didn't work out and am now back at previous employer in different office having been approached by them)...the feedback I have received regarding my work has always been good, etc...

However, I have now reached a point where I feel as though there are no clear paths of progression, payrise's are hard to come by, I feel as though i'm not able to shine in the workplace and that I'm just making up the numbers - and that 7 years of training has been pointless!

I am also bored with the work that I do and the though of working in another audit/accounts department does not appeal to me at present!

I have spent time considering other career paths and I'm struggling to 'not put myself down, think negatively, etc' when considering other options. Has anybody been in a similar position and have tips or information I could use to make some progress in my search for an interesting, rewarding job?

Depressing post complete! :rotfl:
Thanks.

persa

acbrom wrote: »

I am also bored with the work that I do and the though of working in another audit/accounts department does not appeal to me at present!

Are you an auditor? The thought of working in audit has never appealed to me in the slightest! However, if that's your background, what about a nice in-house role as a financial controller?

Alternatively, a different area of accountancy? Have you thought about tax/advisory?

It's possible to move from accountancy into investment banking, but the competition is fierce and the hours long. Management consultancy is another competitive option, but one which doesn't have quite the same awful reputation for a poor work-life balance.

If you are good at accountancy but just don't enjoy your work - what about teaching it rather than doing it?

Perhaps the problem is working in practice? Maybe in-house would suit you better?

And there's always the option of something completely different - what did you want to be when you were younger? (I bet you it wasn't an accountant - it never is! :rotfl:)

ceh209

persa wrote: »

And there's always the option of something completely different - what did you want to be when you were younger? (I bet you it wasn't an accountant - it never is! :rotfl:)

It was for me I'm now an auditor.

warwicktiger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMOmB1q8W4Y

nlj1520

I am a qualified accountant and in my (long) time have worked both in general practice and in organisations. I prefer the latter. I've worked in charities as financial manager, as a payroll bureaux manager, in a large organisation where I was deputy chief accountant and in small companies where I was everything from bookkeeper to financial controller! I now work freelance doing some financial accouting, some bookkeeping and some audit (as a sub-contractor). this gives me freedom to follow other activities including another area of work for a charity close to my heart. Obviously I've had to adjust my standard of living downwards and this may not be something you can do if you have dependants, but it is very satisfying working the way I do and having this much flexibility and freedom.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Any

I personally think auditing is good area, it is very good practice and it gives you very good set of skills and knowledge.
However, it is not an area people stay in for long!! Unless they make it to managerial role/owners where they only plan for the work.

There is number of options to consider. Easiest would be to move just to industry. It is much more varied work then in practice, especially smallish practice (don't know how big yours are).
You get to do all sorts other then just accounting stuff, depending on business needs. Our accounts are also responsible for IT, phones, cars, training... lots of other things.

Then you can go into consultancy, or into more specialised role. As experienced auditor forensics could be good turn.

marlasinger

How about a management accounting role in industry? So much 'meatier' than working in practice (not that I have ever worked in practice). There is a lot of variation in work - from looking at costs of production, analysing cost and efficiency variances. Even the financial accounting side can be interesting - debtors, payroll, VAT return, month end reporting. There is so much more scope, and if you work for a medium sized company you can get involved in so many areas and you can also make a difference (rather than just being one cog in a big wheel).

observations_from_a_hill

I always wanted to be an accountant - don't abandon your career unless there is an alternative for which you feel passionate.

persa

ceh209 wrote: »

It was for me I'm now an auditor.

Ah, you must be the exception that proves the rule. Most accountants/tax advisers I know "just fell into" the profession. Congratulations on achieving your goal.

OP, as the above posts have tried to point out, there are lots of different areas of accountancy. Given the hard work you put in to become AAT and then ACCA qualified, it's worth trying out a different area first, before ditching the profession.

Have you thought about talking to a specialist agency? Some of the better ones are happy to run through your background and aims and suggest an area that they think might better suit what you're after, work-wise. Yes, headhunters are all on commission, but they can be pretty helpful when you're considering your options.

roxy86_2

sorry to jump in on this post as I am in no position to advise the op.

However, I have a question regarding accountancy and wandered if anyone (op included) can offer me any advice.

I have been a stay at home mum for 5 years but decided a couple of years ago I would like to become an accountant. So I started attending AAT evening classes. I am now studying my level 4 AAT and as my children are now that much older, I would love to get into a job where I can apply my knowledge and build on it.

However this is where I need some advice. It is proving impossible to do. Every job I have looked at that would be of any relevance requires a min of 18 months accounts experience.

I have looked at voluntary work and have emailed various practices but everyone seems to busy to want to take on a trainee.

I really don't know how I can ever get into an accountancy role if no-one will give me a chance. Does anyone have any ideas of places/ internet site I could go?

(Sorry op for hi-jacking you post).

dizzyrascal

roxy86 wrote: »

sorry to jump in on this post as I am in no position to advise the op.

However, I have a question regarding accountancy and wandered if anyone (op included) can offer me any advice.

I have been a stay at home mum for 5 years but decided a couple of years ago I would like to become an accountant. So I started attending AAT evening classes. I am now studying my level 4 AAT and as my children are now that much older, I would love to get into a job where I can apply my knowledge and build on it.

However this is where I need some advice. It is proving impossible to do. Every job I have looked at that would be of any relevance requires a min of 18 months accounts experience.

I have looked at voluntary work and have emailed various practices but everyone seems to busy to want to take on a trainee.

I really don't know how I can ever get into an accountancy role if no-one will give me a chance. Does anyone have any ideas of places/ internet site I could go?

(Sorry op for hi-jacking you post).

You can't volunteer to work for an accountancy practice. They have to pay you for work done at the minimum wage at least.

If you want to volunteer then take your skills to an organisation that needs help. Nearly all charities and societies need someone to go over the books and produce accounts annually so that they know where the money went/how much they have to spend etc. If you want to volunteer then that's your best route.

Most people will train and qualify on the job at your level so I can see why employers are bypassing you. They want you to be up to speed, which you can only get from working, not from theory.

I would strongly suggest that you start networking, either via LinkedIn or going to physical meetings to meet the local recruiters in your industry.
If you want to work you may have to take a entry level position to prove yourself. It would be worth stressing in your applications or cover letters why you have chosen to follow this route. You worked hard at your qualifications whilst your children were small and you are now looking to develop your skills further. Talk about your aims and ambitions, where you see yourself in a few years time.

Why are you just writing to practices? All industries have accountants, I would spread the net much wider. You can continue training with all sorts of organisations so I would be looking for any entry level roles that come up. You do need to get some recent working skills under your belt first though. (This is where volunteering will come in although any job will give you employment skills)
You already have good time management skills as you have studied whilst having children. You will need to build on the rest