to as you for some career advice?

[Merryoldgoat]

I just wondered if I could have some top level nudges.

I’m an accountant, currently working as a FM and I like it a lot, particularly the analytical side of my role.

However, I’m anticipating disruption in the next few years as both my boys have ASD, the younger will need a specialist setting.

I’d really like to add a few strings to my bow to maybe allow me to work on a more freelance basis.

I’m looking into developing my reporting skills (already reasonable) but someone suggested software development as it’s ‘mathsy’ (?) which is an area I’m strong, but I’ve never coded a fucking thing in my life.

Where could I get an idea of whether I could learn to do this? Or am I too old to be thinking of learning a whole new skill at 43?

Any advice appreciated.

I work as as performance analyst, and this kind of thing gets thrown around at review time and is actually quite a tough angle to take I think.

What kind of financial reporting? Are you doing board level or is it management level? Could you look at automation? Or using tools like PowerBI? Is there a particular strategy like encouraging self service?

Or then there could be statistical analysis with forecasting modelling which can be quite interesting?

I've worked in data teams hoping to pick up some software skills, but I'm more interested in the accuracy and use of the output rather than getting the raw data to work.

Apologies if your looking for a more high level/senior answers.

No - thank you for replying!

I provide board level reporting but it’s a very small organisation so we aren’t terribly data driven.

I’ve recently asked if I can start playing with Power BI but I’ve never used it. However DH is a data analyst so can give me pointers there.

I do a lot of financial modelling which is not really thought of as a distinct skill but it probably is.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Take a look at Free Code Camp, it's an online not-for-profit with loads of resources for learning to code and articles about how to get jobs in software, including for career changers.

Are you chartered? ACCA have a Power BI course free to their members, or at least they did back in Jan.

@emptyplinth thank you - I’ll take a look

@milkytwilight - I’m a PQ CIMA but I could probably get a course paid for by my employer.

Don’t be put off by the ‘girls’ part of this - but this organisation offers free / funded / sponsored coding training designed for career changers, people returning to work after a break etc - a friend has just started the Nano degree and has a guaranteed job at the end - training costs all paid for. codefirstgirls.org.uk/. Routes in data science and software development. She had a science background and was familiar with spreadsheets before she started but no coding experience - she took a couple of introductory courses ‘introduction to coding’ etc and just loved it!

If you are in Scotland, look at Equate, Code Clan and Data Lab

It’s an exciting area, and there is clearly a skills shortage so you may find the skills are In demand and you can find the balance that you need.

@Bouncebacker thank you - I’ll check it out - that sounds really interesting.

PowerBI is relatively easy to pick up, as long as all your data is all set up on the server, it's just a case of setting up essentially a screen view with data panels - but if you are working in a smaller organisation that's not data driven, it can be a real struggle getting it better than you get it on a well designed spreadsheet.

Financial modelling can be a really flexible skill, especially if you can handle statistics, and alot of the coding is pre built in.

I can see powerbi appealing to alot of businesses, so I'd absolutely have a play, as the sliders and illusion of "live data" goes down well with boards.

You're not too late as such to learn to code, but it's not just one language. To be an efficient software developer, you'd need to know at least 4 very well probably. And if one of them is java which it might be, good luck to you, that language drove me insane.

You might find you have a knack for it though. You have to love coding to be good at it. Otherwise it drives you mad.

@Timeforabiscuit thank you for your replies - I really appreciate it. I will look at Power BI as I was hoping I could combine our financial data with our MIS and potentially get some useful analytics out.

@SmokeyDevil goodness - I was never good at languages, maybe I should stop now... 🤣

Give it a go, some people are just good at this stuff. It's not like learning French, it does make more sense in some ways, but in others it's infuriating.

You can spend hours on a piece of code, then you add in another section and the whole thing breaks. And the cause? Usually a bloody bracket or semi colon in the wrong place. But you've got to find the flaw in hundreds, if not thousands of lines of code, because it might not be in the section you just added.

It is fun though, when it's going well.

Second what @SmokeyDevil says, I thought I could learn a bit of SQL and get by, but oh no! You need Python really as well as a minimum - which is fantastic if you have the talent and interest. I only wanted it to grab some data from a different angle, so not really enough for me personally to justify the investment.

Interestingly SQL is a good place to start as my DH uses it and there are applications for where I currently work that would be well received.

Thank you everyone - much appreciated.

Have you thought about becoming an accountant in the civil service? It's not freelance obviously but they are known for being very flexible and supportive.

@YourSexNotGenderIsOnFire

I have, but I was concerned about public sector. I worked for the local council briefly and it was horrific. I left wondering if public sector wasn’t for me really…