[bong]

I am just curious as to whether a degree in Accounting and Finance would restrict me to Accountancy in the long term. I have only started looking in to this course, as I was initially considering Maths & Economics. Any advice from qualified Accountants would be great. What are alternative career prospects after graduating and getting the ACA/ACCA/CIMA ? Cheers

[Regent]

(Original post by bong)
I am just curious as to whether a degree in Accounting and Finance would restrict me to Accountancy in the long term. I have only started looking in to this course, as I was initially considering Maths & Economics. Any advice from qualified Accountants would be great. What are alternative career prospects after graduating and getting the ACA/ACCA/CIMA ? Cheers

If you have the intelligence to do Maths & Economics then don't bother with A&F.

[Kemik]

(Original post by Regent)
If you have the intelligence to do Maths & Economics then don't bother with A&F.

What are you getting at?

[Regent]

(Original post by Kemik)
What are you getting at?

That Maths & Economics is a much more academically challenging degree than A&F and many take the latter degree wrongly assuming its the only way they can get into accounting (in my experience).

It's actually funny to see their faces when they hear their mates, many of whom are studying degrees like history, have secured offers in large accounting firms while they have not.

[Kemik]

(Original post by Regent)
That Maths & Economics is a much more academically challenging degree than A&F and many take the latter degree wrongly assuming its the only way they can get into accounting (in my experience).

It's actually funny to see their faces when they hear their mates, many of whom are studying degrees like history, have secured offers in large accounting firms while they have not.

Have you done an A&F degree?

An A&F degree from a decent Uni actually gives a lot of the exemptions from the entry level exams. A Maths degree won't help you any more than an A&F degree will to get into the Big Four.

[Regent]

(Original post by Kemik)
Have you done an A&F degree?

An A&F degree from a decent Uni actually gives a lot of the exemptions from the entry level exams. A Maths degree won't help you any more than an A&F degree will to get into the Big Four.

I agree. If you absolutely know that you want to be an accountant then, given the exemptions you'd recieve, A&F is probably the best way to go.

[non]

(Original post by Regent)
I agree. If you absolutely know that you want to be an accountant then, given the exemptions you'd recieve, A&F is probably the best way to go.

A & f usually has lower entrance requirements so you can go to better uni than something like Maths. Also is it good if you don't know what you want to do or is it to specialised?

[yothi5]

(Original post by bong)
I am just curious as to whether a degree in Accounting and Finance would restrict me to Accountancy in the long term. I have only started looking in to this course, as I was initially considering Maths & Economics. Any advice from qualified Accountants would be great. What are alternative career prospects after graduating and getting the ACA/ACCA/CIMA ? Cheers

With a degree from a good uni, you can do anything you want except from technical science jobs.

[annah583]

(Original post by Kemik)
Have you done an A&F degree?

An A&F degree from a decent Uni actually gives a lot of the exemptions from the entry level exams. A Maths degree won't help you any more than an A&F degree will to get into the Big Four.

True, but those who took the exemptions in my year struggled more at the later stages as they had not learned the same syllabus as the professional qualification.

Plus several firms (Big 4 especially) restrict the exemptions they will let you take.

[non]

(Original post by annah583)
True, but those who took the exemptions in my year struggled more at the later stages as they had not learned the same syllabus as the professional qualification.

Plus several firms (Big 4 especially) restrict the exemptions they will let you take.

A & f usually has lower entrance requirements so you can go to better uni than if you take something like Maths. Also is A & F good if you may not want to be an accountant in the future or is it to specialised?

[alexsasg]

I read the title of this thread and thought "What? Career prospects after Abercrombie & Fitch?!"

[Kemik]

(Original post by annah583)
True, but those who took the exemptions in my year struggled more at the later stages as they had not learned the same syllabus as the professional qualification.

Plus several firms (Big 4 especially) restrict the exemptions they will let you take.

Which Big 4 restrict the exemptions?

[Ice_Queen]

(Original post by Kemik)
Which Big 4 restrict the exemptions?

They don't. The Big 4 have no powers to restrict what the professional bodies will do in terms of your qualification.

The professional bodies themselves do recommend that if you are not competent in a subject (i.e. not at the standard required to pass the exam if you took it there and then) you should not accept an exemption, as each level builds on the previous one.


To answer the OP - Maths/Economics is a good way to go, if you are going to do well (i.e. if you enjoy it) and are not entirely certain you want to do A&F. I did Accountancy and got quite a lot of exemptions (it will vary depending on course, and all exemptions are at the discretion of the professional body) which have jump started my quals a bit!

[Kemik]

(Original post by Ice_Queen)
They don't. The Big 4 have no powers to restrict what the professional bodies will do in terms of your qualification.

I was thinking that myself! KPMG Tax make you sit the mocks but you still get the exemptions. KPMG audit and Deloitte Audit both definitely give the exemptinos straight away.

[Londonpie72]

I do not regret doing an AF degree because in my uni I was able to study a wide range of modules such as Auditing, Tax, Banking, Law, Information systems and IT, Financial accounting, management accounting etc. I got through to the final stage at a big 4 and didn't get through, have now received email saying they would now consider me for a similar role. As to exemptions for ACA I will get 5 exemptions, for ACCA i will get 6 exemptions and for CIMA will get 7 so can't complaint.

The reason why those that study history also get offers into big 4 and other Accountancy firms is because they do not require any specific subject so anyone can apply.

Although I will receive exemptions i will still have a look at the study material and probably go through sections which was not covered in detail and continuous professional development is a requirement.

[bong]

(Original post by non)
Also is A & F good if you may not want to be an accountant in the future or is it to specialised?

Thanks for the response guys, but my real concern is that^

Does a degree in A & F mean I can't go into other industries?

[non]

(Original post by Londonpie72)
I do not regret doing an AF degree because in my uni I was able to study a wide range of modules such as Auditing, Tax, Banking, Law, Information systems and IT, Financial accounting, management accounting etc. I got through to the final stage at a big 4 and didn't get through, have now received email saying they would now consider me for a similar role. As to exemptions for ACA I will get 5 exemptions, for ACCA i will get 6 exemptions and for CIMA will get 7 so can't complaint.

The reason why those that study history also get offers into big 4 and other Accountancy firms is because they do not require any specific subject so anyone can apply.

Although I will receive exemptions i will still have a look at the study material and probably go through sections which was not covered in detail and continuous professional development is a requirement.

but is it suitable for a non accountant job? just like history or economics would be suitable for most jobs?

[Londonpie72]

I would assume it will be suitable for non accountant jobs, I know people have gone into IB with Accounting and Finance degree. With graduate scheme they do not care what you studied as far as you pass through the application process.

[non]

(Original post by Londonpie72)
I would assume it will be suitable for non accountant jobs, I know people have gone into IB with Accounting and Finance degree. With graduate scheme they do not care what you studied as far as you pass through the application process.

What about for a quant role at an IB? Is it quantitative enough to get a good masters and maybe a phd?

[kersteelou]

Think about the skills you will get from the A&F degree.
Anything that relates somewhat to finance (so banking/setting up a business to some extent) will be possible but if you consider:

(Original post by Londonpie72)
... I was able to study a wide range of modules such as Auditing, Tax, Banking, Law, Information systems and IT, Financial accounting, management accounting etc...

You'll be doing similar modules. So anything that relates to those modules is also available to you. It all depends on what you want to do and what you will personally gain from the course that you can tell your employer about.