AAT Accounting Qualification - is it worth it?

[CJ2010]

Will it increase my employability? What sort of roles /salary would be open to me?

If any of you have studied for it, can you tell me what you think please. If I decide to do it, I shall start at Level 2 and hopefully work my way up to Level 4. TIA.

[Ellypoo]

Hi
In my opinion, the AAT qualification is definitely worthwhile - it is very practical and should definitely improve your employability. If possible, you could maybe look for a job where they will support your study (not necessarily paying for it, but giving you time to study perhaps), so you can gain experience while you are studying.
I speak as a Fellow Member of the AAT (as well as an ACMA), and I will be starting one of my junior members of staff on the course this summer too.
It would open up a broad spectrum of roles, probably mainly Accounts Assistant/Book-keeping/credit control/purchase & sales ledger clerk type roles, in any industry, which can either be quite specific in a particular area, or include quite a wide range of tasks, depending on the company, size etc. Also, I have interviewed a few people for office manager who had the AAT qualification and book-keeping/accounts experience.
You can also use it as a foundation for becoming a chartered accountant if you wanted to take it further once you had achieved the AAT qualification and enjoyed the work.
Salaries will be as varied as the roles, and really will totally depend on what area you live in/industry the organisation is in/size of organisation you get a job in.
Good luck!

[CJ2010]

Thank you!

[MissKeithLemon]

Yes - definitely worth it imho! (Although I've not actually finished it ....yet!) I've been a self employed bookkeeper and employed 'accounts person' since taking up AAT and I only got to intermediate level. Its a good all round qualification in terms of the knowledge it gives you, can give you good exemptions from further accounting qualifications and in my experience is well regarded by employers & accountants. Full AAT required positions can earn up to £28k where I am in Leeds. Bookkeeepers earn between £9 - £15 ph employed or £15 -£22.50 self employed/sub-contracting if that helps.

[iseenodust]

IMO it's qualification with some weight if you want to start in accountancy or earn more as bookkeeper. Councils seem particularly to like it.

[StuartW]

Hi there,

This conversation popped up in my alerts, so I thought that as AAT's Community Manager I'd better pop in and do my bit! :)

The advice offered by Ellypoo, MissKeithLemon and iseenodust is very sound - I'd just add that it would be to your benefit, when studying, to attempt to get some work experience (whether paid or unpaid). This is an area where some students can fall down, as they assume studying leads automatically to a job - when in reality studying AAT in conjunction with doing some worthwhile work experience provides the best chance of landing a good position after you've qualified.

If you'd like further peer support, AAT has got a vibrant online forum at forums.aat.org.uk; and our Facebook page is a place where new/potential students often ask/answer questions for each other: www.facebook.com/youraat

Meanwhile our recently-relaunched blog provides tips on developing your accounting career - last week we did a few posts to mark National Careers Week: www.aatcomment.org.uk

That's my bit done But now I'm here, if I can be of any further help please don't hesitate to let me know.

Best of luck with your studies!

Stuart

[HappyCamel]

If you have a degree consider CIMA instead. If not, AAT + CIMA or ACCA = qualified accountant and £40k or more. I'll take an older worker doing AAT over a grad any day.

[crazyaccountant]

Definitely worth it, I've gone the AAT then CIPFA route and certainly worked out well for me. I did have to work my arse off in training roles and study at home in spare time but found the experience gained at the same time as studying seemed to make me very attractive to employers.
Can't lie and say I always think I'm in the right career or that I don't have times when I am working all hours and up the fucking wall (usually when doing final accounts or budget setting!) but all in all it's provided me with an extremely comfortable lifestyle for my age!