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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

So my daughter wants to be an accountant

72 replies

132orbust · 19/03/2021 16:10

I received so much help when DD1 was applying to Med School on here so I am wanted to pick some brains again.
DD2 (Yr 12) wants to become an Accountant. She wants to go to University and I wondering if anyone has DC currently pursuing this route or indeed any personal experience.
Any course/uni recommendations?
She is mathematical but wouldn't want to do a Maths degree. Studied Economics at GCSE but didn't want to continue to A level.
Currently taking Maths, Chemistry and History A Levels.
Is the Uni route a good one? It is so hard not being able to go to open days etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
132orbust · 19/03/2021 16:12

I wondering? I AM wondering...

OP posts:
MoltenLasagne · 19/03/2021 16:13

Not close to the specifics OP, but family friends kids who are doing accountancy are all doing them through apprenticeship schemes to avoid the costs of uni. Is she set on uni or would she be open to this?

trilbydoll · 19/03/2021 16:18

I'm a chartered accountant, I did AAT after A Levels and then ACA with an audit firm. One of my friends did an accounting degree with a year in industry, and she's still with the same company now 15 years later.

I don't think a degree is the most cost effective or quickest path to being qualified but if she's set on it I don't think it matters too much which subject she does, she'll be applying for graduate entry regardless.

mumsneedwine · 19/03/2021 16:19

Look at the degree apprenticeships from PWC and others. They are fantastic. Lead to a degree and chartered status in 4 years. V v competitive.

Original poster
132orbust · 19/03/2021 16:20

Thank you @MoltenLasagne
She does want to go to University currently. What are the apprenticeship schemes and do you apply through a central body for them?
#Clueless!

OP posts:
FizzyPink · 19/03/2021 16:23

I know someone who is doing the apprenticeship with PwC at the moment and thinks it’s brilliant.
Much quicker way to get qualified, lots of work experience as you go and you get paid instead of building up debt!

As someone who hires a lot of new grads I would say their biggest challenge is not having corporate experience. It’s so obvious which of them have done a year in industry or similar because they know how to communicate with a client, how to write a proper email so for me experience counts for a lot more than a degree.

Somethingkindaoooo · 19/03/2021 16:24

There are so many pathways in to Accountancy-
Accountancy
Joint degree
Other degree, and then do a graduate training programme
Apprenticeship
Gain quals on the job.

What are your DDs interests? What degree does she want to do?

MoltenLasagne · 19/03/2021 16:24

[quote mumsneedwine]www.pwc.co.uk/careers/student-careers/school-careers/our-programmes/flying-start-degrees.html[/quote]
This is the one I've heard about! Glad someone came along who knew more than me!

Original poster
132orbust · 19/03/2021 16:24

Thank- you @trilbydoll. We'll have a look at that.

Hello again @mumsneedwine - do you in fact know everything as you were one of the incredibly helpful people when DD1 was applying to Med School !!
Will take a look at the PWC et al.

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 19/03/2021 16:26

A couple of people I know worked part time for Sainsburys throughout their degree (they didn't do Accountancy) and then got onto their graduate training scheme for accountants and have really enjoyed it - they are both still working there after the scheme ended.

SeasonFinale · 19/03/2021 16:27

@Hoghhyni is the woman you need! She trains them.

Fandangoes · 19/03/2021 16:27

I would also encourage her to consider CIMA following her degree. In my opinion Management Accountancy is much more interesting than Financial Accounting and if she isn't wanting to do a maths degree she might feel the same.

SeasonFinale · 19/03/2021 16:27

@Hoghyni

Lonoxo · 19/03/2021 16:28

The uni route - graduate training contract afterwards, they will take on any degree of a certain grade so long as you pass their entry exams. I would suggest a minor subject such as law especially if she wants to specialise in tax as that requires legal knowledge or a foreign language as that will broaden her horizons if she decides to go for finance, rather than accountancy. If you can afford it, uni is about more than studying.

