Need some help with planning my future ....................

[japp]

I am a qualified chartered accountant however have never really enjoyed my job. I trained with a big firm and the hours were crazy and I found the whole experience very stressful. I then moved into a smaller company where things were much better on the whole but when working to very strict deadlines some of my old stress related problems came back to haunt me (e.g. being sick when I woke up, being unable to eat etc.)

Then in 2007 we found out we would need IVF treatment to have children. We decided to go for IVF and also decided I would leave work to maximise the chances of sucess. We had four attempts which were all really difficult. Thankfully the 4th attempt worked and now we have our little daughter, who was born in June 2010.

So now I have to decide whether to return to some sort of accounting job or try something new (maybe primary teaching ?). I have been working as a tutor on a part time basis since leaving my accounting job. I really do enjoy this which is why I am kinda considering teaching at primary level, although I know tutoring would be very different to teaching a class of children.

I am really struggling with where to go next with my life, we would also like another child and will probably require more ivf. I also have the dilema of leaving my daughter (currently 10mth) if I go to work after doing so much to concieve her, I almost want to stay at home with her, but then worry about the long gap on my CV. Sorry for such a long rant but I am going mad thinking about this all day and need some advice,

does anyone work part time in accountancy with not excessive pressure ?
can anyone advise me on primary teaching - what are the hours like, is it very stressful etc ?
If I were to go into teaching I would need to do a GTP or PGCE has anyone done these ? Can I fit it in around looking after a Lo ?
Is there much part time primary work avaliable ?

Thanks in advance x

Hi Japp, I'm hesitating whether to respond because I cannot answer all your questions... but I'm really familiar with the dilemma and just wanted to say: your baby daughter is very young, you fought long and hard to have her, you want another and are prepared for the hard work... give yourself a much deserved break, concentrate on doing one of the most important jobs in the world (being a good mum) and let your CV sit there a bit longer. What difference will one or two years make, especially if you are planning to have another child anyway which means maternity leave etc? It sounds like you were not mad keen on your accountancy job in the first place, so don't rush into another one! there are many jobs you can do around kids (network marketing jobs for instance like phoenix cards, pampered chef, nutrimetics) or carry on with your tutoring and take on a few more students if you need the money. But above all, value the job you are doing in spending time teaching and raising your little one. best wishes x

I think in any professional job you need to be very disciplined with your time to get the most out of working part-time as it is so easy to end up taking work home with you or putting in some extra time when your dp is looking after your child.

You won't easily walk into a part-time professional role either as they are highly prized and usually held by women who have gone back to work after maternity leave and negotiated part-time working, job-sharing etc.

My best friend would love to work part-time in a chartered accountancy business but having taken a career break after maternity leave she has spent over 3 years trying to get such a post. She currently works as a part-time bookkeeper/credit controller for a local company and says that she currently earns 1/3 of what she used to , partly because of the part-time hours instead of full but mostly because of the pay differential between what she used to do and the level she has to work at to get part-time hours (25 hours a week, but with flexing over the year to be an average of 25 hours per week).

Speaking from personal knowledge, most of the working from home stuff, (jamie at home, pampered chef, phoenix cards, usborne books etc etc) will earn you less than £3-£4 per hour when you work out the amount of time you actually put into generating the income.

I'd stick with the tutoring as, without wanting to be to too depressing, the on-ramps back into well-paid work will be steep and even then you'll need to negotiate part-time working if that's what you want and you may find that it isn't available at a well paid level.

Have you thought about working for one of the accountancy training firms - eg BPP? I know people who work for them who enjoy it and I think they do offer part time.
Otherwise I do know people who work in the accountancy firms in non client facing roles- eg internal technical which is less stressful.

hi

Thank you all for your points of view, i really appreciate all your posts. I think I need to think this one over some more.................

Are there any other accountants out there that are working part time ?
Has anyone trained as a primary teacher - what is it like doing the PGCE/GTP ?

Hi - primary teaching -this is just my observation from teacher friends - the primary PGCE is competative to get on - although older people seem to do well - its a full on year - couple of friend have done it with just school age children and probably wouldn't wanted to do it earlier- part time jobs are possible - but it can take a while to find any kind of permenant job - depends on area of course - my friends who do it really like having the holidays with the kids but its a busy and demanding job -espeically the first couple of years when you are finding your feet
Is there scope to freelance in accountancy - or some smaller orgs or public sector can offer part finance officer roles sometimes
to be honest if you want another child and you can afford to be at home - or which it sounds like you can I wouldn't worry undually
You could look at voluntary work - charities are often looking for people with finance skills to be trustees for example

Hi my SIL is a NQ primary teacher and currently works v long hours to keep on top of it all although she is finding it better now she has switched to teaching at a private school. I think she would have found it very difficult to get part time work as an NQ unless she supplied instead of permanent role. My friend is a part time accountant who works 21 hours a week at the local private prep school in their finance dept. She says it's pretty mundane and paid much less compared with what she used to do but the hours are fantastic (8.30-3pm). I have similar dilemmas only I am a lawyer who keeps thinking about retraining as a social worker! I am still a SAHM. . . .

