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Original poster

AAT/ACCA/accountancy

76 replies

Mog · 01/05/2007 19:51

I know we have a few accountants on here so would appreciate some help. I'm looking to start the AAT qualification in September - mainly for interest and also dh and I are in the process of setting up our own business. I'm always up for a challenge so am looking at how far I can take this if I really enjoy it.
So can anyone tell me - do you enjoy accountancy and what areas do you work in. Also do you think there would be a bias against 'older' people who retrain in this. We know now their can't be (!) but in the real world would it be difficult to get the practical experience as a more mature student.
Would also be interested to hear from people who hate accountancy as want to go in with my eyes open.
Thanks in advance

OP posts:
lovelymoo · 02/05/2007 11:41

I have studied ACCA i qualified before i had my DC's at 25. I now work from home doing Reports and spreadsheets etc and go into teh office when needed. I have a friend is able to pick up DC's from nursery if needed.
I mainly do it the evenings when kids are in beds but we have just set up our company so it does come in handy.
I loved doing it and my job too plus firms tend to pay more if you have some qualification behind you even its just the basic exams- but it is hard work.
Year end can be harder work and more demanding- my firm are fantstic and let me work at the office around the kids. I can sometimes be there late but may not get there till 2.00, i get more done too at that time as you don't have phone calls to take

mylittlestar · 02/05/2007 12:03

I'm ACA qualified. Tbh I don't enjoy my job too much - but I think that's because I would rather be a SAHM, but have to work iyswim!

I think the exams/training are very intense whatever qualification you decide to do. Will be hard work with children.

But on the positive side, I have not come across any age discrimiation at all (far from it) and it's a qualification/career that can take you in many different directions and is always in demand. From that point of view you can't go far wrong!

Plus you already seem to know you'll enjoy the work (which helps a lot!). And many firms help with study time, exam leave etc so getting support from work will help relieve the pressures.

Good luck. It really is a great career.

mylittlestar · 02/05/2007 12:06

CarGirl just in answer to your last post - the hours can be quite intesnse at month end and year end. But also, in both of the firms I have worked for, once qualified and 'settled in' so to speak, they have been extremely accomodating with flexible hours and part time working.

Eg I am now working 8-4 each day. I also do the odd day working from home. And also have the option of cutting to 3 or 4 days if I want to (just don't want the pay cut!).

But qualified accountants are sought after. And once you're settled in somewhere you'll find that many employers can be flexible. (I've even applied for a new role which is flexi-time - bliss!)

CarGirl · 02/05/2007 12:32

I'm okay really - I work in the civil service (well on career break), plus side is that we don't work overtime etc, downside is that my department don't give you a pay rise if you qualify!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where I've worked previously it could be crazy hours at month end etc but I guess that was 12 years ago and times have moved on.

I shall see whether I continue with 4 children and a cramped house studying is very difficult!

Pamina · 02/05/2007 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mylittlestar · 02/05/2007 13:33

Agree Pamina. Think I only get that sort of flexibility due to doing quite a specialist 'project accountant' role which means the work is slightly flexible.

Am looking for a new role closer to home and after 18 months of watching the job market closely not 1 p/t role has come up! So I understand what you mean.

I think employer flexibility does come once you've been there a while and 'proved' yourself so to speak. But agree that as the p/t jobs are so rare, you can get 'stuck' in one role.

Pamina · 02/05/2007 13:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

suejonez · 02/05/2007 13:40

sorry haven't read whole thread...

I am a rare breed - finance director who works part time. I work MOn-Thurs 9-5 (work extra 30 mins either at lunch or at home in evening). Gave up very lucative career in advertising to work for small more flexible company. In return they get a very experienced FD for a fraction of the cost so we both win in a way.

I don't really do much accountancy anymore so not the bext one to comment on whether accountancy is interesting or not, but its a bit like medicine - there a discilpine for everyone depending on what your strengths are.

CarGirl · 02/05/2007 13:43

I find it worring though that you still consider 4 full days to be "part time" and "flexible" - that's what I mean once qualified finding a well paid role that is less then 25 hours/fit in with school is very difficult indeed!

suejonez · 02/05/2007 13:47

hmm, if you dropped the well paid bit you might have more luck - chairties and local auhtorites etc tend to be more flexible with things like job sharing which is I guess what you'd have to do but don;t pay as well.

suejonez · 02/05/2007 13:48

but I am finance director very very rare to find a job as FD where they will take you less than 5 day 8 hr days minimum

Pamina · 02/05/2007 13:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Oblomov · 02/05/2007 14:03

suej's position is very rare. Even agencies treat me like a second class citzen, as soon as I mention the word p/time!

CarGirl · 02/05/2007 14:09

This is why I really think there is no point in me completing ACCA, it will be 16 years before I will be prepared to work full time and by then I may be a grandma or I'd like to give my time back to the community! Is there any point driving myself to near breakdown qualifying if I'm not willing to work full time (this is with the likely assumption that full time would also mean a lengthy commute).

