[Jennie1987]

(Original post by Kemik)
Zero. You need experience for all professional accounting qualifications. Which course? The exams?

Hi,

I spoke with an accountant colleague today and its fine, he said just go speak to a HR person at an accountancy firm.

[Illusionary]

(Original post by Jennie1987)
Hi,

I spoke with an accountant colleague today and its fine, he said just go speak to a HR person at an accountancy firm.

Your post is a little vague - you can certainly get a training contract without any prior experience, but the contract itself with incorporate the practical work experience required for the qualification. The experience requirement is set by the Recognised Qualifying Bodies (ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, CIPFA, ACCA and AIA), not by the firm that you train with.

[Jennie1987]

(Original post by Illusionary)
Your post is a little vague - you can certainly get a training contract without any prior experience, but the contract itself with incorporate the practical work experience required for the qualification. The experience requirement is set by the Recognised Qualifying Bodies (ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, CIPFA, ACCA and AIA), not by the firm that you train with.

I was just saying i'm all sorted, I got what I needed - i wasnt asking for any more help.

And I know that the experience requirement is set by the associations etc.

[Illusionary]

(Original post by Jennie1987)
I was just saying i'm all sorted, I got what I needed - i wasnt asking for any more help.

And I know that the experience requirement is set by the associations etc.

Glad you got what you needed then

[Kslayer]

(Original post by Illusionary)
Glad you got what you needed then

Hey Illusionary,
Its me being nosey here. Hows it going with your job in the big 4? Did you go to university yourself before managing to get a placement?

Take it easy,
K

[Illusionary]

(Original post by Kslayer)
Hey Illusionary,
Its me being nosey here. Hows it going with your job in the big 4? Did you go to university yourself before managing to get a placement?

Take it easy,
K

Hi
I'm just coming to the end of my second year now, and I'm half-way through the (comparatively short, at 2×2 weeks) training course for my final exam (a case study, as is the case for most professional qualifications), with the exam itself at the start of November. The work in my second year has certainly been more varied and technically-minded than the first year, which makes it much more satisfying, and I'm generally enjoying the work - I'm just really hoping the last exam goes well!

As for how I got the position, I completed an internship with the firm during the summer before my final year at university, and I received an offer of a permanent position after completing that. I'd say that probably about 60% or so of the year group in my office took a similar route.

[Kslayer]

(Original post by Illusionary)
Hi
*Shortened awesome reply*

Thanks! I am currently studying towards my AAT technician qualification come September and have been working in an appreticeship scheme for my local county council.

I really want to aspire and move onto to bigger and better things and have got two options I see viable:
Either a degree or
If I was to move into a private firm that would support me in studying a further qualification in Acca or aca.

The council will support me in studying into further education but I am more ambitious than working my way on up through here.

Which degree/uni did you go to?

K

[Illusionary]

(Original post by Kslayer)
Thanks! I am currently studying towards my AAT technician qualification come September and have been working in an appreticeship scheme for my local county council.

I really want to aspire and move onto to bigger and better things and have got two options I see viable:
Either a degree or
If I was to move into a private firm that would support me in studying a further qualification in Acca or aca.

The council will support me in studying into further education but I am more ambitious than working my way on up through here.

Which degree/uni did you go to?

K

Best of luck with qualification . I know that AAT -> ACA or ACCA is certainly a very viable route - you needn't necessarily have a degree to get a training contract with one of the larger firms once you've got the AAT qualification (I don't specifically know anyone who's done this, but it's often referred to). While it's notable that those on a graduate scheme probably see faster advancement, the three years that you'd spend getting a degree could quite easily offset that.

As for my degree, I studied Natural Sciences (specialising in chemistry) at Cambridge. Yes, I know it's got no direct link into financial work, but a large proportion of all graduate positions don't require any specific degree subject. I had a background interest in accountancy due to family involvement in the profession before starting university, and work experience with GT (in audit) and then my EY internship (in tax) guided my eventual direction.

[Kevin J]

How difficult would it be to land a job in accountancy outside of London with low ucas points (220)? I'm still at uni.

[fuzzybluelight]

I come from a science background when I did my A-level. But being attracted by the range of career options, salary and respect that comes with being a professional in accountancy, I chose the CAT qualification as I believe it provided a strong foundation in accounting skills and knowledge as well as the opportunity to progress to the ACCA Qualification. I hope to gain a BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University once I have progresses to the ACCA Qualification.

[borbts]

In terms of the Accountancy Qualifications that the BIG 4 firms(PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, KPMG, and Ernst & Young) provide for new trainees, this is a useful guide

http://www.bringonretirement.co.uk/H...ng-bodies.aspx

It tells you about which bodies the different firms send their trainees to and helped me decide to apply to Ernst & Young.

[RobbieC]

Probably not the place for this, but I passed my first two ACA (proper) exams. AA and FA. Quite pleased, as FA felt like a fail. Anyone else get their results friday? Best wishes if you did.

[jobo3]

(Original post by RobbieC)
Probably not the place for this, but I passed my first two ACA (proper) exams. AA and FA. Quite pleased, as FA felt like a fail. Anyone else get their results friday? Best wishes if you did.

Didn't know you did accounting now!

I'm working at PwC in the summer.

Reckon the aca's harder than Durham Physics then?

[RobbieC]

(Original post by jobo3)
Didn't know you did accounting now!

I'm working at PwC in the summer.

Reckon the aca's harder than Durham Physics then?

Not at all dude. Not for me anyway... but it's solid hard work in a short space of time.

You doing an internship program then?

[jobo3]

(Original post by RobbieC)
Not at all dude. Not for me anyway... but it's solid hard work in a short space of time.

You doing an internship program then?

lol, I didn't think it'd be able to match up to EM.

Aye, just for 6 weeks in the summer. Who do you work for?

[RobbieC]

(Original post by jobo3)
lol, I didn't think it'd be able to match up to EM.

Aye, just for 6 weeks in the summer. Who do you work for?

Baker Tilly.

And it doesn't even hold a candle to EM.

[UniGrad2010]

Hi everyone,

I have been offered a graduate finance role in a manufacturing company where they have offered to pay for me to study towards an ACCA qualification. Although this is a good offer as it pays very well and is located near where I live, my goal is to become an accountant and practise accountancy services.

How easy will it be for me to transfer from gaining my ACCA in industry to working in a practise?

Please can someone inform me of how easy this will be?

Many Thanks

[456789]

Depends what exactly you mean by 'practise accountancy services' do you mean you want to start your own firm?

You will sit these exams: http://www.accaglobal.com/students/acca/exams/ which will cover accounting, tax etc. will give you all the technical knowledge that you will need

You will be able to start your own firm as you will be a member of a CCAB body once you finish ACCA - but in your finance role you will probably be doing a different type of work to what you would do in a firm doing accounts/tax for external clients - so it would be best to work for an accounting firm for a while before starting your own firm to gain experience

[UniGrad2010]

Yes starting my own firm would be my end goal, but as you say I would probably need to gain some practical experience in a firm providing accounts/ tax for external clients. Do you think that I would be able to get a job in a practise with only technical knowledge, and limited practical knowledge from management accountancy only? Or do you think I would find this switch difficult?

Thanks for the advice.

Orlando

[456789]

It shouldn't be too difficult - quite a lot of people swap from industry to practice and vice versa

Though you will also be competing with people who have practice experience already but at the same time you will also build up contacts whilst working and through acca study in practice who might be able to help

My advice would be to just concentrate on completing your ACCA and once it is done you will have many career options available to you