AAT or ACCA?

ninjabib · 12 Oct 2016 at 14:43

Back again!

Previously posted enquiring about becoming a mortgage advisor however after more deliberation i've given some thought to becoming an accountant.

I've been aware of AAT for a long while now and was looking into that but someone mentioned ACCA as being the better certification to follow but couldn't explain why (I assumed they passied on what they heard from a friend).

Currently in my mid 30s, got a degree (not finance related) in Sound Engineering , JUST got a mortgage :mad:

. Earning 35k-ish. No kids. Live alone.

Currently working in a soul destroying job for a car manufacturer but redudancies are being made and as i am an agency worker i fear for my future. I survived the first round of cuts yesterday but more to come at Xmas.

So this leads onto my second question at which point/level on the learning path on either course could i start to apply for junior accounting roles or would i not be able to until i finished the course completely?

If my current company make me redundant i'd happily take any job to keep a roof over my head while learning but the goal is to get out there and earn and learn at same time!

Thanks in advance

ninjabib · 12 Oct 2016 at 16:15

Thanks for the info. So if you were in my position which one would you start with Cheesyboy?

ninjabib · 12 Oct 2016 at 20:18

wingman said:
You could certainly apply for a junior role but you'd need to take a major cut in salary with no experience in the field, on the flip side you'd be hard pushed to jump into a role which requires either qualifications, experience or indeed, both.

Is your current role soul destroying or the industry itself? Accountancy is something you'll need to work at for many years to understand and progress within, not trying to put you off but you need to be realistic about your expectations, so long as you are then more power to you. Accountancy isn't something that's for everyone, and certainly has it's moments of soulless work.

Many thanks for the info!

1) I understand i'd have to take a major cut and happy to do so. Is it possible to get an entry level job in Accounting armed with a desire to get on and proof of self-study? I could go down to 20k rock bottom to afford my mortgage. Happy to take a loss for now to get back up in a few years time.

2) My current role. It is menial labour work. Repeating a process every 80 seconds or so. Only been there 2 years and it takes 5 to get a contract/sick pay/pension/ability to apply for internal promotion etc. Literally a dead end job but one that pays well.

For the little it's worth i did Accountacy A level many moons ago but due to personal circumstances had to drop out after finishing year 1 of college. That year i did however i quite enjoyed Accounting. Accepted ACCA is a lot more advanced.

ninjabib · 13 Oct 2016 at 14:45

As mentioned i left at end of year 1 but we had to take an exam to continue which i passed anyway. It got me a GCSE 'B' in Accountancy. Any use?

Being honest i can't remember how to do anything from it really, just remember the terminology, purchase ledgers, balance sheets, depreciation etc.

To clarify i was not asking for a company to support me, i've always been self-taught with my IT qualifications, paid myself and studied in my own time.

ninjabib · 13 Oct 2016 at 19:47

Cheer Rids!

Just spoken to ACCA and they say although i have no A-Levels my Degree supersedes them so i am eligible to start on F1. I don't have to do CAT.

So ACCA for me is what you would recommend?