Perhaps I will be a SAHM forever.....

suejonez · 02/05/2007 14:17

ah but Oblomov - I didn;t mention part time when I applied - it was a full time post paying about £20k less than I was earning. I went to the interview on the basis of "well if the job is interesting enough I might consider it". I knew if they had any sense they would offer it to me as I was so much more experienced than the other candidates also they were desparate as they couldn;t find what they wanted for the price they were prepared to pay. When they offered it to me I agreed to take it on the basis of a four day week.

Agree it is rare and I'm terrified of losing it!

Original poster
Mog · 02/05/2007 14:53

Thanks for all the replies so far. And your questions are very relevant mish so don't worry about the hijack.
I also would not be wanting to work long hours and so think the AAT route might be the best option for now. Looking on websites it seems you can get quite high up roles and interesting work just with the AAT qualification - would the accountants agree with that?
Also anyone lurking who hates accountancy - it's good to hear both sides.

OP posts:
CarGirl · 02/05/2007 16:01

I think AAT is a good start, a nice gentle break into studying again plus it's a very good grounding in the basics which you then build on. You can always move onto ACCA or CIMA without completing AAT if you have a degree? Also think AAT will be very helpful for setting up your own business etc. Just go for it!

ChasingSquirrels · 02/05/2007 20:35

I'm part time, I went back 3 full days after ds1, changed it to 4 mornings 8am - 1.30pm a year later, and having just gone back after 15mo mat leave with ds2 I am doing 4 days 8am - 1pm. I work in practice (8 partner, 2 office firm) and am definately not being passed over for promotion, other than to partnership which we have agreed will take more committment which I am not prepared to gove atm. I agree it is more difficult to get a new part-time job than to make your existing job part-time though.

whoopsfallenoveragain · 02/05/2007 20:36

Mog if you do go for AAT I have a couple of books that may help if they aren't too out of date!!

ELF1981 · 02/05/2007 20:40

Not read all the thread.
I started working in accounts knowing nothing, I am now the team leader in the financial accounting at my work place.
I'm studying AAT in evenings at college, doing intermediate at the moment. Going on to do technician at home study next year 'cause I'm struggling with childcare for dd after work with DH changing his jobs.
My next step after that is ACCA.

ELF1981 · 02/05/2007 20:44

Oh, forgot to mention, you can join ACCA providing you have relevant job experience and/or have completed at least AAT intermediate, though finishing Technician gains you better exemptions so you dont have to do all the units.

As for the job - I love my job. My work involves things like balance sheet reconciliations, bank account management, cash forecasting, balance sheet reviews, analysis etc. I work in a very large well known organisation and it is fab.

As for your comment about interpretating data, that seems more management accounting to me, so perhaps more CIMA than ACCA?

CountTo10 · 02/05/2007 20:53

I'm just finishing CAT which is the ACCA's version of the AAT. You do the CAT and then progress onto the intermediate stage of the ACCA qualification. I'm doing this whilst working. I'm not in practice but work for a private company and I love it!!! I think its such an interesting field and the possibilities with it are endless. There might be a bias if you were looking for a specific accountancy traineeship but you could do an accounts assistant type position at any age whilst studying and progress from there - money's better too!! I think it all depends on how far your interest goes and what you want to do with it. I enjoy the facts and figures side. I like producing information that gives me answers to a company's health etc. Management information is fun (!) but I like the number crunching too which is what I like about ACCA as it is extremely flexible.

crunchie · 02/05/2007 21:44

If you are interested in it MOG It MIGHT be worth going to a GOOD agency as they could getyou basic temp work to start you off, PT work is difficult to come by tbh however I promise I ask EVERY client if PT is possible

It is a shame whoever didn't go for the TGP option as that is a good opportunity too.

mishw · 02/05/2007 23:30

Thanks Mog!

As I said before I am going through registration with ACCA and I don;t have any relevant experience or a degree, but I am going in as a mature student with a view to home study initially and then get a job next year when DD1 goes to school full time.

Do people think that doing AAT first would be better or is there no difference? And where is the best place to start looking for a job? Would a company take me on now knowing that I am registered with ACCA or am I better to begin the studying first?

Basically I think I just want someone to tell me what to do

RoundTheBend · 02/05/2007 23:53

Hello Mog I completed the whole of the AAT by doing it 2 nights a week for 3 years at college. I started my own business whilst doing this and I made a really good wage at it (25k). People want bookeepers/accountants. I wanted to run my own business so I could dictate the hours, I have a SN child and wanted it all to fit in around him. He is now in senior school and I have now stopped my business for a year and am getting brilliant hands on experience in an accounting practise. The work I do there takes me to a higher level, it can really hurt the brain sometimes! I am toying with the idea of doing ACCA but to be honest, you HAVE to be prepared to put the hours in for the studying as there is a lot of homework and the exams are hardwork too even for the AAT route. It helps if you have a DH like mine who would do virtually everything around the house so that I could get on and study and work. It is a brilliant way to earn good money if you can commit to it.