78percentLindt · 19/03/2021 16:28

DS did Geography at Uni as he was interested in it, and then went into a Grad scheme with a small firm. He didn't get any exemptions from the ACA exams. A small firm had pluses and minuses. However, they haven't taken on another graduate since he joined, but have taken on several people as apprentices post A level.

mumsneedwine · 19/03/2021 16:29

@132orbust 😂😂 I'm a teacher so it does help. Part of remit is careers advice for 6th form. Medicine and vet med as a mummy too 😊

Silvergreen · 19/03/2021 16:31

Don't do an accounting degree. If she wants to do accountancy, she should do something she enjoys and she can do well at in a good university. From an employers' perspective I prefer arts and STEM subjects.

mumsneedwine · 19/03/2021 16:35

Few more for you to look at

www.ey.com/en_uk/careers/students/programmes/graduates/level-seven-apprenticeships

www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/apprentice

www.grantthornton.co.uk/services/consulting/people-advisory/apprenticeship-levy/accountancy-training-programmes/

Or do any degree at Uni, have a fantastic time and then apply as a graduate. Chemistry is a popular degree for accountancy (weird I know).

Original poster
132orbust · 19/03/2021 16:35

Thank you @FizzyPink
I can see the advantage of proper on the job experience.
@Somethingkindaoooo
Numbers have always intrigued her, she would do books of quick maths tests at bedtime rather than read a book. She is amazing at puzzles and constructing things, great spatial awareness. Has a real flair for interior design as well. ( She wanted to be an interior designer but now feels that should be a sideline) She has a great gift with children too, they build bonds with her quickly and she with them. She also has a real feel for History ....

OP posts:
mumsneedwine · 19/03/2021 16:36

@132orbust PS hope DD is getting on ok. Mine did her first rectal exam this week and took blood on her own. I just feel sorry for the patients 😊

Original poster
132orbust · 19/03/2021 16:37

I remember @mumsneedwine your daughter getting into vet med last year. Smile

OP posts:
muckyhoover · 19/03/2021 16:44

I have been involved in graduate recruitment for one of the Big 4 firms. The apprentice/degree apprentice routes look really appealing to me as she would be able to avoid the cost of University. However, I can also understand if she wants the University experience and also would like to keep her options open for a bit longer. If she does take the University route I would strongly recommend that she tries to get on one of the Summer Intern schemes run by all of the big firms in the Summer of the second year. She'd need to apply early and it's very competitive to get a place but at the firm I was with many of the interns were offered jobs for when they finished their degree. The recruitment process was very much like the process for a graduate position but the big benefits are that interns get a really good chance to see whether it's actually what they want to do and also they can have a job in the bag before they go in to their final year of University. Also, because a lot of jobs go to interns there are relatively few places left for those who apply in their final year. Universities in cities where there are offices of the Big 4 tend to have good links with the firms. My office used to run events at the local Universities (not just recruitment events, also things like interview skills, problem solving etc). If she sees anything like that she should go- we used to use them as a place to spot people we thought would be a good fit. Not a way to side-step the interview process but having attended and seemed interested was definitely seen as a positive.

When I was recruiting we were not too bothered about the degree subject but we did expect candidates to show an understanding of the industry and a real interest in being part of it. Some relevant experience (even if it's just a few weeks) and reading the industry press occasionally will really help her.

This is probably several steps further on than you are right now but I know it would have helped me to know this before I started my career.

EugenesAxe · 19/03/2021 16:48

I did a degree that was unrelated (science) then did an accountancy qualification foundation stage by distance study (this was four papers squished into three because I had a degree), which led to a place on Accountancy Grad Scheme at a life assurer.

Some degrees give you exemptions to certain papers, (usually at Foundation Level, maybe some at Intermediate Level). If you can get an apprenticeship I'd say that would be the best thing, unless your DD particularly wants to go to university. I don't know if any weight is put on the type of degree you have, when it comes to awarding places on Grad Schemes? They probably just want good results from a good university.

dun1urkin · 19/03/2021 16:52

I agree, if she’s set on going to Uni rather than going the post-A level route, it’s a bit of a waste doing an accountancy degree.
The exemptions from the first professional exams will be minimal. And it’s boring Grin
(A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away) when I trained, on a graduate scheme, none of us had relevant degrees, closest was Economics. There was a real mixed bag of science, arts and humanities.