Can you become an accountant in any company???

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Understand I’m going to sound quite thick asking this. Sorry!

I have completed an AAT qualification, and also a degree in Business Management on an accounting pathway. I can’t consider a graduate scheme due to family circumstances, it just wouldn’t work right now. I have found a job advertised for a finance officer paying circa £28,000 in the education sector, which would be perfect for my current circumstances, but I want to be able to progress and possibly complete accounting qualifications. Is this something most finance departments offer, or do you need to go via graduate schemes in a more corporate environment?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Accountant here - you don't need to be corporate/grad scheme, you just need a supportive employer. AAT is a great start.

Thank you. I really appreciate your reply. I am very hard working. I have done these two qualifications whilst working, and whilst my children were small and got distinction in AAT and a first in my degree. I just need an employer to take a chance on me. 🤞🏼

If you want to become a chartered accountant, then you need to find an authorised training employer otherwise I don’t think you would be able to evidence the work-based learning requirements even if you’ve passed the exams. Worth checking with them.

Thank you @Moneypennywise - I didn’t realise this.

I did qualify many year ago but this wasn’t the case then- it was easier to get your work experience signed off with a registered employer but if not you just have to write and evidence more in your submission.

ive never worked for a registered provider- most companies aren’t.

OP I would say if you want to be an accountant get into ACCA/CIMA at the soonest opportunity- AAT is great but doesn’t qualify you and any exemptions can be gained from your degree

many companies offer training but be aware of being pigeon holed- which can very much happen in education which is a old fashioned slow moving sector. If it’s the only option take it with a view of getting out asap ideally.

There is more than one Accounting Professional body and they have different exams and qualification requirements. To take a job like you have found I think you would be looking at CIMA.
https://myfuture.cimaglobal.com/starting-a-career-in-management-accounting/

They have several qualification paths. If you have a business degree read the section on starting as a graduate. You may find you are exempt from several exams as you already studied that content as part of your degree.

You could absolutely study for the remaining exams while in that job but it might be more of a bookkeeping job than a full on management accountant. Whether they would be supportive of your studying and give you study leave or help with exam costs is the employer’s choice. Bigger companies recruit trainee accountants who are generally given paid study leave and financial help. And with a bigger employer there is often the opportunity to take on more senior roles in the future without needing to change employers as they have multiple accounting roles. If you are going to qualify as an accountant possible career progression is worth thinking about now.

Good Luck - you already sound committed and have qualifications under your belt so I think would look attractive to employers!

Here’s an example of a trainee part qual role (I think you are already part qualified as you will have exemptions from your degree.). Prob not right part of country for you but good to read. Benefits are:

• Salary (up to £35k)
• 25 days holiday, plus Bank Holidays
• Hybrid working
• Study support
• Opportunities for career development / progression
• Contributory pension
• Free parking

https://mycareer.aicpa-cima.com/job/14132347/part-qualified-accountant/

You will need a qualified accountant to sign off on your experience so if it's a small place where you are the finance team you would struggle. So make sure that your manager/head of depth or whatever is qualified and willing to support you. But for CIMA and ACCA I think you can get all the formal exam learning done outside of the employer.

I wouldn’t say she is. People abuse the term part qualified (along with the pointless qualified by experience!) but you usually receive a certificate at a certain point in your chartered qualification that defies this. I still have my PQ certificate!

a tiny employer were she is the only finance person would be unlikely to sponser a qualification.

please don’t self study OP- it’s very hard, very expensive and often unsuccessful

Yes, back in my day (I’m 50ish 😂) part qualified meant you’d passed the certificate level and were studying for the prfessional level. Once you’d passed the professional exams and were studying for the advanced level you became a finalist. Then a passed finalist, and finally fully qualified.

But with an AAT qualification and a degree the actual number of papers to achieve certificate level (or the equivalent in CIMA / ACCA) might not be that many. So to the OP, go for it :)

It might’ve changed but I was only exempt from the very bottom layer- 3 exams- with degree and AAT. Probably only a couple of months work?

