Regretting leaving bookkeeping role and unsure how to progress in accounts

[habz786x]

I feel depressed about leaving my role as a bookkeeper and wanting to progress into accounts production. My old company promised to train me and move me to that level once I passed my second final professional exam, but I never saw it happen. I regret that I didn’t sit down and have another meeting before making the decision to leave, as the people there were nice.
I moved to another role, but there was no structure or onboarding, and it all fell apart.
Now my previous company doesn’t even want me back. Instead, they are encouraging me to grow through temporary positions, such as management accounts roles.

Have you got any accountancy qualifications yet? If not, can you look at doing the AAT in your own time?

I am almost ACCA qualified, 1 exam away

You will be in a much better position when you have passed that final exam.
Do you have any sense of what area of accountancy you would like to work in?

Is it only SBL which you have left? Are you taking it in June?

Which accountancy package are you currently using - Sage / Xero etc?

If you are studying with one of the largetraining companies like Kaplan or First Intuition they have careers advice & support on line. Take a look at their websites as they can provide lots of help on your next steps.

Start to work on your CV, noting down all of the skills you have built up. Then look at some job descriptions for jobs which interest you. Try to match your CV to the JDs to see what you can tweak or do to get past the initial filter.

Do you want to work for an accountancy firm or in industry?

I have ATX yet to do, but I don't want to rush into finishing my exam as I am well down on experience. The only practice experience I realistically have is Bookkeeping. No one is trying to help me go beyond Bookkeeping and learn to do accounts/stat accounts. My old firm promised to do this and they didn't and hence why I found a new opportunity and left. They fired me because the owner was unstable going through a divorce and said its the wrong time and the girls on the team were mean.
I have extreme depression because of my decision.
I would like to continue in an accountancy practice.

I reached out to my old place and they don't want me back - they all know I got fired.

Have you thought about any other ways in which you build up your experience by doing the accounts for (say) a football club or similar?

If you've passed SBR & FR already, you have all the technical knowledge you need. It does sound as though a short term contract or mat leave cover could help.

I don't know its frustrating my old company didn't progress me and left me hanging for 5 months after promising me.

I dropped you a PM

I really recommend you do your last exams asap because being able to say you are 'exam-qualified' will be a huge jump on your CV and make you a much more interesting prospect for potential employers (and you'll be able to command a higher salary). It means the new employer doesn't have to support you through exams and only needs to give you appropriate experience, which will be so much easier for any finance department that has someone already qualified in the team. They'll have a definite idea of your capabilities, and it will help counter your recent negative work experience, showing how committed you are to continuing your studies and career path.

Honestly, i cant recommend it enough, you have nothing to lose and so much to gain.

Edited to add, I'm an FD, so am speaking from experience.

This is really sad, but a lot of employers see me as "over qualified" with a lack of experience :/
Is it possible if we can speak please :/

In which case you need your CV to be built around your skills and knowledge. There are a lot of people who start studying for the ACCA exams with exemptions from all of the papers below strategic level. They have zero experience, but have no problem in applying for jobs which you are more than qualified to do. I know your confidence is knocked, so have you spoken to a recruitment agency who may help you find roles which are a good fit?

They are trying to help me find me roles - but the companies only concerns are "if you pass your final exam, we fear that you will leave for something better or want a promotion and wont stick to bookkeeping or payroll for example">

In which case you're being put forward for the wrong roles. In the meantime you should be building up your Excel skills