Does anyone tutor in accountancy?

[KellyKettle]

I'm an accountant. My friend has decided to study CIMA, she can't afford to attend college so has decided to do distance learning. She asked me to tutor her and of course I've agreed to help.

However, the extent of my imparting knowledge or skills on anyone has been showing my 3yr old how to write her name.

Does anyone have any advice or links on tutoring generally or accountancy tutoring?

I don't know if how I understand accounts will help her. I don't want to make it harder for her!

I have delivered a fair bit of accountancy training both face to face and web based. I'm also CIMA qualified though back in the mists of time.

What is her base knowledge like? Being a bit of an old fart I do notice that a lot of management accountants struggle with the basics of double entry.

If your friend were starting from scratch then that is where I would start.

I am contracting at the moment and sitting with a couple of people both embarking on CIMA. One has done AAT the other hasnt but has a degree in accountancy and finance. It is the AAT person who is more comfortable with concepts like eliminating intercompany balances on consolidation. This isnt me being snobby about accountancy & finance degrees, I have one (I was sat next to Noah).

Thanks for replying gnome

I should have mentioned that my qual isn't CIMA so it's not like I can say "I did this".

Her knowledge base is pretty much zero although she's done some reading around double entry.

I suppose I can see how it goes. I'm not charging her or anything so that's a little pressure off.

Yes, I studied with people who had accountancy/finance degrees and were exempt from certificate level. They really struggled at diploma. Those who'd studied AAT first seemed to do much better.

Thanks, maples - that's reassuring!

Kelly that your qualification isnt CIMA really doesnt matter. In fact CIMA seems to have changed its exam structure hugely since the days when I did it.

First thing to do will be to locate the syllabus:

www.cimaglobal.com/en-gb/Students/Entry-level-certificate-in-business-accounting/

There are reading lists. She needs to work her way through these (local library might well be able to help). If you do something similar and then meet up and discuss each topic. What you can add is the insight of reality.

At the same time she needs intensive lessons in double-entry, reading around will not be enough.

As a thought something which might well be very useful for her is to see if she can get some practical experience doing low level finance eg as treasurer for a small club or association. Setting up the books will be a useful lesson even if it is only accounting for the bowls club teas!

If she is prepared to take a long approach to her study then she could do very well. People like BPP/Kaplan are excellent exam factories though dont necessarily build depth of knowledge. Again, not being snobby, I did BPP!

Perhaps I'll work through some double entry stuff with her then.

Thanks so much for the links. I'll get looking this evening.

Yes, we had a bit of chat about the difference between MA & FA last week with her saying MA sounded boring. I've probably had more MA based roles so I gave her some info about those - she probably still thinks its boring

Do you formally teach CIMA for a college or have you been tutoring 1-1?

I often think if I'm made redundant could I move into tutoring. It's a little daydream I have around work/life balance (work never comes home in my daydream and I get all holidays with the kids )

For a number of years I was a training manager in a company so focussed on training things like IFRS but also how to use different systems.

A little while back I did look at BPP training roles but TBH they really are exam factories and offer zero quality of life to the trainers as you are delivering training when people arent at work (ie evenings, weekends, school holidays)

Sorry to burst that one!

Hehe! Back to the lottery dream then.

Of course, I thought all accountants had a lottery win as part of their long range financial planning?