CIMA/AAT - help would be appreciated.

NickJW

AP007 wrote: »

I had to do the conversion from USD and Euro to GBP manually with the rate from the bank. No system to do that for me when the payment cleared. All our EUROs etc were internet banking as one off batches etc not like a full BACS run

Your system seems very long winded indeed and very old fashioned.

Agresso would post the credit to the bank control account as soon as the BACS was posted and updated and the weekly returns (sale ledger team) would rec the bank account.

I think you may need to get more systems knowledge and could only do if you more to another accounts role in another company using different software and more experience and understanding in double entry.

I have 20 years in purchase ledger and have used 9 different systems.

Maybe AAT would be a good start and you can do level 2 and see how you get on.

I think you're right. I'm going to look into home based learning (cheaper option) for the sections I'm more comfortable with, and classroom based learning for Double Entry book-keeping which I feel I could benefit with more one-on-one assistance. I'll self fund these, because I feel it would be better to opt for company payment assistance at higher levels.

Once again - your input has been extremely helpful, and I'll update once I go further.

AP007

NickJW wrote: »

I think you're right. I'm going to look into home based learning (cheaper option) for the sections I'm more comfortable with, and classroom based learning for Double Entry book-keeping which I feel I could benefit with more one-on-one assistance. I'll self fund these, because I feel it would be better to opt for company payment assistance at higher levels.

Once again - your input has been extremely helpful, and I'll update once I go further.

I can train you on double entry for a fee haha

I think someone else has mentioned Kaplan here for the AAT
and you can learn remotely in your own time
http://financial.kaplan.co.uk/TRAININGANDQUALS/ACCOUNTANCY/AAT/Pages/default.aspx

Do the 'help paying for your course; in green to see if you can get any help

http://financial.kaplan.co.uk/trainingandquals/accountancy/aat/pages/distance-learning-courses.aspx

http://financial.kaplan.co.uk/trainingandquals/accountancy/aat/pages/live-online-pass-plus-courses.aspx

etc

Do level 2 at home and then see how you go and then for level 3 do the class room learning

good luck

voucherlover

NickJW wrote: »

She then advised me to look into CIMA...the problem I envisage with this is that it requires me to provide 2 A levels, and 5 GCSEs, both of which I did bad at. I gained 2 B's, 5 C's and 2 D's at GCSE - C in Maths and English, and *ahem* B in General Studies, C in Business Studies and E in Geography. I have to find where they are, and get them signed off by my manager.

CIMA itself does not have any specific entry requirements
"You don’t need any formal qualifications to start this level. You will need a good understanding of both English and maths and a passion to succeed in business."

When I registered, they asked me for a copy of my degree certificate, when I questioned this, it was purely for their records and had no bearing on becoming a student member. I have never bothered to provide it

NickJW

voucherlover wrote: »

CIMA itself does not have any specific entry requirements
"You don’t need any formal qualifications to start this level. You will need a good understanding of both English and maths and a passion to succeed in business."

When I registered, they asked me for a copy of my degree certificate, when I questioned this, it was purely for their records and had no bearing on becoming a student member. I have never bothered to provide it

Thank you! That helped a lot. Contacted CIMA today and they said that I would be eligible for their Certificate Level, before the Operational Level, which doesn't involve book keeping and is more relevant to my job role. Forecasting, spreadsheet management etc interests me more.

It's a bit pricier than AAT (£2700 for classroom based courses vs £1700 for AAT), especially since it will be self funded at this level, but work should hopefully agree to a study loan on monthly installments.

Paid CIMA registration, went to a Kaplan open evening and got registered, so just need the payment side organized with work. I'm not going to tempt fate, but I am feeling a lot more positive about my options now.

Ariadna

Scorpio33 wrote: »

AAT = qualification you get if you want to be a book keeper

CIMA = qualification you get if you want to be a management accountant.

I would say CIMA is harder than AAT, but worth it in the end. Are you aiming to high with CIMA? There is only one way to find out and that is to study it.

That's not a hard and fast rule though, I'm AAT qualified, and an assistant management accountant, and out of the four management accountants I work with, one other is also AAT qualified, and none of them have CIMA (or any of the other professional qualifications).

voucherlover

NickJW wrote: »

It's a bit pricier than AAT (£2700 for classroom based courses vs £1700 for AAT), especially since it will be self funded at this level, but work should hopefully agree to a study loan on monthly installments.

I am currently studying with First Intuition who I have found to be very good and are cheaper, if you are self funding. In London they are currently giving one course free, so the 5 Certificate level courses would be £1580 + exam fees.