Moving forward in career pathway and earning more - what can I do? (Accounting/Business/Finance)

kayson11

My partner is 23 years old and in a Cashier job for a well known Bank. Tasks include: paying in and out, transferring money local & international, opening/closing accounts etc.

His past qualifications are related to Drama (level 3), but he had changed his pathway and been in his current job for almost 2 years now.
He wants to create a higher earning potential as he is currently on a salary of around £22k, but is unsure of how to go about it as he may not be as desirable from his work experience alone. He is waiting around for a promotion but they have been whispering about this since last summer and still that is only 1k more.
I have suggested him doing some courses via REED to upskill and move on. My suggestion for him has been to complete a Level 4 in Business to gather background and base knowledge of the areas, and then a Level 5 in Accounting. See where this gets him and potentially complete a Level 6 in a targeted area once he has a deeper understanding of the type of work within the sector he would like to get into. However I am unsure whether jobs in the Accounting/Business/Financed sector all need degree or would even recognise level 4 / 5 courses.
At the moment Uni isn't really the best option for him - so all he can give is his time to do the Courses - and job search.

Does anyone have any suggestions in regards to: Schemes; Companies known for taking on those without degrees (but with level 4/5 certificates); where we should look or what he needs to do to improve future prospects. 

I would be massively greatful. He seems quite disheartened at times but I keep telling him 23 is not too old for someone to make a career move and want progression!

bexybest

To become an accountant you absolutely don't need a degree. I'm not sure what the REED courses your are referring to are.

He may want to look into getting a role in a company/public sector as a finance assistant/Accounts Payable/Receivable etc. In the NHS a Band 2 is £18k a year to start, but most will very quickly move up the bands as they progress with their qualification/experience. Get the company to pay for AAT Levels 1-4 (this takes around two years study on average but could do it quicker if motivated). This enables you to get say a Band 5 role in the NHS, which is £25k.

Then if he's really got the appetite for accountancy he could study for a professional qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) which takes around 3 years and will guarantee probably £40-50k a year initially. Then you can continue to move up the ranks so the income potential is endless.

It's a good career path, the money is decent and actually not very difficult to do. Personally I'd find doing I&E returns horribly boring so I work in industry which has a different set of challenges/rewards.

Dox

Looking at your other posts, you are clearly well organised, a planner and an achiever. The title of your thread includes the words 'What can I do' - maybe it's up to your partner to show a bit of motivation and dynamism? You are trying to impose your views and attitudes on your partner - who doesn't seem to have the same approach to life at all. If he thinks 23 is too old to change, then all in all seriousness, is this really someone who is going to be any sort of life partner when you are such wholly different characters? I appreciate that's not the question you asked, and it's annoying when people go off at a tangent, but the thoughts just sprang off the page at me. If you have to 'keep telling him' how long before your patience - or your partner's - runs out?

Sometimes people have to find their own motivation and if they don't, maybe they don't actually want to change. Perhaps that's the discussion you need to have together? Looking at the statistics emerging for the number of job applicants (e.g. 1,000+ applicants for a receptionist's job), companies aren't going to be remotely interested in someone with very little work experience, no focus and no drive to achieve. 

Suggest he (not you!) has a look at https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5960710/the-great-free-online-courses-hunt-updated-february-2019, finds a course which looks interesting and then see if he actually goes ahead and does it. 

kayson11

Thank you! This info is very helpful as this is not a sector that I'm not as familiar with. we are meeting up this evening to discuss and plan so this will definitely be mentioned. 

kayson11

Dox said:

Looking at your other posts, you are clearly well organised, a planner and an achiever. The title of your thread includes the words 'What can I do' - maybe it's up to your partner to show a bit of motivation and dynamism? You are trying to impose your views and attitudes on your partner - who doesn't seem to have the same approach to life at all. If he thinks 23 is too old to change, then all in all seriousness, is this really someone who is going to be any sort of life partner when you are such wholly different characters? I appreciate that's not the question you asked, and it's annoying when people go off at a tangent, but the thoughts just sprang off the page at me. If you have to 'keep telling him' how long before your patience - or your partner's - runs out?

Thank you for your response - As an overthinker / worrier I have already thought and spoken about the concerns you've raised. I think our views on life are slightly different as my background means that I may have more knowledge of opportunities/pathways that he may not be aware of. e.g. Both my parents are grads and in professional jobs whereas he's not. Also I have taken the traditional route of College (with placements), Uni (with placements) and then Work. I definitely understand your point and I have highlighted this in previous discussions but it isn't the motivation he lacks, more so the knowledge. (besides I think I may be an excessively planner) I think when from backgrounds where people around don't share much about career progression and the impact/importance of academic backing / qualifications; it's much harder to see you are not actually at a dead-end.

