To think it’s worth retraining in AAT and possible to get part time work once qualified

[Enoughnowplease]

Can anybody advise if I’m being completely unrealistic?

I have a degree in business studies and used to have a high powered job in the IT industry in product management.

However that was a long time ago. I have been out of the job market for 10 years since having children. During that time I have run a small online retail business from home but it is now struggling and I need a new way of earning money.

I am computer literate and used to be very good at excel though a bit rusty now.

To complicate things DS1 has sen and would really struggle with holiday clubs so I need something where I can work flexibly for myself.

Doing AAT training comes up again and again on the boards but a lot of the threads are old.

Is it realistic to think if I qualify then I can work for myself using the qualification from the start without getting a 9 to 5 job first, which I couldn’t do because of DS1?

I don’t need it to be a full time wage obviously but do need to bring in money to help us live.

If not, any other suggestions?

I don't know how many hours you'd be looking for, but our company is about to post an advert for a 30h/flexible hours AAT qualified with book keeping experience, so I have to say yes!

We've had people do the hours over anything between 3-5 days, as suits. I don't know much about how common it is, but we're definitely plugging the flexibility angle.

Thank you thecatsthecats that’s really positive.

I'm starting one in September. Currently do 18h a week in finance but hoping a qualification in it will mean I can earn a bit more. Have a background in computing which I gave up to be a sahm so in a similar situation. Good luck!

I have just AAT Qualified, I used to work in the industry before children but didn't finish studying until I'd left work.

I feel the problem now is that I am qualified on paper but not in experience although I'm clearly quite good at doing exams! :D

Thank you caffeinquick I don’t want to (and can’t) go back to the high powered corporate world, but I do want to work and earn some money and have an identity outside the home.

FlotSHAMnjetson does that mean you are struggling to find work.

I completed level 4 one year ago. I currently have a part time position which I started when I had almost finished AAT, I also previously had a different part time role which I left for my current position.

So yes, there definitely are part time roles out there for AAT qualified, but no where near as many as full time. The money also isn’t what AAT lead you to believe in their adverts!

Justasyouare thank you, that’s really positive about the work. Would you mind giving an idea of what money is realistic?

Following as I’m in the same position OP.

We currently have several AAT qualifieds who work flexibly.

We pay between 20k to 28k full time equivalent depending on experience (up north).

Potentially more if they move into management, but this is less compatible with flexible working.

What would be helpful is if you can get some experience whilst studying, helping out with bookkeeping, running payroll, things like that. It would improve your chances of getting a job post qualification.

Thank you clashcityrocker good advice. Possibly charities etc might be looking for someone to help out and provide experience?

The company I work for will pay for development so agreed to fund my AAT. As I have some experience I did level 3. To have the AAT taken seriously as a qualification you need to complete level 4 which we were told is the equivalent of the first year of a degree.
The AAT will teach you how to pass an exam and how to account however without work experience running along side it is very difficult to apply what you learn into practice in real life situations. The tutor always suggested work experience was necessary. Lots of finance roles request a formal qualification with AAT being a popular requirement but I don't believe you'll earn big bucks bucks, where I live probably £25k FT
Do not underestimate the amount of time you'll spend studying each week. It's a weighty course.

I did it OP, college 1 day a week while DD was small, finished my studies with AAT level 4 by the time she was in year 1. Put my CV on Reed and got a job covering maternity as an accounts assistant for 6 months pretty much straight away. After that got my current position PT in the same manner.

Hoping to earn some better money when I can go full time.

Yes - charities, church groups, even things like dance clubs and places like that can be very useful in gaining experience.

I would also add, we employ many of our AAT trainees through speculative letters - so even if roles aren't advertised, it's still worth a speculative letter.

Not at all, my full time equivalent would be £18,000. This is in the South East but please keep in mind that the town I work in has the lowest wages in the UK apparently, so I read recently.
It’s actually a fairly decent wage for the town. My employer is a small ish firm and I work in the accounts dept. Although that wage is low for equivalents around the country, it is a very good employer with great conditions, bonuses etc and without AAT I would have not had a hope of getting a job with them.

I think to work in London with the qualification you could earn a lot more, but the travel does not make it worth it for me.

I think AAT like the promote a myth of very high wages after qualification, which most forums will confirm are unlikely for most and are more likely for those who are chartered .

37KAT thank you, very useful information. If it can be flexible i.e. I don’t have to pay for full time holiday clubs, then I don’t need it to pay big bucks.

Next step is to look into the amount of work, length of time to study.

Duchess that sounds really positive.

Justasyouare thank you, that’s really helpful. I really appreciate it. I’m outer London but would look for something local so wouldn’t expect the big London salaries.

I have to completely agree with justasyouare AAt is a fairly low level qualification that doesn’t yield additional salary particularly. A slight step up from a fincnace assistant for which you don’t need any qualifications.

Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it but I usually advice people to do the minimum until you’ve earned your exemptions from acca or cima basic levels and then apply to your employer to sponsor you through that. AAT gives you a great grounding in basic accountancy

I am an AAT level 3.

I work part time 20 hours a week but often less as needed. I essentially work whenever I turn up.

I earn £15 an hour. But I have more experience than I do qualifications. I started in a purchase ledger department 11 years ago and slowly worked my way up until now I'm a sole bookkeeper doing payroll and VAT.

I find it is quite a family friendly job, most small conpa he's looking for bookkeeper don't need someone full time.

Also good options for working from home

Correction, my full time equivalent is now £21k sorry!

As glint says, it does give you exemptions on other qualifications, such as ACCA and also some industry specific ones.

Personally I’d go for the CIMA Certificate level qualification. It’s more practical, quicker, relevant and aimed at industry rather than practice.

Working as a bookkeeper at home is not for someone who hasn’t had experience.

Practical skills like bank reconciliations, lost record accounting, balance sheet reconciliations are hard to learn from books. I’d sooner have an experienced bookkeeper than one with AAT and no prior experience.

FWIW my finance assistant has AAT, but has about 20 years experience which makes her utterly invaluable. Her FTE is £27k in London.

I agree. It's really poorly paid, not as the adverts 'promise'!

Thank you for all the information. I think the key areas I need to investigate are cost of qualifying and how to get experience. I have absolutely seen that the wages are not necessarily high, but my main requirement is that it can be part time/flexible. At least for the moment.