Trainee Accountants ?

Swafe

Hi.. Been to college ( 4.5 A levels ) Been to uni (Degree, BSc, Hons, Chemistry)

And now it comes to finding a job, been looking for a chemistry related job, maybe some lab work, etc with the hope the degree will make me stand out from the crowd... more job prospects.

Hit a brick wall! Seems theres hardly any chemistry jobs, found one 20 miles away and they havnt got back to me, the rest locally are school lab techs (doesnt really appeal, plus not very good money considering, might as well train to be a teacher!)

So Ive contemplated becoming an accountant (with tranining)

Ideally, I suppose Im 3 years too late, and should have studies it at uni, however one of my friends, friends is now fully qualified, after training up from 16 after he left school, so I imagine no previous experience is required. Obviously with a degree and A levels, I would hope to start higher, or at least be fast tracked with the qualifications as they will know I can handle the work.

Problem is where to start? He started at an accountants and learnt it on on the job, any ideas where these sort of posts would be posted? Or would I have to go around all the local accountants and ask?

Any hints/tips? I know a college course in accountancy would really help, but Im not going to bother just yet incase I cant find a job, and its wasted ala uni!

dmg24

There are endless graduate accountancy schemes. There are the big four accountants, then smaller firms and big corporate organisations (and of course the public sector).

Have a look at www.prospects.ac.uk.

One question, why do you want to be an accountant?

Swafe

Being honest, its good pay with decent prospects for the future.

Always been good with maths too tho, good at juggling numbers just one of those maths/sciency people as opposed to an english/arts type talent.

Will have a look on prospects, been looking on reed and a couple of others but cant seem to find any graduate training schemes for accountants, infact, the only graduate training schemes I can find are recruitment consultants, either they need a million or nobody wants to do that job !!


Edit, also where do I look? Its not postgrad as theres noway im going back to uni! Cant even see an accountancy section on jobs & work, is it under finance & management consultants?

cazziebo

You can start at the bottom but there would have been some funding help for the employer to train a 16 year old school leaver - this might make taking on someone older unattractive. As a graduate it would be unlikely there would be assistance with funding.

However, many accountancy firms run graduate trainee schemes and your first degree discipline doesn't matter. It is very competitive though - but it's a great career. 3 out of my last 4 MDs have been trained accountants.

When I was at University a million years ago there was a qualification Post Grad diploma in accountancy which was a one year qualification (still had to do a traineeship) but I don't know if that still exists.

good luck with whatever you decide

Swafe

I dont see why they wouldnt partially fund it ? Im only 21 & if I did it as a life long career I could be there till Im 65! Plenty of years left in the old tank yet

I dont mind starting at the bottom, even if I did something with my degree, Id still be at the bottom on the basis that my degree grade wasnt that great and Id have to start somewhere small just for a year to gain some real world experience before progressing.

Graduate training schemes sound good... just need to find a good long list to apply to ?

cazziebo

Swafe wrote: »

I dont see why they wouldnt partially fund it ? Im only 21 & if I did it as a life long career I could be there till Im 65! Plenty of years left in the old tank yet

Sorry - didn't make myself clear. The government assists employers taking on school leavers to train via the Skillseekers scheme. Only 16-19 year olds qualify (last time I looked).

honeypop

Swafe wrote: »

Obviously with a degree and A levels, I would hope to start higher, or at least be fast tracked with the qualifications as they will know I can handle the work.

Swafe wrote: »

I dont mind starting at the bottom...Id have to start somewhere small just for a year to gain some real world experience before progressing.

I'm a bit confused, which is it? You expect to start higher up than someone else (or be fast tracked), or you are happy to start at the bottom.

I believe that unless you can get exemptions from parts of exams because you have studied accounts before, then you will have to do the same training and studying as anyone else and therefore not be fast tracked just because you have a degree and 'can handle the work'.

Swafe

honeypop wrote: »

I'm a bit confused, which is it? You expect to start higher up than someone else (or be fast tracked), or you are happy to start at the bottom.

I believe that unless you can get exemptions from parts of exams because you have studied accounts before, then you will have to do the same training and studying as anyone else and therefore not be fast tracked just because you have a degree and 'can handle the work'.

Both, ideally, as I said I'd love to start higher up, but obviously with no qualifications, this isnt an option, I meant training wise, start higher, for example train to be a proper chartered accountant, as opposed to being trained in something simple like just paperwork, before they move on, hence the fast track instead of rising thru the ranks, just doing a course and getting thrown into the deep end.

wickedwitch_2

I'm an auditor in the public sector. Unfortunately your qualifications will not exempt you from any of the professional exams but your higher education qualifications should get you onto an accountancy trainee scheme with any number of large organisations. They do tend to look for graduates.

As for being fast tracked, I think you will find that if you do join a trainee scheme that there will still be a lot of rising through the ranks to do! The scheme were I work aims to find financial directors of the future yet trainees still have to start at the bottom rung of accountancy work no matter how good their other qualifications are. All are equal. It can also be fairly brutal - three exam fails (there are 12 exams I think) and you are thrown off the scheme. It's hard work studying and working although our study leave allowance is generous and all training and exam fees are paid.

The private sector may be different of course but I doubt whether any organisation would operate a scheme that would fast track at the level you seem to be looking for. It's sad but true that trainees, even graduates, start at the bottom and get the worst jobs. Tis the best way to learn but it's worth it!

The Hays website might be worth a look. Good luck!!

timbellina

You're a grad; all reasonable sized accountancy firms recruit graduates. What you're looking for is a "training contract", and you're best off sending your CV to the personnel department of any and all of the firms of chartered accountants in the area that you want to work in.

As a general rule, the big firms pay better, but are way more ruthless about exam failure, and probably don't give you much practical experience. The small firms pay less well, and are pretty tight for study leave. You can tell I was trained by a "medium" size firm, can't you!

Most firms will be looking for September starts about now, so get your CV out there. You won't have any trouble getting a training contract if you're half-way decent; but it's seriously tough to get qualified. Apart from the exam misery, I enjoyed my training. Good luck, and if you want to know 'owt else, send me an e-mail.

Regards

Tim, (FCA)