To want to become an accountant...

[floppityhatesflowers]

I'm currently working 12 hours a week in the evenings as we have a 2 year old and 9 month old. So SAHM in the daytime and work a few evenings a week.

I can't do this forever as although it's quite an interesting job, I need more than this for my brain once our dc are in school full time.

I've always been interested in accounts and dabbled with sage software in my previous role and feel that my personality and skill set would suit this role well. (Although several people have told me its dull, which probably says more about me ). I was thinking of applying for a course now, and becoming a book keeper initially, trying to get some work in this area, then moving into getting my qualifications for accounting if all is going well.

Would this be a good starting place? I feel a bit clueless in all honesty!

It isn't dull at all; it's a very good thing to be. The training is hard work but, if you're prepared for that, then I would positively encourage you to go for it.

Good luck

You could start with bookkeeping and AAT, that would get you some work, mainly from small businesses. The AAT would then count towards articles.

I’m not an accountant but often work with them and it doesn’t seem dull at all, plus the money is good!

Just to prove it's not particularly dull ...... here's my hair

And yes .... it certainly pays the bills

Have a look at the AAT website- there's normally a list of courses 😊

I would look at the risk of automation to this profession.

www.pwc.com/my/en/assets/press/1608-accountants-today-automation-impact-on-accounting-profession.pdf

Definitely do AAT. You’ll manage Level 2 at home no problem.

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace you haven’t been on tv recently have you?

I would look at the risk of automation to this profession

Accountancy covers a vast expanse of service provision. Yes, the routine transaction processing type stuff will probably diminish due to automation. However, the sort of stuff that a (qualified) accountant does often involves a high level of analytical thinking and lots of people skills.

It's one of the oldest professions in the book: it's not going anywhere.

I’ve just read Rise of the Robots so perhaps I’m a little cynical about the impending doom of automation.

@100percentplease I've never been on TV but I'd quite like to be

@Polarbearflavour You live, breathe and feel. You're unique. They can't replace you; they'll never replace you. Trust me

I did it - retrained after my youngest started school. I started off with some City and Guilds Bookkeeping courses which then allowed me to skip AAT level 2. I did AAT levels 3 and 4 but haven't gone any further as yet (and I don't think I will now). I don't find it dull at all. There are lots of exams though and it was hard getting that first job after finishing the course, but if you have some previous experience in the field (the SAGE experience you mention) you may be in a better position than I was (I'd only done voluntary Treasurer type roles apart from a temp summer job in credit control when I was at university).

Have you checked out the ACCA qualification? Or any of the others?

Before you sign up for an AAT course just make sure you know the routes available and where you'd like to end up. There are different qualifications and routes to qualification depending on the role you want to end up in.

If you're aspiring to be a chartered / chartered certified accountant one day, then you would have to do ACCA or ACA after AAT, as that gives you technician status only.

How far do you want to go? Do you want to work as a self employed book keeper? Work in an accountancy practice? Work in audit or another specialism? Work at a bigger business in their finance team? Head up the finance function in a business? Public sector finance? Or set up your own full accountancy practice?

On the automation front, I can see that being quite a big risk for book keeping type roles. Software needs less and less human intervention.

On the other hand, Making Tax Digital seems to be creating a lot of work supporting businesses to meet the new obligations, so who knows where we'll end up.

I do think having an eye on analytical and technical knowledge/skills rather than just transactional/processing skills will be important though.

On the automation front, I can see that being quite a big risk for book keeping type roles. Software needs less and less human intervention.

On the other hand, Making Tax Digital seems to be creating a lot of work supporting businesses to meet the new obligations, so who knows where we'll end up.

I do think having an eye on analytical and technical knowledge/skills rather than just transactional/processing skills will be important though.

I'm a chartered accountant and I wouldn't say it is dull at all! I really enjoy my work. I worked for one of the big international accountancy practices for years and it was definitely high stress but I have scaled back significantly now and work 2 days a week as a management accountant in a business. I agree the route of AAT first unless you already have a degree (in pretty much anything) in which case I would apply for a trainee position in an accountancy practice.

You need to graduate in accounts and then do your chartered or certified exams. I think you are a little naive regarding the time and dedication this will take.

I am Cima qualified. I have had lots of interesting roles, not just in finance. Highly recommend accountancy as a career and agree with Pps who suggested AAT as a start point

To qualify as an accountant is really hard work and not a walk in the park! I don't particularly enjoy my job but I'm good at it and the pay is fine. I would recommend it if you intend to go all the way, but if you don't then it could get quite dull doing basic accounts work.

Orangeballon you do not need a degree at all to becone either chartered or certified. If you have you just miss some of tbe earlier exams.

AAT is a good route and can lead to many roles but if you are really career minded you would perhaps need to get chartered or certified. To do that it is alot of work and exams so really needs serious thought of how that would fit in with family life and work.

DH is an accountant and he really likes it. He’s worked in different sectors in different parts of London. The study is difficult and you have to be disciplined but I have never heard him say the work is boring.

Agree with weevle: if you have a degree (in anything) then look to get a Training Contract and get straight onto ACA, CIMA, CIPFA (public sector accounting). Lots of firms from small 2 partner firms up to ‘the big 4’ firms offer them as the trainees are (relatively) cheap labour whilst you study.
If no degree then see if you can find a job that will support AAT in a similar way, practical experience is very helpful. In these arrangements the firms should give you study leave and pay course fees.

Be aware that you need three years of ‘training records’ (working as an accountant whilst studying) for ACA and maybe other qualifications to be fully qualified and chartered.

It’s very much worth it though!

DH is currently doing his ACCA, it is taxing with a small child and one on the way, but he is committed and doing very well!
He didn’t start with an AAT, he started as an accounts controller and worked upward for a couple of years within the company who then put him forward for a place on the course.
Could you look to possibly change jobs to a similar kind of thing?

I think accountancy is a fine job... although v out of date with how to qualify. I keep trying to persuade my daughters it is a good way to go. I work from home and have done for 10+ years; my work is so varied; I have attended every assembly, play sports day (sadly) and missed my first parents’ evening this year (and it was my fault). I think I am well paid.
Go for it.