Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

To think I’m an idiot

25 replies

Stressedalways4 · 04/06/2018 17:10

I am doing an accountancy contract in which you have to pass exams to stay. The hours are long and I’m finding it quite gruelling, and lacking motivation as I know I don’t want to stay on after. I am not really an exam person and find the stress debilitating/overwhelming. They have offered me support but I want to leave really. Have been there almost two years. I feel like crap

OP posts:

MereDintofPandiculation · 04/06/2018 17:13

How much longer until you complete the exams? If you've done two years, it's a pity not to convert it into a portable qualification.

DuchyDuke · 04/06/2018 17:14

If you can find the motivation to pass the exam, you can use the knowledge you’ve gained in another related field: for example tax / risk governance at a bank etc.

Original poster

Stressedalways4 · 04/06/2018 17:14

Ive done two out of three years. 9/15 exams done

OP posts:

DuchyDuke · 04/06/2018 17:15

Most banks’ corporate governance teams are full of qualified tax specialists from the big 4 who moved into something else post graduation. Their qualifications have opened doors for them they wouldn’t have otherwise gotten through.

Original poster

Stressedalways4 · 04/06/2018 17:17

Id like to move into management consulting but ideally not as a graduate - not sure how feasible this is though. I work in m&a

OP posts:

DuchyDuke · 04/06/2018 20:20

You need the accountancy qualification then. It’s how you will differentiate your application from the others.

Aaarrrggghh · 04/06/2018 20:37

This is me. Master of self sabotage. I've got my last professional exam tomorrow, and I'm on MN?! Wtaf.....

This is my second attempt, and my progress has been woeful but I'm still here. I'm like you though, constantly questioning and my mental health has definitely taken a hit. I've decided if I don't pass this tomorrow then I'll do one more attempt in December and call it a day. Gutting as that is.

Original poster

Stressedalways4 · 04/06/2018 20:53

BPT? Thinking of you! I’ve got one on Wednesday and still a hell of a lot to get through... it’s also the second attempt! Do you have any advice? I feel very demoralised and low right now and could cry looking at the PPs. Have done work but clearly not enough

OP posts:

Original poster

Stressedalways4 · 04/06/2018 20:55

DuchyDuke - thanks, you are probably right. I have a good degree, 2 years of big 4 experience and around 2-3 months of work experience in management consulting gained whilst I was at university. Guessing that is not enough? I hate this bastard qualification

OP posts:

DontGoIntoTheLongGrass · 04/06/2018 21:02

I know how you feel! I have one more level of AAT before I've finished. I'm not even carrying on with accountancy afterwards, I recently decided it's not for me so one more year of this before I pack it in. If you're wanting a total career change then you could quit but I see you want to go into management consulting. Keep going as it'll give you a good qualification at least and it's only 6 more exams.

Goodluck all of you with exams, my next one is July (cue eye of the tiger montage).

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 04/06/2018 21:05

Everyone feels like this at this sort of point. (I’m an actuary.)

Just keep on going.

You’ll get there.

HansSoloTraveller1 · 04/06/2018 21:09

The 2nd year hitch! I wanted to drop out in my second year keep it up you can do it. Obviously you can as you have made it this far already.

aaarrrggghh good luck tomorrow!

wowfudge · 04/06/2018 21:12

Accept the support - it's there to help you. Working and studying is really, really tough. I went through a period of wanting to throw the towel in. I have a third attempt at a subject later this week. I am at the stage where I just want it to be over.

Aaarrrggghh · 04/06/2018 21:25

HansSoloTraveller1 Thanks

@Stressedalways4 - not BPT, no. It's CIPFA. I've been at this too long, far too long. My work haven't offered any support despite it being a programme. I'd take the support offered. Although, that said, I wish I'd just accepted it wasn't for me sooner. Now I'm at that stage of nearly there so it seems such a shame to throw all that hard work and turmoil away. Plus, the potential career benefits but I have wished, a million times, that I never got the job even though I thought it was what I really wanted at the time!

DuchyDuke · 04/06/2018 21:27

For M&A you must be joking. M&A generally hire like to hire analysts (with first class degrees and M&A internships coming out of their bums) and train them up; that often means Oxbridge Mscs / MBAs). For you to go in as an associate (which I think is what you want?) you need a speciality that is difficult to replicate. Accountancy is perfect for this.

Original poster

Stressedalways4 · 04/06/2018 21:37

Ah sorry duchyduke think you misunderstood - I’m in m&a at a big 4.

OP posts:

blahdeblahblag · 04/06/2018 22:01

Solidarity fellow trainee accountants! I have an exam on Friday. Then one more in September. I can see the light now but I've been so unmotivated because of it!

Honestly I had no bloody idea how hard these exams were and I don't think I would have started if I'd known. I had friends who did aat and I assumed it would be similar workload. Had visions of just spending one afternoon a week at it.

WatchoutDSisdriving · 04/06/2018 22:49

I would really advise you to stay. I assume you are doing ICAEW?

I understand completely that the exams and the training contract are gruelling. I always referred to it as far harder than A levels and my degree.

But, I qualified 20 years ago and career wise having those letters has been a major major plus.

Whether you are in m&a on the tax or audit side, nobody cares once you have that qualification. To them you are a chartered accountant and that opens doors.

If you can possibly do it I would really urge you to stick it out for the final year. I trained in the big 4 in London and about half of people left on qualification. I stayed a few years afterwards though.

Good luck!

WatchoutDSisdriving · 04/06/2018 22:53

Cross posted with several people. No offence but AAT is a very different level to ACA/ICAEW.

Didn’t see you were big 4 OP. That will give you even more kudos going forward. Please try and stick it out, take every bit of help you are offered and go for it.

Again, people still ask me now who I trained with 20 years later and saying a big 4 in London makes them look up with a new respect. Definitely worth sticking out if you can.

Good luck again!

wizzler · 04/06/2018 23:39

I am an accountant and echo those saying to stick at it. I have moved into a different field but having the letters after my name gave me the opportunity to do so.

Good luck to those of you with exams this week. Suggest you put your phones down, stop wasting time on MN and depending on where you are in the world, do some studying or get some sleep!

FrangipaniBlue · 05/06/2018 00:39

OP I was once where you are, same exams but different field of technical expertise.

I really REALLY struggled with the ACA exams and hardly passed any first time.

I worked for a top 10 rather than big 4 though.

My advice is stick it out - I now own my own management consulting company (and may have even taken a few of my ex employers clients)

blahdeblahblag · 05/06/2018 05:57

@WatchoutDSisdriving was that aimed at me? I'm not doing aat I'm doing acca I meant my perception before I started was wrong...

WatchoutDSisdriving · 05/06/2018 07:18

@blahdeblahbag
Not sure why you thought it would be aimed at you as you clearly said what you were doing was different to AAT. AAT has been mentioned a few times on the thread.

In any case, I didn’t say there is anything wrong with AAT, it is indeed a decent qualification. Just quite a different level to ACA/ICAEW.

Good luck to all those taking exams.

blahdeblahblag · 05/06/2018 15:13

Sorry I think my brain has just melted with all this stuff I'm trying to cram in.

WatchoutDSisdriving · 05/06/2018 20:23

No worries, I am very glad I am not back there. Good luck!

Flip