How to become an accountant

I'm currently on a gap year and want to change my degree. I'm not someone who particularly has any passions/knows what job they want. I know I'd rather work alone, I'm a quick learner and I'm good at maths. With this a lot of people have said that accounting is a shout but I don't have much knowledge about the job itself and its branches etc.
I think I can switch to an accounting and finance degree at my uni (I deferred so I have my place) with my grades but I know it's a very common degree. So my questions to the accountants are:
1) what did you do in uni that made you stand out more to employers?
2) what is a CA/ACCA and is it a requirement?
3) can you work from home/is your job flexible?
4) what is the best route to take to be successful in this profession?
would you recommend going to uni or doing an apprenticeship?
5) I know there are some exams you have to take are those done in uni or afterwards? And how do they work?
6) are you content/satisfied with your job? Would you recommend it?
7) At what point do people go private and is it better?
Sorry for all the questions. I've seen very mixed answers so I wanted to gain some clarity.
I'd appreciate any knowledge and advice! Thank you for reading!

I'm currently on a gap year and want to change my degree. I'm not someone who particularly has any passions/knows what job they want. I know I'd rather work alone, I'm a quick learner and I'm good at maths. With this a lot of people have said that accounting is a shout but I don't have much knowledge about the job itself and its branches etc.
I think I can switch to an accounting and finance degree at my uni (I deferred so I have my place) with my grades but I know it's a very common degree. So my questions to the accountants are:
1) what did you do in uni that made you stand out more to employers?
2) what is a CA/ACCA and is it a requirement?
3) can you work from home/is your job flexible?
4) what is the best route to take to be successful in this profession?
would you recommend going to uni or doing an apprenticeship?
5) I know there are some exams you have to take are those done in uni or afterwards? And how do they work?
6) are you content/satisfied with your job? Would you recommend it?
7) At what point do people go private and is it better?
Sorry for all the questions. I've seen very mixed answers so I wanted to gain some clarity.
I'd appreciate any knowledge and advice! Thank you for reading!

Good evening,
It sounds like a tough decision you are trying to make.
There is an ambassador scheme at the University of Reading where prospective students can message current students. There is a current accountant student to whom you can message and ask these questions as they are currently studying for the degree and will have had work placements or some insight into the job. You can message Navid a 1st year undergraduate here.
I hope this can help you gain some of the answers you need.
All the best,
Ella
BSc Ecology.

Hi, I’m not currently an accountant but I will be starting a job in an accounting firm this year so I thought I’d try to help answer a few of your questions.
1) I would recommend doing insight days at firms you’d like to work at in first year and internships in 2nd year as these could fast-track you for a grad job at the firm, and maybe take up positions of responsibility in uni societies e.g. treasurer
2) those are accounting qualifications and I believe you would have to complete a qualification in order to become a chartered accountant and progress in your career. Qualifications include ACA, ACCA, CIMA…, and I’m pretty sure CA is a Scottish qualification equivalent to the ACA. From grad schemes I’ve seen, accounting firms usually train graduates in the ACA for audit jobs whereas finance grad schemes in other types of firms are usually ACCA or CIMA
3) Accounting firms usually state that there is hybrid working (usually 2-3 days in the office) but you will have to adapt to your client’s needs and this may also depend on your team/manager
4) I’ve seen accounting firms state that doing a degree apprenticeship or doing a grad scheme after uni will get you to the same place afterwards so it depends on if you would be able to manage working and studying at the same time at an earlier age on a degree apprenticeship (as this can be very intense), and whether you would want student debt. However, you will have to work and study for a professional qualification at the same time on a grad scheme too.
5) the exams would be for the professional qualification you take e.g. the ACA, which are usually done after uni, though if you do an accounting degree you may receive exemptions for some exams. You can research what topics will be studied and how they will be assessed on the different qualification websites e.g. if you’ll be studying the ACA you can Google that to find out that information. There are compulsory and optional papers and the exams may be in-person or online, and you may be permitted to resit exams too.
I hope this helps, I’ve answered some of the questions to the best of my knowledge

I'm currently on a gap year and want to change my degree. I'm not someone who particularly has any passions/knows what job they want. I know I'd rather work alone, I'm a quick learner and I'm good at maths. With this a lot of people have said that accounting is a shout but I don't have much knowledge about the job itself and its branches etc.

I think I can switch to an accounting and finance degree at my uni (I deferred so I have my place) with my grades but I know it's a very common degree. So my questions to the accountants are:

1) what did you do in uni that made you stand out more to employers?
2) what is a CA/ACCA and is it a requirement?
3) can you work from home/is your job flexible?
4) what is the best route to take to be successful in this profession?
would you recommend going to uni or doing an apprenticeship?
5) I know there are some exams you have to take are those done in uni or afterwards? And how do they work?
6) are you content/satisfied with your job? Would you recommend it?
7) At what point do people go private and is it better?
Sorry for all the questions. I've seen very mixed answers so I wanted to gain some clarity.
I'd appreciate any knowledge and advice! Thank you for reading!

It helps a ton thank you so much! Good luck at your new job I hope it goes well!