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Original poster

Advice on re-training as an accountant - please?

83 replies

BoingBoing · 01/08/2007 14:34

I'm looking into retraining as an accountant, and what I'd like to know from those of you already qualified, or part qualified, is exactly how hard will it be in terms of study and exams? I have a 2 year old and a DH who works away during the week, which adds to the fun. Because of what I want to do with it afterwards, I want to do ACCA, which I understand is the hardest of the lot. Would it be better to wait a couple of years until DS starts school, or should I just start once someone is mad enough to employ me as a trainee?
Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
BoingBoing · 02/08/2007 09:11

Thanks a lot for all your help and advice. It's given me much to think about and I probably need to do a bit more research before I start doing anything concrete. Given where I live, there aren't exactly any 2 tier, let alone top firms I could apply to, so it's a question of whether the smaller guys are interested in an 'older' candidate who at least has some knowledge and experience. The studying part is the scariest, but at least with a 2 year old, it's not like I'm having to ferry the blighter to after school clubs or anything every night of the week, which I guess might help.
Still, I don't know until I try, do I? And Squirrels, whereabouts in Cambridgeshire are you? I grew up there - oh God, I didn't go to school with you did I?!

OP posts:
ShrinkingViolet · 02/08/2007 11:04

actually I think it was AAT (Accounting Technician) which I meant not CIMA - that gives you some exemptions for ACCA - apologies to all CIMAs
ShrinkingViolet with no accoutancy qualifications whatsoever

IdrisTheDragon · 02/08/2007 11:16

I am ACA qualified and work for a mid-tier firm.

I moved into accountancy from teaching and so was older than the graduates coming straight from university, but that wasn't a problem for me. However, I trained before having children (was 5 months pregnant with DS when I sat my final exam) and I know it would have a lot harder with children.

I used to study a lot at weekends, but at least I studied in blocks so I didn't have to combine audit work and studying. My sister is currently studying for her CIMA qualification and has lectures after work and at weekends, which is also hard.

My firm doesn't operate an automatic one fail and you're out by any means - generally a first fail is "OK" although if you fail your first two papers badly you might be asked to think about whether it is right for you. I have known people fail exams twice and still have a job at the end of it .

Which part of the country are you in? My firm keeps spreading out .

jura · 02/08/2007 11:22

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Azure · 02/08/2007 11:30

I'm ACA qualified but work in industry. In my department are several people working towards ACCA and CIMA, several with children and in their 30's. One of the advantages of doing these qualifications is that up to a point you can take as many or as few exams as you like at one sitting, e.g. one guy (with a one-year old) sat 3 CIMA exams together, failed them, and is now re-taking one exam at a time. Obviously takes longer, but is more manageable.

jura · 02/08/2007 11:44

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Azure · 02/08/2007 12:25

I think some have to done together, but I'm not really up on it.

IdrisTheDragon · 02/08/2007 12:40

My sister seems to have been doing them a few at a time (although now only has Top CIMA left ).

CantSleepWontSleep · 02/08/2007 13:30

I think you're right Jura, although it may have changed since I did it. Not sure what the set up is now as they combined stages and made it all quite different just after I finished it.

Kewcumber · 02/08/2007 13:31

oh Jura - you and I are of the same era - link exams and having to work at the same time. t'was different in the olden days.

Quattrocento · 02/08/2007 13:35

No advice - just good luck. Oh but be prepared for the boring jokes ...

A patient was at her doctor's office after undergoing a complete physical exam. The doctor said, "I have some very grave news for you. You only have six months to live."

The patient asked, "Oh doctor, what should I do?"

The doctor replied, "Marry an accountant."

"Will that make me live longer?" asked the patient.

"No," said the doctor, "but it will SEEM longer."

Boom tish. My best friend is an accountant. She is lovely and not at all boring.

Kewcumber · 02/08/2007 13:36

oh I have loads of really funny accountant jokes...

IdrisTheDragon · 02/08/2007 13:57

Ooh go on KewCumber - I'd love to hear some funny accountant jokes .

jura · 02/08/2007 14:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jura · 02/08/2007 14:10

This reply has been deleted

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Kewcumber · 02/08/2007 14:11

Two accountancy students were walking across campus when one said, "Where did you get such a great bike?"

The second accountant replied, "Well, I was walking along yesterday minding my own business when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike. She threw the bike to the ground, took off all her clothes and said, "Take what you want."

The first accountant nodded approvingly, "Good choice; the clothes probably wouldn't fit."

Kewcumber · 02/08/2007 14:11

no, an actuary is someone who found accountancy too exciting.

Oblomov · 02/08/2007 14:30

Like the jokes

ChasingSquirrels · 02/08/2007 14:30

well I am just slightly younger then - I had block release, and link exams in between. Was also at the end of the referal system - where you had to either pass them all, or only fail one marginally and get to retake that one, or else you had to do them all again - regardless of the fact you might have passed some of them. I think that is what made ACA be percieved as harder than ACCA where you just carried forward whatever you passed (as ACA is now).

I am just ourside Cambridge (nr Burwell) and work in Cambridge, and I don't think you went to school with me as I grew up in mid-cheshire

Kewcumber · 02/08/2007 14:32

An architect, an artist and an accountant were discussing whether it was better to spend time with the wife or a mistress.

The architect said he enjoyed time with his wife, building a solid foundation for an enduring relationship.

The artist said he enjoyed time with his mistress, because of thepassion and mystery he found there.

The accountant said, "I like both."

"Both?"

The accountant replied "Yeah. If you have a wife and a mistress, they will each assume you are spending time with the other woman, and you can go to the office and get some work done."

IdrisTheDragon · 02/08/2007 14:56

at the jokes.

(Have been doing some Work, which is a little unfair.)

I think I was lucky with exams as I qualified in 2003 and there was no referral system. Also only had 9 exams to do in total (although some people got exemptions for seemingly having done one module of something business related at university ).

Kewcumber · 02/08/2007 14:59

My favorite

An accountant was crossing a road one day when a frog called out to him and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess". He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will stay with you for one week".

The accountant took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket.

The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you and do ANYTHING you want."
Again the accountant took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket.

Finally, the frog asked, "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess; that I'll stay with you and do anything you want.

Why won't you kiss me?"

The accountant said, "Look I'm an accountant. I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog, now that's cool."

Oblomov · 02/08/2007 15:11

Kew, you are too good

Original poster
BoingBoing · 02/08/2007 15:18

What have I started?

OP posts:
IdrisTheDragon · 02/08/2007 15:51

You want to be an accountant - the jokes are so good .