Accounting and finance personal statement

[halohell]

Can anyone with experience of accounting and finance uni applications suggest some things my dc (between Y12 and Y13) could be doing (a) to learn more about accounting as a career and (b) for the UCAS personal statement. School haven't been very helpful. Obviously it's too late to get work experience over the summer, but I'm wondering about books, videos, online courses or anything else? Thanks.

I'm a financial reporting manager and have been in accounting since past 10+years. When I started I did voluntary work in a small practice then went on to do a 3 month practical bookkeeping course. The training place offered me a placement for 8 months and then after that I worked full time roles. Happy to talk more if that interests you and how I made the progress in my career.

For PS type stuff there’s CISI fundamentals of finance that’s a self taught course with an online exam. ICAEW also run the ‘BASE’ competition which is all about finance and accounting. Spring pod has some useful stuff. Also reading The Economist, and key economic texts is useful. All the Big4 accountancy firms offer work experience but it’s very competitive.

He could also look at the 4yr degrees offered in partnership with PwC. They’re at Nottingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Reading and Queen Mary’s in London. It’s a university experience but it includes lots of in-semester work experience (so they still get the long holidays). They’ve then covered the majority of exams plus a lot of the hours. Best of both worlds.

Re Apprenticeships - Some here have said it’s like uni. It’s not. DDs cohort started with around 35 spread all over the U.K. with only one or two apprentices per office. They go to Manchester for some of their tuition but it’s sometimes online. They don’t often see each other. When they do they’ve usually got homework so aren’t exactly hitting the Manchester clubs! There’s not a lot of opportunity to party as when they’re not working they’re studying. The exams aren’t a walk in the park. Whilst there’s a fair few lovely graduates at my DDs office they’re all at least 3 years older and are also concentrating on exams. It’s sociable and friendly but not like uni. If your son wants the uni experience he won’t get it with an Big4 apprenticeship. The degrees PwC offer may be much more his scene.

You don't need a first degree in accounting. My son's friend did a completely different subject at university and got his graduate job (at one of the top firms) immediately after and then works whilst doing the ICAEW exams which I think are held over the next 3 years.