Just after some advice people please if you can help.

 

I'm looking at a career change as I'm fed up of being stuck in a dead end job and I'd like to pave a career as an accountant. I gained all A and B grades at GCSE and A-Level but rather than go to uni i decided to go earn some money for a bit. A bit turned into 9 years :blush: but now I'm regretting not training as anything and want to be more.

 

The course I've looked at is this one http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/k01.htm

 

Is it any good? I dont want to pay out a lot of money only to be no better of.

 

If not can anyone suggest anything better?

 

Cheers for looking and cheers in advance for any advice :thumbup1: any advice will be rewarded with a free pint of your ever in the Nottingham area :thumbup1:

Hi

 

I think i would rather be in a dead end job, than be an accountant.

 

I've worked with a few Accountants, including the latest guy, nice enough chap, but he has as much charisma as a slug with a serious case of ME.

 

If you are into number crunching, but want variety, and a job once your in full swing that will keep you on your toes, get trained as a quantity surveyor.

 

There are three types.

 

PQS, works for the client (They are like accountants)

 

Contractors QS, working for construction company, that's where you get your training

 

Subbie QS. Get trained with a Contractor, (to near senior level (£40K a year), then go freelance and work for small sub-contractors (£50-60K a year).

 

I trained with a Contractor from the age of 17 to 24, then went freelance, so doesnt take that long really.

 

IMHO Steve

Well I'm a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and qualified as such 15 years ago. To refute the allegation of the slug charisma, accountants sometimes get profiled as the most boring people ever to walk the planet. When I studied at third level, there were only 17 lads in the class. Of the 17, two of us played inter-county gaelic football (most popular sport in Ireland), one played rugby for Irelands colleges u-20's, two more played senior rugby, one was connaught champion kickboxer, one played for Sligo Rovers FC (Premier league soccer over here- equivalent of probably low first divison, high second division standard) and another a squash champion. Plus we did party and party hard. So not every accountant is boring.

 

My qualification allowed me to work and experience life and different cultures in Cairo and Alexandria in Eqypt, Fuengirola in Spain and Versailles in France. The qualification is internationally recognised. It takes a lot of work and study to get it, but once you have it, it is not a heavy burden to carry around. The fundamentals of an accounting qualification will stand you in good stead in your business life.

 

From a personal perspective it has given me a lot, but that said, had I my choice all over again, I would have preferred to have done law. That is just down to a personal preference.

 

I know nothing of the your results grades as they are totally different to over here, but with regards the course, it looks like a foundation course that "may" get you credits against follow on exam's with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (worth checking out further). Alternatively I'm sure it will get you through the early examines of the Accounting Technician qualification.

 

Money wise, if you are good and progress, you will get paid. Starting off though usually means working for poor pay initially.

 

Hope that helps.

I thought I might upset somebody!!

 

No offence intended. :whistling:

I thought I might upset somebody!!

 

No offence intended. :whistling:

 

none taken :lol:

I'm both a CA and a CTA (Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor). I studied Law at uni. I would say accountancy is a great career path as the job options are limitless. This does of course depend on your work experience, training and quals gained.

 

I can't really advise on CIMA/ACCA but for CA you must have a top class degree to even study it and you must be have a training sponsor (i.e. aka an employer who will pay the fees and vouch for you).

 

As far as I am aware, this is the same as for CIMA but not so for ACCA - meaning I believe you can study for ACCA off your own back though work experience obviously helps.

 

All of these courses are fairly expensive I think so it might be worth doing the Accountint Technician qual as has been mentioned above. It's a great intro to accounting and iirc gives you exemptions from certain modules in both CIMA and ACCA. It would also help you to get a job in finance as it gives you the basics so you wouldn't be totally useless at work!

 

Other than that, I would say look into the career paths in accounting/finance that interest you as different jobs require different skills which the difference quals can provide.

 

Taking myself as an example, I worked in tax initially, dealing with the likes of Microsoft, Apple, Fujitsu, etc...then I moved into Private Equity and worked with some of the world's largest names in hedge funds and private finance, individuals worth millions, and investments. Now I work in Investment Banking within FX and Money Markets dealing with traders on a day to day basis and I intend to eventually end up either as a trader myself (or if this doesn't work out) in consultancy advising companies on improving efficiencies/profits, etc...

 

Have a squizz at http://www.efinancialcareers.co.uk - there are a lot of jobs here which might give you an idea of where you want to go....

 

HTH

 

 

p.s. not all accountants are boring! I'm very outgoing, love getting lashed up, am a model AND drive a Zed!!!

What sumshiftyguy said was good advice. My Mrs is ACCA, CIMA AND ATT (I think it is ATT)

 

After that get a MBA and the world is your monkey. Obviously, a bit of job experience wouldn't do any harm ;-)

Hi

... get trained as a quantity surveyor.

 

There are three types.

 

PQS, works for the client (They are like accountants)

 

Contractors QS, working for construction company, that's where you get your training

 

Subbie QS. Get trained with a Contractor, (to near senior level (£40K a year), then go freelance and work for small sub-contractors (£50-60K a year).

 

I trained with a Contractor from the age of 17 to 24, then went freelance, so doesnt take that long really.

 

IMHO Steve

I will second that. Was a sponsored student from 18 - 25, gained a BSc(hons) degree in quantity surveying and construction commercial management + RICS accreddited. Now working for a masonry sub-contractor, looking after all the contractual and financial matters. Life is easier and my money has doubled.

 

PQS is all paperwork... boring hell!

What sumshiftyguy said was good advice. My Mrs is ACCA, CIMA AND ATT (I think it is ATT)

 

After that get a MBA and the world is your monkey. Obviously, a bit of job experience wouldn't do any harm ;-)

 

I think you mean AAT (Assoc of Accounting Technicians) as ATT is Assoc of Tax Technicians.

 

End of the day though, my personal advice would be not to jump into anything unless you really feel you would be happy doing it for the rest of your life! I fell into this as I said above and if I had to do it all over again...I'm not sure I would've gone down the finance route...but c'est la vie!