Accountancy?

[Horsemad]

DS2 is considering Accountancy as a career.
He's currently studying Maths, F Maths, History and Geography at A level.

Any tips please? Is it better to go to Uni and get a degree or get a job and go through the training with the company?

(Will also post in Chat for traffic).

Yes, carol, accountants like to console themselves with that line to compensate for the fact they are not hard enough to pass the actuarial exams.

Lol! Lot of truth in both of those comments!

I almost went down the actuarial route but the exams did look too hard

Which is saying something as accountancy ones aren't exactly a walk in the park either.

I think the thing about the actuarial exams is that the early ones are very technical / mathematical so are going to be a struggle unless you are that way inclined. Then the later ones require communication skills and writing in sentences about real-world situations, which are sometimes a challenge for the types who are good at the early exams!

In terms of opportunities a training contract at a big 4 firm would be fantastic. Absolutely no need to do an accountancy degree first. Wider experience/knowledge is very useful in your career later.

I have been stalking following Dadx3 and his actuary brainwashing career help for a while now and am studying bookkeeping/accountancy through the OU on top of some extra maths qualifications with them too. I don't think I will make it to the hallowed fields of actuary BUT I have managed to brainwash DS2 who is a maths genius and now it is his career goal after a maths degree . So that's one for either field in this household!

I have to say that the OU courses seem excellent and go into MSc territory and beyond.