Difference between a degree in accounting / finance and ACCA studies

[BlastedPimples]

I'm looking to retrain. I'd do it online for as much ac i could.

What is difference or advantages between taking an online degree in accounting and finance as opposed to studying ACCA online with one of the many course providers?

If you want to work as an accountant, you'll need a professional qualification like ACCA, ACA, CIPFA or the management accounting qualification which I've temporarily forgotten! A degree won't help at all, except it might give you some exemptions from the ACCA exams - but you'll just be taking uni exams instead so what's the point? I can't see any compelling reason for doing a degree.

You'll also need to get enough work experience to be fully qualified with ACCA, but you're more likely to be employed in an accounting role if you're working through the exams yourself.

Thank you!

Study ACCA. Don't waste time on an accountancy degree as you would need to relevant everything.

Relevant = re learn

A degree might give you exemptions from some initial papers but otherwise not relevant to professional qualification.

You can take them with an apprenticeship, from level 3 qualifications.

You don't need a degree to do any of the bigger qualifications. The first level of each of them is equivalent(ish) to AAT.

It's straight forward to put yourself through CIMA Certificate (L4) which allows you to move into the professional qualification. Far cheaper to fund it yourself rather than fund a degree. You can complete CIMA Cert with around 25 days of study, obviously spread out a little. We would expect school leavers or graduates to complete the qual over a 6 month period before moving onto L7.

You can also complete the 3 certificate level papers for ACCA within a similar timescale. The exams for both CIMA & Acca L4 equals are all On Demand, so you can study at your own pace.

ACCA is hard and not for the faint hearted. It takes a few years to complete. It's worth it of course but don't go into it unless this is what you really want to do.

And no degree needed but I did get some paper exemptions due to my degree

The real benefit of an accountancy qualification through a professional employer is the breadth of work experience you get. During my training (decades ago I will admit) I worked at investment banks, charities, housing associations, coleslaw factory, big London event venues. You have to learn on ground as much as you can from anything you are given. Online - not so sure that's the same.

I guess it depends if you want to be a purely an accountant or have different career in finance? A degree will allow you to bolt on certain modules, business law, corporate finance, economics etc giving you a breadth to work in the wider financial sector. They often offer a year in industry as an intern too which opens graduate jobs.
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Oh dear. Not only are you late to the party, but you're quoting a website which is breaking the ACCA's own regulations on naming conventions. They're not allowed to use ACCA as part of their business name.