Calling accountants - can you help me decide which (if any) qualification do to?

[CountessDraculaPI]

I have worked for about 13 years implementing financial systems as a Business Consultant/Analyst and Project Manager, I am effectively a systems accountant but qualified by experience. I became self-employed this year and I am wondering if I might do some kind of qualification to bolster my CV a bit. Also I'm sure there are huge gaps in my knowledge as I have just picked it all up as I go.

I have worked in all sorts of businesses but I would like to target consultancies as I like this sort of work best. I work with lots of FDs, FCs and Managment accountants in this area so I guess I could ask their advice but I don't want to flag up the fact that I am not qualified (though I never pretend to be and whenever I say it people look amazed as I do talk a good game!)

The two I was looking at are the DipFM or maybe a CIMA qualification (the certificate to start). Would these be appropriate? Not really sure about all the different qualification and what is percieved as being most valuable in my sort of area.

Many thanks in advance for your help!

ooh how much do you want for your MBA, have always fancied one...

oi fark orf dildo features I was here first

x-posted but I have kinda answered I think.

Regret not doing law (first degree is maths) first time around so now doing graduate conversion LLB.

I will swap MBA (has a reasonable pedigree too) for LLB fees.......

Might even throw useless QiCA in for a laugh.

though QiCa was some kind of Wiiiiii game?

I'll swap you MBA for my LLB (you will have to finish the last year though )

About as useful but way less cool Kew....

'Tis auditing and computers in one fun filled programme. Dear god why

English LLB not bloody use to me love -but thanks might have had a deal there otherwise

Right of to gymnastics with sullen, sulky 7 year-old daughter.

Countess I reckon CIMA might well be the best for working with consultancies. I started off in Coopers & Lybrand management consultancy. The financial management practice had far more CIMAs than anything else - I think because it's meant to have more of a business focus. There were a fair few other qualifications represented but those people had mostly come over from the audit practice rather than from industry or other consultancies.

I really don't think it would make a huge difference necessarily though to the sorts of contracts you'd get. As other people have mentioned, a formal project management qualification might broaden your scope more for less effort. A colleague of mine who's a heavyweight programme manager did an MSP (Managing Suucessful Programmes) course last year and said it was great. She learned loads and it's been vg on her CV since. MSP is the governement recognised best practice thingie in programme management, but it's very well thought of in the private sector too.

When I say working with conslutancies I don't mean working for one of the big ones, I just mean my area of specialism (such as it is) is advising consultancies (eg PR, Advertising, Engineering, Construction etc). A lot of it is around throughput stuff and time/cost allocations.

ha ha conslutancies is often how it feels....whoring onesself for clients etc...

furzella, i like the sound of that course. do you remember who the awarding body was and who was the training provider?

thank you very much

my dad is a brewer. he loves it.

ok have found it with the magic of google.

Bossykate, don't knwo but will email colleague and ask her. She's in workshops at a client for the next couple of days so i might not find out straight away but will add it to this thread when I find out.

This site has the details of MSP in the meantime:
www.ogc.gov.uk/guidance_managing_successful_projects_4442.asp

doh, cross posted...

thanks very much anyway

i have done a lot of pm courses this year despite being a v. experienced pm - even revising the basics was useful!

BK I am going to invoice you for using my thread

yeah, well watch out for my bill for careers advice

Sorry for continued hijack CountessDracula - bossykate, the training providers my pal used were Parity and she says they were vg.

thank you very much