Hi, I think onlylivinggirl has a good point re. BPP etc - maybe a really good option particularly as you like teaching. Also keep your eyes on local schools (especially private ones), you may just get lucky and find a part-time role which utilises your skills and it could work really well long-term with term time working etc. It's such a difficult one - I'm a solicitor currently on mat leave. At my return to work meeting, I pretty much got told part-time was a NO so I handed my notice in. The hours I would have to work & the pressure I would be under would result in me never seeing my dd. I've got an interview for in-house which I'm sort of excited about but to he honest, I just don't think the profession is right for me anymore. Sorry to go on about myself, I just want you to know that I too spend so much time thinking about my life, my career & what to do! In fact, sometimes I worry that I'm not enjoying mat leave as much as I should be because of all my career worries!! Are there any in-house options or non fee-earning roles in your profession? It's great that you're doing tutoring - that might lead to new work in itself. Good luck!!

Just realised weaselbudge also mentions private school idea too. I think it's a really good option from an hours point of view - something I'm considering myself. I'm pretty sure any such jobs will be so over subscribed though!

hello, not quite an answer to your questions, but a suggestion: I am training to be a personal development coach right now, and part of my diploma requires me to undertake 52 coaching sessions to qualify. I've literally only just started so I don't want to offer myself right away (if you can wait a few months tho, I'm happy to offer my own services lol) - but I know for a fact all the trainee coaches need to complete these sessions to qualify and they do it for free. Have you considered trying it out? Coaching isn't advice, it's a structured course (usually 4-6 sessions either weekly or fortnightly, for 30 mins, evenings and weekends) where you talk to your coach on the phone/by skype/in person about your goals. A typical course would take you through something like the GROW model...goal setting (what do you REALLY want to do), a realistic look at where you are, overcoming obstacles, and finally - finding the way forward for you.

Sometimes the answers are already right there in front of you, but you don't know how to find them on your own. If you'd like me to put you in touch with someone who can coach you through your back to work decision, totally for free, I'm happy to. I hope this doesn't violate the selling/advertising thing on MN - I'm not selling you anything and I'm not promoting anyone in particular, and I'm not attached to any company. It's just something I thought might help you out :) Good luck and PM me if you want more info.

I'm an accountant, chartered but worked in industry for years. I stopped working three years ago having returned from my second maternity leave. I'm not working now but don't think I will never work again. I have thought about several options including temporary contracts, consulting, training but those seemed to need time and effort to set up that I was unwilling / unable to dedicate.

Life gets more complex as your children get older and the more I am at home, the less I want to go back to work right now (my youngest child is 2). I can't imagine never working again so I do talk to other Mopout (Mum drop outs!!) accountants who have gone back to work part time and / or taken a long break to make me feel that it will be possible when I am ready. Some find the change in level / status etc difficult to get used to, others are happy to find a workable compromise.

A) Went four days in a big four, non audit role but found she was working full time hours anyway and was frustrated by lack of career progression so went back full time.
B) Works three days for a charity, flexes her hours so has more time off in the school holidays. Likes her job and her work life balance.
C) Works for a small accountancy firm (one partner and her!), fits work in around her manic life and is happy.
D) Started back with a book keeping job passed on to her by another part time accountant who had more work than she needed. Now has several clients, different roles. She is glad to be working but I think ideally would like a much better job that still fitted around her children. (the illusive, challenging job that allows you to feel part of the decision making process, important and indispensible but is only four days a week from 9:30 till 2:30 and the other staff are very nice!)
E) Wanted to get a new kitchen so went to a temping agency, got a string of jobs doing all sorts and one took her on permamently on great hours and every penny is a penny more for her kitchen and she does not compromise on her time with the children who are at school!!

I used to think that I wouldn't go back to work unless it was well paid, used my skills and qualifications etc but I'm flexible now. (Though have to admit I am still hoping to come up with a Business idea that involves no work and loads of profit - project number 4 is being hatched in my mind as we speak - needless to say, numbers 1 to 3 didn't make the cut!!)

It's not a straight forward decision and how you feel about it changes so much over time and with your circumstances. Good luck with your decision and remember that it doesn't have to be a decision that you are stuck with forever, your options will change based on the decisions you make now but it won't rule out further changes in the future.

I can't go into too much detail but I do some life and career coaching and currently have a client who was in a similar profession and decided to be a primary school teacher. It's been a dreadful move for her as she really missed the autonomy her profession gave her. With various dictats on how and what to teach and going back to being very junior she felt very hemmed in. We've done some work around her personality profiles and she's now looking to switch careers again. I guess my point is that it's worth considering what attracted you to your current career and to check that teaching is what you think it is.

I was going to suggest BPP but if you like tutoring have you investigated teaching AAT or book-keeping at a local college?

I have a bit of a bizarre career path in that i went some of the way down the chartered accountancy road, then switched to primary teaching.

I have been teaching a while now (currently on a career break) and made it to senior leadership level.

To be honest, knowing something of both jobs, I don't think that primary teaching will be for you. If you don't like the pressure and deadlines in accountancy then you will definitely not like the deadlines in primary teaching. Your profesional responsibilities mean are literally 'on a clock' for every minute of the working day. Every lesson, every bit of material, everything you are teaching has to be planned ahead of time - all of this has to be done when you are tired after school and often takes up time in the evenings or at the weekend. Every night marking and/or preparation has to be done. You have to always be in the right place at the right time eg. if the children come into the classroom after play and you were still in the loo then you would be seen as leaving them unsupervised...You have to constantly wear your professional persona - for pupils and parents alike. Your classroom must look fabulous and enriching. The curriculum content must be covered and expected standards reached (for all children, even those with 'issues') but this must all be done in an inventive, creative and exciting way....

It is exhausting and teacher burnout is not uncommon.

I think that the accountancy tuition route is quite a good idea - maybe look into that?

Thank you to each and every one of you for your replies .......... thanks for taking the time to reply. i think i am going to wait a little longer before going back to work.