Thinking of doing the AAT qualification

[Feelingsensitive]

I have been thinking of getting an accounts related qualification for a while. I have no experience in this area but prior to being a SAHM (3 years) I had a professional job in a scientific field and have a degree in a science subject. I am looking into the AAT qualification as I am thinking of starting at admin level. bookeeper type roles with the possibility of devloping my career later when the DCS are older. My motiviation is there tends to be alot of these jobs locally whereas my previosu career required a long commute. Is it worht my doing the AAT or is it not necessary, should I just try and qualify as an accountant (not sure I can take that on with 2 pre school sged children)? Any advice welcome.

AAT is a good basic qualification which would help in getting you a finance admin job (but not a particularly well paid one). This may be processing invoices, chasing creditors, looking after simple expense accounts.

It might give you a taster for whether you want to commit yourself to a more heavyweight qualification. It would also enable you to get a job to gain experience in the accounting sector, as to be honest, most employers will look for experience in accounting in conjunction with the qualifications, so even if you commit yourself to the cost and time of going for a more heavyweight qualification, you would probably still end up in a fairly junior job.

My advice would be to do the AAT and find a job within a large-ish organisation where they are geared up to support you if you'd like to take your training further.

Thanks. Do you know if AAT is considered to be the best training option. I notice several bookeeping courses but not sure if these are what I need to be looking at given my long term aims.

I don't know much about other bookkeeping qualifications but AAT is certainly well recognised and respected.

I've worked in large organisations in both the private and public sector and it's certainly the most commonly held qualification.

I think I am going to go a bit Xenia (possibly) on this one and say go for the full thing and qualify as an accountant, you are already a professional person and I think that working in an AAT job might be a little bit unfulfilling for you, you've only been at home for 3 years, you're not looking for crumbs from anyone's table. You might not feel that confident now but it seems likely that you will be bored within a couple of weeks in an admin role.

PS I rate CIMA (for in-house roles) and ICAS (the Scottish exams for accountancy practice) over ACA (the English version) and all of them over ACCA, apologies if this offends anyone but there you go.

Thanks to you both. Interesting about CIMA. I was thinking of doing AAT to get my foot in the doro and less pressure whilst the DCs are little and then if I liked it going for full training later. I believe you need a trainign contract - I was thinking that woudl be difficult to get at my age (36) comapred to a graduate/school leaver so also thought AAT woudl give me an advantage. Maybe not?

OK this may also set some people's backs up so apologies again but IMHO if you want to work in accoutancy practice an AAT qualification will not help you to get a training contract, it will make you look like you were a bit too thick to start training for CIMA or ICAS or ACA straight away.

I don't think your age is a barrier to getting a training contract. Your previous professional standing would be an advantage, I think.

I don't think it is less pressure to do an "easier" qualification. The pressure will come from:

• missing your DC
• tiredness from getting back into commute and work and trying to balance housework / childcare demands with work
• finding time to study

Once you are actually sat down studying you may as well get a better qualification for your time.

By the way, lots of people do the first set of "real" accountancy exams and then might wait to do the rest. Lots of people also resit along the way. This does not mean they can't do them, it's just normal to find the style of exam with its time pressure a bit tricky.

I appreciate you are feeling a bit unsure at the moment but when you are back at work it is easier emotionally if you commit yourself fully to your new profession, if you dither you will miss your kids more etc. and potentially end up doing less well at work than you could.

Ages ago, when dd was tiny and I was going to start training, I did start an AAT course (completed one module). To be honest (and apologies to all accounting technicians out there) I found it the most boring soul destroying thing ever. It really is basic. I gave up in despair and trained to be an engineer (BEng and MEng after years of study).

If you already a scientist and are used to a certain level of work i would not recommend this. Do as others have suggested and go for the accountancy qualification.

Thanks all. Had a look at the CIMA site. They offer a certificate in Business accounting which is done in modules.I am going to do this first. At least that way I can see if I like it and do each module in my own time. They say its a qualification in its own right so if I liek ti hopefully I cna get a job based on that and then try and complete the CIMA training.

Good luck, hope you enjoy it (insofar as one can enjoy these things)!

Feelingsensitive I just want to put a vote in for CFAB this is the Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business it is the first part of the ICAEW qualification.

It is a stand alone qualification but is the first part of the ICAEW's ACA qualification and you don't need a training contract for it.

Given your degree in a science subject I think that the AAT would be below your academic level.

I don't have much knowledge of CIMA but if you are interested in the CFAB and want to CAT me I'd be happy to talk further (am an ACA myself).

Have you looked at possible job opportunities and what qualification they ask for. IMO doing the CFAB would give you the possibility of jobs in professional practice and jobs in industry.

Thanks so much FA. I am going to look at that website later. Must admit I haven't looked at jobs yet but will do before I decide what to do next.