How can I become accountant with unrelated degree? Accountancy advice

compboyo

compboyo

compboyo

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So firstly, I have:

Sports Science degree

ok laugh but then I also have:

Higher: Maths, Accounts, Physics- A's

And

Standard Grade:

Accounts, Maths, Physics- 1's


So you can see despite my degree I did have a keen interest and high ability with numbers, maths, accounts. Sports science was only for fun. I actually did enjoy accounts at school so I guess career maybe Id enjoy somewhat or would not be bad?


Now, I am graduated I dont want to have to start all over again..I also don't want to work for some big company doing graduate scheme as that is not my personalty.



I would like to somehow become qualified accountant or even bookkeeper ASAP. The quickest route possible.

Then I would look for small company for quick start job possibly?



I also would like to specialize in an area but unsure yet.

However, I dont want a career over life. So, maybe accounts is wrong for me? I also dont like or desire to work for big company or big offices.

I prefer more free time than work time..Though I am willing to work hard for 5-10 years to become self employed and then work my own hours.

That is my plan.

Any advice?

cheers
 
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I wouldn't say your chances were great, various bsc or ba degrees would be a routine route to accounting but sport science?

Try phoning some recruiters would be my advice, they have the knowledge and experience. Your A-levels will clearly help but assuming your maths and physics were good grades everyone will know your degree was a doss.

don't know if that's a good thing or not, perhaps better than thinking sports science was all you could do.
 
Telescopi said:
I wouldn't say your chances were great, various bsc or ba degrees would be a routine route to accounting but sport science?

Try phoning some recruiters would be my advice, they have the knowledge and experience. Your A-levels will clearly help but assuming your maths and physics were good grades everyone will know your degree was a doss.

don't know if that's a good thing or not, perhaps better than thinking sports science was all you could do.
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Well I also achieved 1's for 1st year uni physics+maths. As I initally enrolled on MSc Physics.

I just changed to sports science after 1st year as I disliked it and wanted to do something more enjoyable.


For me the degree was a fun thing..But I guess thats not what employers want nor will it look good against other competing candidates who studied ''harder'' degrees with ''work'' purposes rather than pleasure.
 
Go for CIMA's CBA qualification and then look to get in at a very basic level in a company. ie - Credit control or similar and then try and work your way up as your qualifications\experience allow.

Would be tough to find a way in, but if you can just get yourself on the bottom ladder you've clearly got the ability to go far. :)
 
You don't even need a degree to become an accountant. CIMA, ACCA, ACA are all achievable without degrees. You might have to get onboard with a company, then moan enough to let you do the training though or you can do start doing it by yourself.
 
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My sister became an accountant with a completely unrelated degree (and maths A level). She got a job with a financial institution as a trainee on their graduate programme and they put her through the professional courses, exams, etc.

Seems to be doing quite well with it now.
 
You don't need a degree.

You can get a job in practice/industry who will support you in ACA/ACCA/CIMA, or you can go the AAT ---> ACCA/ACA route.

There are several home study routes such as Kaplan and BPP.

All a relevant degree will do is exempt you from certain foundation modules/exams.
 
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You can also go AAT ---> CIMA with no issues

I would get yourself to the websites and check out the courses and details they can provide.

Very few companies now place any real pressure to be qualified X or Y over Z, they prefer a qualified accountant, then after 5-10 or so experience becomes the most attractive element.
 
Sukh said:
Apply to a Big 4 firm?

You don't need a related degree to be an accountant!
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He does say that he doesn't want to work for a big firm though. However you're right, a related degree isn't needed, in fact no degree is needed although having one might give you certain exemptions from the foundation levels of any of the qualifications.

compboyo: if you don't want to work for a big firm then it's probably worth investigating what smaller local companies are offering, some may want an accounts trainee and will pay you through your qualification.
 
I just re read the op, but I still think the easiest quickest way to get qualified is in a big firm.

If you don't want to work for a big 4 firm, try a top 10 firm?
 
Sukh said:
I just re read the op, but I still think the easiest quickest way to get qualified is in a big firm.

If you don't want to work for a big 4 firm, try a top 10 firm?
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Any practice accountant would offer a route that is just a quick. You do not need to got to a big firm at all if you do not want to. A smaller high street Charter Accountancy would do just as well.

A big 4 or top 10 just looks good on your CV.
 
So as far as I understand it, most highstreet practices will only be able to do ACCA et al, not ACA/CA. This limits you to a certain number of papers per sitting, which means that it will take some time.

If you are very good and go to a top firm, you could take all your papers inside a 12 month period.
 
FYI if you go with ACCA, after you've completed the fundamentals level(9 exams and a professional ethics module) you can gain a degree in Applied Accounting through Oxford Brookes University after completing a research project.

They also award a diploma and advanced diploma in Accounting and Finance, after completion of the first three exams and first nine exams of the fundamentals level.

May be something to consider if you want to gain relevant qualifications along the way.
 
Sukh said:
So as far as I understand it, most highstreet practices will only be able to do ACCA et al, not ACA/CA. This limits you to a certain number of papers per sitting, which means that it will take some time.

If you are very good and go to a top firm, you could take all your papers inside a 12 month period.
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Which means nothing when you still need 450 days of relevant work experience with a registered firm to be time qualified.

OP: do what you like, AAT->something (AAT is a waste of time really with a good degree) or just apply to any accounting firm, you'll get in to a graduate program with any degree 2:1 or more.
 
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