A job in accounting/finance with no experience

nyc_451

Hello, I wonder if anyone could tell me how realistic is it to get an accounts assistants or a similar role in accounting/finance sector without a degree/experience?

I am working in retail at the moment (pay day loan company), so it's customer service + lots of administrative duties which I am very good at. Applied for a few positions but haven't heard back yet. Was thinking about taking some accounting courses, maybe Pitman Training? Would that help? Don't have time for a real degree, unfortunately...

Any experience or advice would be appreciated.


Thank you.

Charlotte17

You do not need any exp for a trainee/entry level role to be honest.

Depends what in accounts you want to do?

pmd123

Have a look at the AAT course if this is an area you want to pursue, look at level 2 / level 3 depending on your current qualifications, and then after a couple of months on the course you'd be in a much better position to get interviews for accounts assistant / payroll type roles.

nyc_451

Charlotte17 wrote: »

You do not need any exp for a trainee/entry level role to be honest.

Depends what in accounts you want to do?

Well I don't know much about accounting so can't tell exactly what I'd like to do... When looking at the description of assistant accountant/purchase ledger/bookkeeper/finance assistant, I think I would enjoy this type of work.

Charlotte17

blue_mango wrote: »

Well I don't know much about accounting so can't tell exactly what I'd like to do... When looking at the description of assistant accountant/purchase ledger/bookkeeper/finance assistant, I think I would enjoy this type of work.

Ok if you think you would enjoy it do you know what a typical day would be like?

How old are you? If under 24 (I think) and you get a job in accounts you can study AAT for free.

Charlotte17

Do this http://www.aatskillcheck.org/home.aspx

Tells you what level you could start at and you will get an idea if you have any understanding.

asajj

Well it is hard to know at entry level what you really like but you can get a job at entry level and later in your career , change your speciality.

ACCA, CIMA, ACA qualified accountants are mostly doing similar roles each other nowadays anyway.

Does your company have a finance department where you are ? You might ask for job shadowing and see what they do.

Which city you are close to ?

Also have a look at this

http://www.bpp.com/professional-qualifications-course-listing/listing/professional-qualifications/57

nyc_451

Charlotte17 wrote: »

Ok if you think you would enjoy it do you know what a typical day would be like?

How old are you? If under 24 (I think) and you get a job in accounts you can study AAT for free.

I spoke to someone who has an accountant in a family and I've been told that accounts assistants do different things in different companies? I guess I would have a clearer pitcure if I got an interview?
Please tell me what is a typical day if you know

>24yo.

Thank you for the link, I'll do the test tomorrow!

nyc_451

http://www.pitman-training.com/Courses/professional-accounting-technician-diploma-with-aat-level-2-and-3-qualifications

Does this look any good?...

Charlotte17

asajj wrote: »

Well it is hard to know at entry level what you really like but you can get a job at entry level and later in your career , change your speciality.

ACCA, CIMA, ACA qualified accountants are mostly doing similar roles each other nowadays anyway.

Does your company have a finance department where you are ? You might ask for job shadowing and see what they do.

Which city you are close to ?

Also have a look at this

http://www.bpp.com/professional-qualifications-course-listing/listing/professional-qualifications/57

Not really I always wanted to do purchase ledger and dealing with stock etc and got a job doing so in a small team then went on to stand alone roles just me and a FC doing a more all round role as well as payroll then for the last 15 years I was doing just purchase ledger and managing 4 people.

Charlotte17

blue_mango wrote: »

I spoke to someone who has an accountant in a family and I've been told that accounts assistants do different things in different companies? I guess I would have a clearer pitcure if I got an interview?
Please tell me what is a typical day if you know

>24yo.

Thank you for the link, I'll do the test tomorrow!

Typical day depends on job you know

You do get asked at interview what you think the object of the role is

ie for Purchase Ledger the object is the timely payment of all expenses and supplier invoices.