Accounting help

Hello guys and girls,

I was wondering if anyone on here could point me in the correct direction.

I want to get ont he route of becoming a qualified accountant, however were to start has my mind boggled.

I have a business degree from Durham University with hons. grade 2.2. which included modules such as accounting and management accounting. also have A levels in business, history and religious studies. im 25 if that makes a difference.

I have been in my place of work for 1 year and 6 month now which is a sales exec in a main brand car firm. Although i enjoy my job i feel the need to further myself and i take a great inetrest in accounting.

I am fully aware it doesnt happen over night and may take 5 or so years. but if I could be pointed to a start point that would be great.

Has anyone taken this path and or started it?

Much appreciated.
Joe

 

Try this

http://www.indeed.co.uk/Accountant-Trainee-jobs-in-Scotland

http://www.simplyhired.co.uk/a/jobs/list/q-trainee+accountant/l-scotland


Some companies will take you on as a trainee accountant and part of this will include study leave part of the week.
The problem will be finding one since you don't have an actual accounting degree.

 

Thanks mate much appreciated. im based in Newcastle Tyne and Wear, but ceratinly can change the search.

Would it be possible to stay with my employer and do it? i know i would have to front the bill. and i know this would rule some routes out.

Much appreciated
Joe

 

craig whyte is the man you need, hes the best ive seen anyway

 

:smiley-laughing002: i heard he will take me on with a parent company but when i go bust i will still be the same but demoted with my working history and credit credentials in tact

 

You can only ask. The worst they can say is NO.
The thing is it would be stupid for them to do that. If you had another qualification and i, as a business, helped you to gain that, i would see you as an asset to the company.
Try and persuade your company of that.

You could look into seeing if there are grants available or training companies that do that after work or even during work.


Check this out as well

http://www.aat.org.uk/qualifications/aat-apprenticeships-for-students

and part of that site is this

http://www.aat.org.uk/qualifications/apprenticeships-in-england

 

A post grad in accounting seems like the obvious route, and although you typically need a 2:1 or above for masters, you can often get into one after an interview.

Alternatively try and get your foot in the door of an accounting firm and then study on the job. Problem is a lot of accounting grads will be trying to do the same so you might need to get the qualification first.

Lastly, if you don't want to leave your job, ask if you can move from sales to finance in the company you work for. Id imagine a big car company must have a big finance department. If they are keen to keep you they might help you out.



Last thing I would suggest is going to career fairs if you still live nearby your old uni. That is how I got my foot in the door of a company.

 

cheers fellas! its goign to be tough but im certainly going todo it, come * or high water. certainly need some direction in my workign life

 

I went down the CFA route rather than any accounting exams so others here might be more suited to answering but from an overall financial services perspective I think it would be a pretty tough move to make.

The reason I would say that is largely because if the 2.2. I'm sure you know that the general entry requirement to most grad-schemes/post grad qualifications is a 2:1. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't make it impossible by any means, just slightly more challenging.

To rectify it I would look at trying to pass some accountancy exams in your spare time. In not sure what route you plan on going down in terms of ACA, ACCA, CIMA etc, but if you could pass a few if the early stage exams it would make a big difference. It would show commitment and demonstrate that you have the ability to see through any potential training contract.

 

Did you finish the CFA KoK? I am doing part 1 in June and struggling due to having a lack of time to study. The accounting stuff is the toughest for me as I have no background in accounts. Should be ok by June but it is an utter chore.

 

I passed level one in December and decided against going straight to level 2 in June. I'm a fairly recent grad so have time on my side and wanted to learn something more enjoyable and less strenuous :smiley-laughing002: Planning on doing level 2 next summer.

It's a brutal exam. I found accounting toughest too and that seems to be the general consensus (I always thought you had a background in accounting btw). I think to have any chance of passing you need to be getting at least 50% in that section and preferably 70%. I made the mistake of spending almost a month going over the economics section, assuming I would find it easy as I spent 4 years studying it in undergrad...only to get <50% in the economics section in the exam :smiley-laughing002: that's the kind of exam it is. The concepts aren't particularly difficult but the sheer volume is insane.

My mates doing level 2 this June and says it includes such delights as multivariate regression and building hypothesis tests from scratch.

If you need any advice on it just drop me a PM, I've actually got all the Schweser material including Q-bank which was a life saver.

 

Cheers buddy,
I am using the Schweser material and the Q Bank as well. My academic background is history and my work background is quant and portfolio management research. So those parts are fine. FI, Equity, Deriv, all fine. I find economics absolutely hit or miss depending on what comes up. Ethics seems ok as well, so really just FRA I struggle a lot with.

I cannot understand why anyone would want to be an accountant?!

 

Yeah tell me about the 2.2. Basically got drunk for 3 years and didnt even buy books for 3rd year. Done my dissertation in 2 weeks. Biggest biggest regret of my life. Fast forward 4 years im going to have to work ten times as hard to even get another chance. Is CFA a good way to go?

 

I wouldn't bother with the CFA if you're going down the accountancy route. It probably takes about 2.5 years at a minimum and had lower pass rates than the accountancy exams.

The 2.2 can be overcome but like you said yourself it makes things difficult. You seem to be grounded which is good, I would just get started working towards the accountancy qualification of your choice, I would imagine a few exams could make up for the 2.2 and show you're determined.

Make sure you network well and get you're cv sent to as many recruitment companies as possible.

 

Nice one - very similar to the work I would like to get into my mate in his early 20's works for BG in Edinburgh and takes home 40k a year while finishing at 5 each day .

I wouldn't invest too much time in economics. You can probably get a respectable score in that section my memorising the schweser quick sheet and doing lots of q-bank.