Retraining-Pharma to Accounting/Finance?

[mishmased]

I'm 36 with about 13 years in Pharma industry. Background is Chemistry, follow on degree in Quality/Reg. Currently work in a doc control role for a large company which I absolutely do not enjoy. Role pays very well with base salary excluding bonuses around mid 60k (euro). Good perks like holidays, health insurance, life assurance/income protection, shares/stock purchase options etc.
I'm reluctant to leave for the above reasons and hoping that I could move out of this role as I got moved here during covid.
Considering CPD courses in my industry but I would love to maybe train part time in accounting or finance as I feel like I would enjoy it better.
I love chemistry but mainly academia which is never going to happen as that ship has sailed.
Basically looking for advice from people that have retrained at an older age.
We have 3 kids, eldest will start secondary in two years and youngest will start primary same time. I need to decide now as I feel I'm getting too old already. Also will like to hear from accountants, qualified persons (QP) or anyone that has experience of doing this. Should I stay out and focus on CPD or should I retrain? Thanks in advance.

You are definitely not too old for a career change and imo there are loads of opportunities here (Ireland). Lots of sectors are hiring, jobs come with more flexibility now, no need to stay in a job you don't like. Maybe talk to a good recruitment consultant, one with Pharma industry experience and see what opportunities are out there for a sideways move.

I am chartered accountant, started my training thirty years ago and although I have taken a a step back towards semi retirement, I would easily earn +£120k in London. I have been earning over six figures since about 2004 when I was 34. So I would agree with previous poster that it is easy for accountants to earn six figures and very many that I have worked with will do.

But I don’t think OP is going to get onto that type of trajectory unless she can get into an accountancy training scheme with a good company, which would of course mean taking a step down in salary initially. This might be hard because they usually take new graduates on, although if there is a recruitment crisis (which I find hard to believe) then maybe she will.

Studying part time without getting the work experience alongside would be a waste of time in my opinion and would more likely lead to OP securing finance work not much above accounts payable / book keeping level and in that case, the salary is unlikely to be much above £30k.

This would have been such a good thread to have on the actual Mature Study and Retraining board …