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Non-relevant degree but want a career in accountancy

Hi

I have realised I want to pursue a career in the financial field, particularly the accountancy sector. But I am a first year student doing a degree in History. I have tried to get a payroll or an account clerk job part-time but all of the advertisements I have seen want between 12 - 24 months experience in role. :frown: What should I do?

Also is it possible to do A levels at night school? I'm considering taking A Level accounting to help me with graduate scheme applications. :confused:

Extra Info:
At college I achieved the grades BBBcc at A level.
(edited 11 years ago)

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Reply 1
Avatar for M1011
M1011
19
Most accounting graduate schemes don't expect you to have experience in accounting. They only ask that you meet the academic criteria (2.1 and your ucas is OK for most roles) and show a genuine interest in the area (commercial awareness - read newspapers).

I'm joining one of the big4 in a few months and I do not have an accountancy degree or accountancy experience. They are far more interested in how you come across in interview (partner interview can be quite gruelling), how you perform on tests / exercises and how you match the competencies (all the usual, examples of teamwork, leadership etc..). Absolutely do not feel put out or even disadvantaged over not having an accountancy degree, they train you after all!

That said, decent experience was a huge help to me. I didn't have experience in accounting, but I did have a year in industry within a professional setting to talk about. So I'd advise you to definitely keep working on gaining experience!
Reply 2
Avatar for Howbeit
Howbeit
19
Perhaps you can get onto a finance Masters course? I think degrees that have at least some aspects of maths or statistics helps but I think many only want a 2.1 degree.
Reply 3
Avatar for monk_keys
monk_keys
16
Apply for 2013 grad schemes, your A-Levels and degree qualify you and lesser roles in accounting will require experience. They test your maths during the process anyway so you have the opportunity to show your ability. I'm a history graduate joining a top 10 firm in September.
Reply 4
Avatar for Kemik
Kemik
14
Don't do a masters unless you have no other option. It's a waste of money for accountancy as people want the professional qualifications rather than a masters. Your only problem will be your UCAS grades. They take the top 3 and I believe in most circumstances require 320 points. However, most of the Big 10 (rather than Big 4) will take 300. There's more than enough opportunities to move firm after your training contact too.
Reply 5
Avatar for M1011
M1011
19
Original post by Kemik
Don't do a masters unless you have no other option. It's a waste of money for accountancy as people want the professional qualifications rather than a masters. Your only problem will be your UCAS grades. They take the top 3 and I believe in most circumstances require 320 points. However, most of the Big 10 (rather than Big 4) will take 300. There's more than enough opportunities to move firm after your training contact too.


Audit and Tax within PWC and Deloitte are 300 UCAS :smile:
Original post by Kemik
Don't do a masters unless you have no other option. It's a waste of money for accountancy as people want the professional qualifications rather than a masters. Your only problem will be your UCAS grades. They take the top 3 and I believe in most circumstances require 320 points. However, most of the Big 10 (rather than Big 4) will take 300. There's more than enough opportunities to move firm after your training contact too.


What are the prospects with just BBC at A Level
Reply 7
Avatar for U.Ahmed
U.Ahmed
9
Original post by The Doggfather
What are the prospects with just BBC at A Level


Even though I am a first year, I have looking at the requirements for various companies and their grad. schemes on the ICAEW website.
Other than the top 4 and few select others, you should be at no disadvantage when it comes to applying with BBC (280 UCAS)

:smile:
Original post by U.Ahmed
Even though I am a first year, I have looking at the requirements for various companies and their grad. schemes on the ICAEW website.
Other than the top 4 and few select others, you should be at no disadvantage when it comes to applying with BBC (280 UCAS)

:smile:


Great, nice one

I knew having BBC at A Level would mean no chance with the big 4 or some others, but I'm wondering what the average salary would be with any other firm, like 10-20 rank? I can't find any statistics on this, do you know?
Reply 9
Avatar for U.Ahmed
U.Ahmed
9
Original post by The Doggfather
Great, nice one

I knew having BBC at A Level would mean no chance with the big 4 or some others, but I'm wondering what the average salary would be with any other firm, like 10-20 rank? I can't find any statistics on this, do you know?


Well, top 4 offer around 28k as a starting salary fro grad schemes.
Average graduate accountant salary is around 21k.
So for a top 10-20 firm, your probably looking at low to mid 20's.
There aren't any stats on this though, so I have just had a bit of a guess, but I dont think I will be too far off.
:smile:
Reply 10
Avatar for Zacho
Zacho
12
Original post by U.Ahmed
Well, top 4 offer around 28k as a starting salary fro grad schemes.
Average graduate accountant salary is around 21k.
So for a top 10-20 firm, your probably looking at low to mid 20's.
There aren't any stats on this though, so I have just had a bit of a guess, but I dont think I will be too far off.
:smile:


The above is for London salaries. Regional big four is around 21k. Top 10 to 20 would probably be a couple of thousand less.
btw going to uni is all about the experience :wink:
Reply 12
Avatar for U.Ahmed
U.Ahmed
9
Original post by Zacho
The above is for London salaries. Regional big four is around 21k. Top 10 to 20 would probably be a couple of thousand less.


Good point, sorry about that.
I am from London so I have only researched London salaries.
Original post by The Doggfather
What are the prospects with just BBC at A Level


http://www.accountancyage.com/static/top50-this-year

Look at the firms on this list, I know Baker Tilly only requires 260 UCAS points and a lot of them are around the 260-280 points too. It's only really the big 4 firms that want 300.
Points come from AS and A levels...
Most top firms specify 3 A levels, first sitting.
Reply 16
Avatar for M1011
M1011
19
Original post by accountant-future
Points come from AS and A levels...


As above, this is wrong when applying for grad jobs. Never seen any ask for anything other than UCAS from top 3, most of the time first sitting.
When you say first sitting, does that mean 'first exam mark' or final mark from 'first year of sitting that subject'? For example, if i did Maths A level and at A2 C3 i did in January and got 69, but re-sat that summer and got 85, does the final mark count as a second sitting?
Reply 18
Avatar for M1011
M1011
19
Original post by delasandro
When you say first sitting, does that mean 'first exam mark' or final mark from 'first year of sitting that subject'? For example, if i did Maths A level and at A2 C3 i did in January and got 69, but re-sat that summer and got 85, does the final mark count as a second sitting?


Yes that would be a resit. Essentially they are asking for your A-levels not including any resits, so you might have to calculate them yourself. They'll ask for proof (transcripts) so it's worth being truthful, as however crappy it might seem that you can't apply because you resat a paper 4 years ago, it'll be worse still if you do all the application procedure, get a job, then get rejected when they check your transcripts!
Original post by M1011
Yes that would be a resit. Essentially they are asking for your A-levels not including any resits, so you might have to calculate them yourself. They'll ask for proof (transcripts) so it's worth being truthful, as however crappy it might seem that you can't apply because you resat a paper 4 years ago, it'll be worse still if you do all the application procedure, get a job, then get rejected when they check your transcripts!


I don't think it means module resit. I emailed PwC and they said as long as it was obtained in 2 years (the whole A Level), its fine.

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