I'm a Chartered Accountant - AMA

[cahere]

Perhaps not the most exciting AMA - but might be useful to someone!

Who did you do your chartership with? What age where you when you qualified? I’m 31 and in 2nd year studying so hoping to get a graduate position, what’s your thoughts on that? Too old or potential? Would you attempt to go top 4 or elsewhere? Any advice? Not sure if I think you’re a careers advisor or chartered accountant...

Also do you actually like your job?

Kleew - I retrained and did ACA at a big4 when I was older than you think

Older than you, that should say.

Receptacle how much did it cost you to retrain if you don't mind me asking? Is there potential to work PT and retrain at the same time?

The firm pays for the training and exams (you do them while working the 3 year training contract) so the cost to me was the temporary pay cut while on the training contract.

People don't normally pay for their own exams when doing ACA.

Also, because you can't qualify without having the 3yr training contract, there is no point paying for the exams yourself.

Ooh I see. I always considered accounting when I was at school and have briefly looked into it since but found it a bit confusing if I'm honest (the acronyms, different types of accounting etc). Thanks for replying :)

Fellow ACA here!

That’s good to know as I’m the oldest by 10 years at my university! Definitely feeling the wage drop just now but looking at the bigger picture. What area of accountancy did you go into? Do you enjoy it?

Do you find it has a blame culture? I've worked in the finance for 8 years and find everyone's out for themselves. There never seems to be any team work.

Kleew, you definitely have potential! I became chartered early/mid twenties because I'd been on that career path since school, but it's not the case for everyone. I work with people in different stages of life - some just starting their professional exams in later life, some picking them back up because things got in the way (e.g. kids).

I did my training contract with an investment firm rather than an accounting firm and it was one of my best decisions. I love working in investments, it's more interesting than tax or audit which I find dry. IMHO, the big four have a rep for being a bit of a "CA factory" with an aggressive culture (you can get fired if you fail an exam). Lots of people throw in the towel after 3 years there. On the other hand, that's not to say there aren't people there who are enjoying it, but it's just my perspective.

Definitely try to get an internship in the summer which will get you a foot in the door!

What is the average salary ?

At what level of experience? In industry or in practice? Big4 or small local practice?

There are quite a lot of variables, and the average is likely to be lower than you think - just look upthread.