After uni

What were your A levels and grades at GCSE in English and maths?

I got A in GCSE Maths and Bs in English. I did biology psychology and chemistry at A level and got CCD

Hey - thats good news! You'll pretty much always hit any GCSE requirement companies/ firms may have. Plus it sounds like you are doing great at university. Have you applied for year in industry/ summer schemes? What sort of jobs might you aspire to? What do you mean by 'finance industry'?

Hey. I have started applying to year long industrial placements. The kind of jobs im trying to aspire for jobs like financial analyst or something to do with financial accounting. I want to also do the ACCA exams so will probably need to look into getting a training contract for when I finish university.

Sounds great! You don't need a training contract as such for ACCA - certainly no in the same way as ACA. Grad schemes are still good though. Do you know how many ACCA exemptions you may have?

I think for the qualification and type of jobs you are aspiring to your A levels shouldn't present a particular barrier. It can be for chartered firms - but not all any more and it has been changing in recent years. I doubt your choice of university matters much at all based on peoples linkedin profiles I've seen over a long career in industry. This is also the case for chartered firms - their focus has often been A level grades and this gives the impression that the selection is by university.

Sounds great! You don't need a training contract as such for ACCA - certainly no in the same way as ACA. Grad schemes are still good though. Do you know how many ACCA exemptions you may have?

I think for the qualification and type of jobs you are aspiring to your A levels shouldn't present a particular barrier. It can be for chartered firms - but not all any more and it has been changing in recent years. I doubt your choice of university matters much at all based on peoples linkedin profiles I've seen over a long career in industry. This is also the case for chartered firms - their focus has often been A level grades and this gives the impression that the selection is by university.

Just to add, I’ve also been working as a bookkeeper and project assistant so there’s quite a few transferable skills from there as well.

You are building a really great CV - the year in industry job sounds like a great opportunity.

You are building a really great CV - the year in industry job sounds like a great opportunity.

Hello again, I just had a quick question. Lately I’ve been think whether to do an A Level during my placement year but I’m not sure if that would just be a waste of time and money. What do you think would be best?
Thank you.

Just to check - which A level would you consider taking? What would your objectives be? To improve chances in big 4/ top 10 chartered firms for grad scheme intake? Or for a broader interest?

Will you live close to where your placement year is based (with parents?) or have to manage a commute?

Hi, I was thinking of doing an accounting A level since I’m studying it at uni I think I would be able to get a pretty good grade. Yes the goal would be to improve my chances of getting into those firms.

I will have to commute. It’s like a 50min to 1 hour drive.

Hi, I was thinking of doing an accounting A level since I’m studying it at uni I think I would be able to get a pretty good grade. Yes the goal would be to improve my chances of getting into those firms.

I will have to commute. It’s like a 50min to 1 hour drive.

I think I wouldn't do that, and am confident that would have been the best advice 10 years or so ago when I researched consideration of sitting further A levels the in some detail. I've done some quick research and am not fully confident that things have not changed. Will look a bit further an write some notes.

I’m in my second year of university and I don’t want to be here anymore so you’re doing better than me buddy 👍

Great, thanks for your insight on this.

I'm learning a bit more.

Of interest - and because it may indirectly relate to the question - what non paid work experiences will you have for graduate applications which may be relevant to accounting jobs? I'm thinking leadership, societies and hobbies, perhaps activities which show coaching skills.

Also - do you know what scores you get on SHL type tests for numeracy and verbal reasoning and which population these were against? I'd imagine you are very strong at these to have got the job you are starting shortly?

I was talking about not wanting to be on this planet anymore but not being at university would be a good start. You could always drop out I guess, I might do considering how horrific I feel.