Yes I’m sure you’re right, though I guess the degree itself might make a difference? But from memory there were only 6 papers at certificate level anyway, so being half way there is a good start and makes it seem less daunting. Certainly gets harder though!

Yes my exemptions were for my degree- I’m not sure AAT gave me any (to be honest I’m not a fan of AAT, don’t see the point really)

Education is sometimes great at paying for training ... ask the question at interview

Should I just say that my long term goal is to become a fully qualified accountant and am interested to hear if there are training opportunities available that would enable this?

PQ used to be used to mean you had done certificate and professional level and were studying for strategic where I was. And then a finalise had passed strategic and only had their final case study to go.

Becoming a qualified accountant through self study and without a formal training plan is really difficult and not advisable at all. The exam part is easy, getting the relevant experience and getting that experience signed off by an approved person can really delay the process. You need to show progression and be able to demonstrate your growth and achievements throughout the period. There’s a risk you could turn a 3 year training plan into a 10 year process, after which the regulatory body might still say you don’t have enough experience. And if you drag it out too long you won’t be aa employable for higher value roles as there will always be people who did it faster with first time passes.
My advice would be to find a larger employer who can offer the opportunity for growth that you need. Also, choose your body wisely, ACA and CIMA are the best paid, most employable but hardest exams.
For context I’m a chartered accountant (now cfo) who registered as an authorised training provider to allow trainee contracts in the various companies I’ve worked at. I really recommend accountancy as a career, but it is a slog at the start.

Thank you so much for this. So the job is in an academies trust. No idea if that changes anything. I really don’t have a good grasp on these qualifications and what it all means. By self-study, does that mean studying whilst working for a company that aren’t an authorised training provider then?

If you hit a wall or fall out of love with accounting don’t ignore financial planning, it’s a great career. Look at thepfs.org for details.

OP just to make you aware charted qualifications are very very expensive. To do it in the best way- in person courses, high quality teaching materials, professional provider- could easily cost £20k. Mine cost £12k nearly 20 years ago.

thats why it’s best to be sponsored by a company. Whether or not they’re a training provider isn’t hugely relevant to this part you just need them to sponsor you ie pay.

thats why self study has such poor outcomes. It’s really really hard. Self study is much much cheaper but you’ll have to teach yourself using materials. This has a really high failure rate and as the poster above said it’s really common for people to stagnate and just never finish it.

getting sponsorship can be really hard. If it’s not a training contract, which you won’t be likely to get, It’s not usually offered upfront- they’ll want you to work there for a year or 2 to demonstrate that you’re committed and up to it.

I agree it’s a slog but a brilliant career.

It depends whether you are happy to do ACCA CIMA vs ICAEW (more prestigious and needs accredited employer). Ask the potential employer if they support working towards an accounting qualification .

You can do your exams yourself. CIMA is very self studying friendly

Just reading the above and see a few people disagree with my views on self studying...
So with cima if you were to self studying you could buy the textbooks and pay for the exams and just teach yourself using the books (cheapest way).
Or you could pay for a course, these range from watching videos and having access to a tutor for emailed questions to live in person classes. These obviously range in price.
Just be honest with yourself, are you good at studying independently and do you have the time.and motivation to do this outside of work.
If not then go for a job that offers study support. And make sure you clarify what this support entails. Some companies will give you a day off for your exams, some will pay for basics like your actual exams and a very cheap online course. Some will give you a day a week to go to an in person class.
It massively varies
But you could always buy a second hand text book (make sure it's the current syllabus) and see how difficult you find it
You do need 3 years of relevant experience with cima and someone in your company to sign off that you have gained that experience. But you don't need to be gain that experience immediately. So you could get an entry level job in finance and start studying, in 2-3 years move to a relevant role where you can now start getting. Your experience signed ocf