I know he needs to do things himself and he will, but think as a partner nothing is wrong with helping to find opportunities for him as I have also benefited from support from friends/family and colleagues. Once given the tools he has to do it himself and I will take a step back. (Really I am working from home today and happened to find myself procrastinating here to find potential solutions for him whilst he's at work!)

Thanks for the link! I will be showing him this evening. Really appreciate your concern and advice too 

Middlestitch

kayson11 said:

I know he needs to do things himself and he will, but think as a partner nothing is wrong with helping to find opportunities for him as I have also benefited from support from friends/family and colleagues. Once given the tools he has to do it himself and I will take a step back. (Really I am working from home today and happened to find myself procrastinating here to find potential solutions for him whilst he's at work!)

There's absolutely nothing wrong with helping anyone - it's a lovely character trait to have! - but you do need to be sure they actually want to be helped and that your idea of 'help' tallies with theirs. You sound a much stronger character than your partner and he may simply be going along with what you are saying for a quiet life, which can only store up trouble for the future. If he's not making any real effort to do the research for himself, I wonder if that might possibly be the case? There's nothing in your post to suggest he is well suited to a career in accountancy and finance. Does he think he is? It may offer better career prospects than many other career choices, but if he isn't going to enjoy it, he isn't likely to stick with it.

[Deleted User]

I think people often feel bound by history so if he's from a family that sees things differently to you he may need a little time to break free of that and he may just need his eyes opened.  I'm 57 and I'm looking to change.  In fact older apprentices are not unusual nowadays.  There's no job for life and you need to be continually learning and adding skills.  I sit with a lot of finance people at work and mentioned your post.  They said they prefer CIMA to AAT so investigating courses is a really good idea.  I also have a friend who has done a few very basic courses at college and employers were falling over themselves because although the work's not difficult (apparently) people are put off with the maths.  The maths though is basic level.  My friend failed her GCSE maths this year but is really good at her job.  Each place she interviewed for said they'd pay for higher courses.  As to degree - yes, it's harder to get in without one but most will accept experience especially as this is an area that's hard to recruit to. 

Iamdebtfree

Oh people. Just think. 1920. All those 23 y olds who thought their career prospects and salaries were oh so important. All six feet under. Nothing matters, and nothing is important. Oops. This isn't a 'depressed on an anti depressant' forum. Damn. Sorry all.

Manxman_in_exile

Middlestitch said:

kayson11 said:

I know he needs to do things himself and he will, but think as a partner nothing is wrong with helping to find opportunities for him as I have also benefited from support from friends/family and colleagues. Once given the tools he has to do it himself and I will take a step back. (Really I am working from home today and happened to find myself procrastinating here to find potential solutions for him whilst he's at work!)

but you do need to be sure they actually want to be helped and that your idea of 'help' tallies with theirs. You sound a much stronger character than your partner and he may simply be going along with what you are saying for a quiet life, which can only store up trouble for the future. If he's not making any real effort to do the research for himself, I wonder if that might possibly be the case? There's nothing in your post to suggest he is well suited to a career in accountancy and finance. .

I must admit those were my first thoughts when I read this - also the views Dox had.  As I explained on another thread I might be considered a relatively high achiever academically, but on a purely materialistic/money scale, I have no doubt most people would think that I under-achieved drastically from a career point of view.  But that would ignore the fact that I was entirely happy with my eventual career path.  Not everyone wants to earn a big salary or have what others think is an important or high status job.  Money doesn't buy happiness.  (And it's difficult if your life partner has those ambitions for you...)

Seldonista

If you can get into the Civil Service, you don't need a degree to apply for any of their grad schemes as an internal. If he's on £22k now, target an Executive Officer grade post (you can filter by the job grade on CS jobs). I got in after wasting 4 years in the uni scam anyway and now I'm being offered a £30k job that leads to £50k after 3 years.
It hasn't just happened obviously, but get in, get past probation, treat whatever the job is as a holding pen and start applying for the next grade up and all the schemes as soon as you can.

Doshwaster

It may not be the most glamorous career ever but the world will always need accountants. You probably won't get up to CFO level without a degree but there are plenty of career paths in accountancy for those without one - my sister in law is a senior auditor with the NHS and she never went to University. Plus there's always the opportunity to study for a degree part-time which a good employer will support you with.