AAT qualification (accountancy)

[IsItFuck]

I'm seriously thinking of doing a bookkeeping course in college starting September. It's an evening course, two evenings per week 3 hours each time and I'm assuming coursework to do at home too. I have no kids, no partner and most of my social time is free so I THINK I can do this, but I have a full time job too. I've thought about learning bookkeeping skills for years on and off but I'm now late 30s so if it's happening it has to happen now. If I like it / am capable / can pass then I'll gain an AAT level 2 qualification, which would be bloody great! I'm already a long term secretary for an accountant and I know he would let me loose on some paperwork so I can gain practice in the workplace as well as education in college, but my own clerical job still has to come first of course. It's just an extra feather in my cap and I want to learn something worthwhile and use my spare time productively instead of sitting around watching Netflix. I can't quit my job to do this full time (if I managed to get all the way to passing level 4 I might say differently) so I expect to fund this myself. The first year is £1,100... am I mad to think I can do / juggle this? Any accountants out there who can advise if I'm going the realistic way about this?

You can easily do it. DP is a chartered accountant who started AAT doing evening classes when he was working full time for pittance.

Talk to your employer. They may be willing to part-fund if they think it'll benefit them.

If I'm any good it could definitely benefit them. I'm very good at my job and work fast, there are many times I could have helped them out with bookkeeping!

I did AAT years ago and blagged my way on to the level 3 course. My prior qualifications exempted me from level 2 and after my interview for admission I went home via the library to get out a text book and swot up. I struggled the first 2 weeks as they were revising double entry bookkeeping from level 2 but once it clicked then I flew through the course.

I’m now CIMA qualified and work as a management accountant but AAT got me going and got me my first few jobs.
I’d have a word with your boss but definitely go for it.

First, I would talk to your employer to see if they would be interested in funding this and switching you over to accounts work if you wanted to, or splitting your job between the clerical/accounts departments.

One thing I will say is that experience is vital. You can learn anything from a book, but actually putting it into practice helps you to understand what you are doing. You will need experience to get a licence at a later point if you go down that road.

If you can get to Level 3 then you can be an AATQB (Qualified Bookkeeper), or if you get to Level 4, then you can be an AAT licenced accountant.

I did AAT in my late 20's and gained an NVQ4 in Accountancy at that time when I completed Level 4 (I think it has changed a bit since then). I went to college 1 day a week from 2pm til 9pm after working in the morning, and I used to study of an evening, and also worked in a pub one night a week so used to study when the bar was quiet.

It was hard, but I did it and don't regret it. I left a job of 20 years and went self employed and 11 years later, have never looked back, although it has been a struggle at times when DD was younger.

Yes I definitely want the experience too even if the first year is just half a day per week or something. As you say reading all the books in the world won't help you develop your own thought process. I know I need to "do" it to understand it. Leaving my current job altogether wouldn't be on the cards as it would mean an enormous pay cut (I'm on over £30k). That wouldn't be considered unless I became fully AAT qualified a few years down the line and even then I know I'd have to feel it financially in order to see a bigger picture. At the minute this is just extra skills for me.

In my experience almost everyone doing this sort of evening qualification will be doing it alongside a full time job.

I did AAT and then CIMA alongside working, it can be tiring on college days but it’s totally doable.

Given you work for an accountant definitely ask if they would fund or part fund your course, the worst they can do is say no!