any accountants/book keepers about? is it worth me doing the AAT qualification part time, without relevant work experience? and would i get a job at the end of it?

[beautifuldays]

i'm hoping to re-train as an accounts assistant/technician, with the aim of getting a part-time job at the end of it. i don't have any relevant work experience in a finance background, but i did keep my own book/tax returns when i worked as a childminder.

i've got good GCSE and a-levels and a 2:1 degree from the university of york, but it's in a humanities subject rather than business or finance.

my local college offer the AAT part-time over 3 years, my question is is it worth me doing it and would it get me a job at the end of it/how employable would i be?

thanks for any advice

anyone?

have you seen this current thread? I have also linked to a couple of older ones at the end of it.

Hi. I'm an accountant (ACA) and had a temp recently just like yourself who had previously worked in another field but had done their own books in the past and then taken the AAT.

I have to say he was finding it very difficult to get interviews, let alone work. It might have been that he was a bit older (in his 50s) so people thought he might not adapt. I think you might find it hard to break into initially... can you do some temping in the meantime?

Hi
I did the AAT qualification a couple of years ago although I was working in an accounts dept at the time.
I found it a really good course to do although there is a lot of work and studying to do outside the classroom too. (or maybe thats because our local college isnt very good!)
I know our FD always looks for someone with AAT when recruiting for someone new as it is highly regarded. Could you get some general office work experience temping whilst you study? that would be a good grounding to working in accounts?
Good luck!

Hi,

I have the AAT qualification and am responsible for recruiting in our office. The AAT qualification is quite focused on people looking to go on to do an accounts degree and the things you would learn are not necessarily what you would need to work in general accounts (although it would of course help with your knowledge and understanding).

If I was looking to recruit a part time accounts assistant I would not look for an AAT qualification simply because they would probably cost me more to employ.

I think if you are only looking to work part time and do not want to progress onto higher levels of accounts you would be best suited to doing some kind of bookeeping course. Failing that quite often the best way to get ahead in an accounts department is to learn on the job, work hard and get promoted. Most companies offer training now - infact my company paid for me to do AAT as a day release after I had worked for the company for about 2 years.

thanks for the replies. my problem is that i am currently a SAHM to a 3yo and 1yo. the AAT course is in the evenings, so i wouldn't need to get childcare. i was hoping that if i did this, in 2 yrs time when the kids are at school/nursery i would be well placed to get a job in accounts. i'm not planning on doing another degree but i'm only 25 and i'm quite keen on progressing up the career structure as not planning any more kids/maternity leave etc. i would be more than happy to do extra training.

i can't really do a temping job as i would have to find childcare and i think it would be very expensive and not very practical atm, which is why i thought of college and then look for a job in a couple of years time when childcare is not such an issue, but maybe i would find it harder to get a job than i think. it seems a bit like every job wants experience but no-one is prepared to give you that experience!

do you think it would not be worth me doing the course without experience then? it costs £500 a year so i don't want to do it if it's not going to get me a job at the end of it iykwim

Hi, I have absolutely no experience in the accounting field whatsoever, but I truly believe from your last message that if you wanted to go into the accounting field someone, somewhere would give you a job.

In fact, if you left it just the three short years when your lo is at school, you would be a good proposition for an employer- a candidate who was young enough to learn new skills (and get a good return afterwards) and who had completed her family and wasn't likely to land them with maternity pay.

Have you thought about the voluntary/ not-for-profit sector? They generally pay less but are more willing to take on people who don't fit the traditional 'mold' for the job.

May be a good way of breaking into the profession?