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I know there's a decent chance i'll get the piss taken out of me on here (aslong as it's funny I don't mind!) but its also been a place for good advice and support in the past so thought i'd try my hand again.
First up a little background
I left school with 9 A-C GCSE's, and went to college to do A Levels because it was the done thing, I really didn't have a clue what I wanted to be at that age and as a result had no focus, went off the rails a bit, and dropped out after a year.
I then got an apprenticeship with Nestle and worked 2 years as a trainee in manufacturing operations. Cracking money, but just not what I wanted to do for the rest of my days.
I left there, spent a while soul searching and the rest of the time working in retail, still couldn't work out what I wanted from life, and decided to join the army. Left during basic training, loved the whole job the army entails, just not giving up complete control over my own life! While there I decided it was time to get back into education, and I plumped for a course in business after talking to friends who'd done similar, I felt it was for me.
I'm now 25 and just about to go into the 2nd year of my course at University of Central Lancashire (I did year 1 at York College, they let us start without an access course or anything like that as there was only 4 of us on the course so they felt it was worth just proceeding with the 1st year of the degree. Transfering to UCLan for personal reasons), and after reading up on it a fair amount, and based on modules i've done related to it and the fact i've really enjoyed them, i've decided i'd like to pursue a career in accounting. My problem is, without A-Levels, is it even possible?! Likewise the fact I have no experience whatsoever in such an industry. Will the fact i'll be 27 on graduation from an ex-poly affect things too?
It's a bit tedious it's taken me all this time in my life to work out what I want to be, but you can't always control what goes on in your head, and better late than never I guess! I'm determined to make a success of myself, i'm well capable of a 1st, and if I don't get a 2:1 I want shooting repeatedly really! I'm just not sure on the direction to go, there's almost too much information available on accounting!
Is it worth making a start on the ACCA exams in my own time and funding them myself? Is such a thing even possible?! Would I be better off dropping out of the degree and doing an AAT course at college and trying to get in that way, or at this stage of my life is it more worthwhile overall sticking with the degree?
Apologies for the long winded post but I felt the background info was needed. All help and advice massively appreciated! Cheers gents
First up a little background
I left school with 9 A-C GCSE's, and went to college to do A Levels because it was the done thing, I really didn't have a clue what I wanted to be at that age and as a result had no focus, went off the rails a bit, and dropped out after a year.
I then got an apprenticeship with Nestle and worked 2 years as a trainee in manufacturing operations. Cracking money, but just not what I wanted to do for the rest of my days.
I left there, spent a while soul searching and the rest of the time working in retail, still couldn't work out what I wanted from life, and decided to join the army. Left during basic training, loved the whole job the army entails, just not giving up complete control over my own life! While there I decided it was time to get back into education, and I plumped for a course in business after talking to friends who'd done similar, I felt it was for me.
I'm now 25 and just about to go into the 2nd year of my course at University of Central Lancashire (I did year 1 at York College, they let us start without an access course or anything like that as there was only 4 of us on the course so they felt it was worth just proceeding with the 1st year of the degree. Transfering to UCLan for personal reasons), and after reading up on it a fair amount, and based on modules i've done related to it and the fact i've really enjoyed them, i've decided i'd like to pursue a career in accounting. My problem is, without A-Levels, is it even possible?! Likewise the fact I have no experience whatsoever in such an industry. Will the fact i'll be 27 on graduation from an ex-poly affect things too?
It's a bit tedious it's taken me all this time in my life to work out what I want to be, but you can't always control what goes on in your head, and better late than never I guess! I'm determined to make a success of myself, i'm well capable of a 1st, and if I don't get a 2:1 I want shooting repeatedly really! I'm just not sure on the direction to go, there's almost too much information available on accounting!
Is it worth making a start on the ACCA exams in my own time and funding them myself? Is such a thing even possible?! Would I be better off dropping out of the degree and doing an AAT course at college and trying to get in that way, or at this stage of my life is it more worthwhile overall sticking with the degree?
Apologies for the long winded post but I felt the background info was needed. All help and advice massively appreciated! Cheers gents
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In situations like this I always ask myself "What would Jesus do?"
If your degree is in Finance type stuff then you should have no problem getting a training contract somewhere even without A levels. Otherwise you probably don't have much chance. You could always switch to a finance and accountancy degree, might be worth doing, you also get to complete some of the modules for the ACCA through your degree as well i think.
Have you considered ATT (Assoc Taxation Technicians) rather than AAT?
Have a look at their site.
You could crash the exams and 2 years then you'd be quite marketable.
I have ACCA and ATT and am more pro ATT.
Didn't start doing accountancy (ACCA) exams until i was 27 but that was years ago.
Good luck!
Have a look at their site.
You could crash the exams and 2 years then you'd be quite marketable.
I have ACCA and ATT and am more pro ATT.
Didn't start doing accountancy (ACCA) exams until i was 27 but that was years ago.
Good luck!
I would have thought that staying at uni would be your best choice whilst doing the right qualification. Ie the aat course in your own time too.
This way you wont miss out on the experience of uni and your still getting the relevant quals and skills that you learn at uni.
P.s I have just started a foundation yr at UCLAN im 30
Good luck..
This way you wont miss out on the experience of uni and your still getting the relevant quals and skills that you learn at uni.
P.s I have just started a foundation yr at UCLAN im 30
Good luck..
Im a ACA trainee with one of the big4 - half way through my exams at the moment. Im not sure it is possible to get a contract without alevels
coplete you degree and try and get on a graduate scheme, you really dont want to do it the other way around which is what i did eg working your way up from ledger clerk this is a dead end and a long process and very hard
if you get on a grad scheme they pay for your exams and you get the relavant experience although again these arent easy to get onto
also consider KPMG school leaver programme, you need 280 UCAs points from 3 A levels this is very good and you do AAT then ACCA
and yes as above you will need A levels for big firms, smaller firms less requirements
if you do change to accounts and finance degree make sure you get as many exempetions as possible, the chartered exams are alot harder than a degree
if you get on a grad scheme they pay for your exams and you get the relavant experience although again these arent easy to get onto
also consider KPMG school leaver programme, you need 280 UCAs points from 3 A levels this is very good and you do AAT then ACCA
and yes as above you will need A levels for big firms, smaller firms less requirements
if you do change to accounts and finance degree make sure you get as many exempetions as possible, the chartered exams are alot harder than a degree
Some good advice here.........being someone who has completed 3 degrees and qualified as CA at one of the big four and now pursuing a surveying training contract I would say don't consider the big 4 to be all or nothing. For that extra 10-20k you have to work like a absolute slave and are basically a drone. Your made to work hard and then you have no time for a life for a good three years.
Smaller practices will pay less but offer greater autonomy and better work/life balance imo. Certainly with your background you should be able to get a training contract at one of these smaller firm. I wouldn't say the CA exams are harder than a degree necessary, there very doable, but given the pressure of a job at the same time it takes alot of good time management. Unfortunately your in a very rigid employment market where if you didn't go to the right uni, right A levels then you are not considered straight away, however try and get abit of work experience in a few practices, form a relationship with these and prove yourself and you should be able to get in that route.
Smaller practices will pay less but offer greater autonomy and better work/life balance imo. Certainly with your background you should be able to get a training contract at one of these smaller firm. I wouldn't say the CA exams are harder than a degree necessary, there very doable, but given the pressure of a job at the same time it takes alot of good time management. Unfortunately your in a very rigid employment market where if you didn't go to the right uni, right A levels then you are not considered straight away, however try and get abit of work experience in a few practices, form a relationship with these and prove yourself and you should be able to get in that route.
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