Juggling ACCA, work and being a mum

[KelMil]

My work has recently offered me the opportunity to study ACCA. I've worked in finance since leaving school and currently a bookkeeper. I have no formal qualifications other than GCSEs

I currently work 25 hours per week however I have agreed to up my hours to full time under a flexible approach - 5 hours in between school drop off/pick up/after school commitments, then the remaining 2.5 hours in the evening. I will study weekends and/or study days which work allocate me.

I just want to know, is this realistically achievable? I know ACCA will take 2/3 years as a full timer, it's the juggle of everything else I am concerned about. I have one child (8) who is autistic and doesn't cope well in childcare (hence my gap between working hours).

It would be lovely to hear from those who have managed to juggle everything (not necessarily ACCA, any kind of studying). At the moment I'm overwhelmed by the thought of it, as I've never done further education but at the same time, I've never had such an opportunity and I want to do this for me to show myself I can do it.

The easiest way to find out is to begin with the Foundation level papers of FFA, FMA & FAB and give it a go. What have they offered you fir study support?

I did ACCA when single and child free and it was tough. I had quite a few exemptions so didn't have to do many exams. I think you will struggle if you're working in the evenings and not able to study then.

Yes, this is achievable but I would order the study book and practice exams for 1 module at a time and work from those in your own time.

I hear it gets tough in some of the later modules but you could certainly get through the first handful of modules to become part-qualified which is still valuable.

It will be difficult but I can’t recommend it enough. I did the ACA around 13 years ago as a graduate. I nearly quit my job because it was such hard work and I don’t think at the time I realised what a good job and opportunity it was. I qualified then went off to have a baby, ended up being a SAHM for 8 years and last year walked back into a decently paid job. If I wasn’t a qualified accountant I just don’t think that would have been the case. I think if you’ve been offered this it’s too good an opportunity to miss. It will help your career for the rest of your working life and finance is something I think has longevity - AI can’t replace what we do and we can do this job until we retire.
If they let you do one exam at a time, even if it takes longer overall, that might be better for you.