Advice on re-training as an accountant - please?

[BoingBoing]

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!

picking upthe earlier point I am indeed a very important FD and did not leave the thread in a huff at being called a lowly FM but becuase I was in a very importnat meeting and unable to MN

Not a joke but my favorite comment from a client when I was a lowly audit assistant...

Ms Young and Naive Auditor - "Hello Mr Finance Director - could you tell me please there are so many provision releases this year"

Mr Old and Wizened FD (in a northern accent) - "well Ah put them asahd for a rainy day and now its bloooody pissing dahn"

In my current job when we entered the first budget season my first question to my boss the MD was - what number do you want it to come to?

Bosses asked nervously "ummm don;t you just take all teh costs and revenue and add them up to get the answer"

KC trills with laughter "don't be silly!" then looks at MD suspiciously and says "you haven't had a proper finance director before have you"

He frequently reminds me of this conversation.

I didn't think you'd gone off in a huff Kew.
I thought you were off, doing important things...
like....making 2 + 2 =18
Which you were

I call my FD, Bob the Builder.
Can we fix it, yes we can.
Between us, we create any number he wants.
I just find it all amusing.

And there was me thinking how upright and proper accountants were. How wrong, how wrong. Enron anyone

my friend was offered the job of corporate PR person for Enron about 1 yr before it all went tits up. ROFPMSL She turned it down.

Going slightly off topic again
Idris, I used to mark A-level mocks and BTEC course work - are accountancy papers far worse? I'm quite interested, especially as your profile says Bedfordshire which is where I'm planning on moving to (hence looking for new work).
Must finish CV.
Must send in application forms.
Must get ds to sleep better so I could actually find the time to work..... (having a bad week sleepwise)

Boingboing - I did ACA but trained in tax and then CTA.

still working in tax advisory for a big 4 and enjoy it most of the time.

Work very interesting (if occasionally stressful) and its actually a good/well rewarded company to work for.

Loving the jokes on here