AAT course after career break

[EezyOozy]

Hi all,

Is anyone a bookkeeper or AAT qualified and working in finance/as a bookkeeper ?

I've been looking at taking a course through ICS learn. I've a nearly-2yo and a just-3yo and didn't go back to work after my second as we are relocating /childcare costs (although we still haven't moved )

When we (finally) move up to Scotland , mainly to be closer to my family , my 3-year-old will be entitled to some funded childcare, my nearly 2-year-old should get this next year.

I have a few years of admin experience, at a university and for small to medium size businesses. I have a degree from many years ago that I never really used… Bit of a long story (I was ill in my final year so didn't get a very good grade then I moved far away).

There are lots of things I liked about admin and I think it will work well around having young children as there are lots of part-time options. I am really methodical and fastidious, lots of attention to detail. I'm quite introverted. What I didn't love about "general admin" work is that I felt there wasn't a clear route for career progression , I had no specific vocational qualifications and was often treated like a bit of a dogsbody (sometimes my role was really unclear). I hope that makes sense.

One thing that appeals to me about the ATT course is that it's distance learning and very flexible, and not too expensive.... I thought I could then apply for financial administrator type jobs within a local business , local council (for example) Or perhaps even be self-employed as an accredited bookkeeper.

Another thing I like about this course is that ( if I wanted to, when my children are older) I could use it towards further accounting qualifications/get exemptions on bits of that course?

I definitely don't want to start training as I fully quiet qualified accountant now, I don't feel like I can take that on with such young children and I do suffer from anxiety if I have too much on my plate. Also thought about doing something through the open University to better my existing academic qualifications, but after years of thinking about it I can't see have a further academic qualifications which actually benefit me. I like working, there is nothing at postgraduate level that I really want to study at the moment and it would be a lot more expensive.

I wondered if anybody else has done this course and if my thoughts about shorter term career possibilities are reasonable?

Also is this a good course to be doing in Scotland? It seems to be nationwide, the only difference in Scottish and English qualifications being applicable when you get to fully qualified accountant level? Has anyone done the flexi course through ICS learn, or are there better options? A college not far from we will be living offer the AAT course as distance learning. I haven't done too much cost comparison yet.

If anybody has any thoughts I would be very grateful. Thanks 😊

I thought about doing this too as ultimately I have some CIMA exemptions down the line but no practical finance experience if I wanted to go down that qualification route, there definitely were lots of part time and flexible jobs around finance admin and book keeping. The only problem I had was that every job wanted finance admin experience and it was hard to crack into the industry.

Others might have good advice on how to get that experience but one thing that suggests is to get a general admin job in a bigger company and then try and move sideways? Temping also could be a good route.

The other thing that jumped out from your post was - have you considered ‘professional’ PAing? A relative of mine did this after realising she was burned out/underpaid in media and has had a flexible school hours job for years now. Now her kids are older she’s looking at e.g director’s PA jobs and they’re really well paid! Also, very much less likely to be treated like a dogsbody if you are the route to the boss!

Back to your original plan, you can get the books on Amazon and self study for at least the first few parts at home which sounds cost effective and like it would suit your personality well?

With your experience you could also set up as a virtual assistant. There’s a few fb groups out there and some books to give advice. Then you could add in the AAT as an additional offering. I’ve heard some people self study and just pay for the exams. Makes it a lot cheaper.

Thanks so much for the ideas. I'm just about to take my two and three-year-old on a Bear Hunt (a walk in the woods) but I'll look into these ideas more this evening. Thanks for your support and advice!