Accountancy - No Degree

01-05-2015 10:42am #1

I have a buddy who is thinking of going down the accountancy route. He did a very good leaving cert (500 points +) but he did carpentry, qualified in it and toured around for the last 7-8 years.

He's 28 and has grown tired of the Industry. He is a very bright lad and he wants to get into accountancy.

I'm just looking for what advice to give him.

Do the Big 4 accept trainee's with no degree?
He is open to do ACCA or ACA.
Should he do a degree? (personally not too keen on this as it's 3-4 year course and then he has to do at least (3 to 3.5) years work experience before your a qualified accountant).

Any bit of advice or if you know of others in a similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

shuyin1 · 01-05-2015 2:42pm

0028673 wrote: »

I have a buddy who is thinking of going down the accountancy route. He did a very good leaving cert (500 points +) but he did carpentry, qualified in it and toured around for the last 7-8 years.

He's 28 and has grown tired of the Industry. He is a very bright lad and he wants to get into accountancy.

I'm just looking for what advice to give him.

1.Do the Big 4 accept trainee's with no degree?
He is open to do ACCA or ACA.
2.Should he do a degree? (personally not too keen on this as it's 3-4 year course and then he has to do at least years work experience before your qualified).

Any bit of advice or if you know of others in a similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

1. No
2. Would he like to work for a big4? see 1

If he can start training under acca he could be qualified in 3yrs.
College + big 4=6.5/7.5yrs total
aca from scratch=4yrs? not sure since no degree

01-05-2015 2:50pm

shuyin1 wrote: »

1. No
2. Would he like to work for a big4? see 1

If he can start training under acca he could be qualified in 3yrs.
College + big 4=6.5/7.5yrs total
aca from scratch=4yrs? not sure since no degree

Cheers for the reply..

Big 4 would be ideal but partly guessed that it would be very difficult with no degree.

Would a firm in practice take anyone on without a degree?

I feel the fact that he has never worked in an office will really go against him..

Personally I wouldn't be advising him to get a degree in accountancy... no good getting a degree for 3 years and when you start working only to find out that you hate it.

Ideally he would get a job that supported him for exams and to be gaining experience as he goes along..

Geniass · 01-05-2015 2:50pm

0028673 wrote: »

then he has to do at least years work experience before your qualified).

For his degree?!?

For big 4 he'd need to have a degree (2.1 or 1.1) or a Masters (one year add on).

Technically he could enter a small CAI (ACA) practice with just his LC, but at his age I doubt it.

He could always study ACCA or CAI (ACA) through elevation and try for a starting role in industry.

01-05-2015 3:01pm

Geniass wrote: »

For his degree?!?

For big 4 he'd need to have a degree (2.1 or 1.1) or a Masters (one year add on).

Technically he could enter a small CAI (ACA) practice, but at his age I doubt it.

He could always study ACCA or CAI (ACA) through elevation and try for a starting role in industry.

I figured Big 4 would be very difficult but I still wanted to ask to be sure..

I work in Industry and went at the exams late in the day as well. I turned down a practice job basically cuz the money was better in Industry.

I feel the lack of a degree or and relevant experience in an office will be more a hindrance than he's age..

But I could be wrong..

adrianw · 01-05-2015 3:06pm

Just out of interest why would Big 4 be ideal - Because of the brand? People who train in smaller firms also manage to learn a few things about accountancy.

01-05-2015 3:12pm

adrianw wrote: »

Just out of interest why would Big 4 be ideal - Because of the brand? People who train in smaller firms also manage to learn a few things about accountancy.

Exactly. In my imo it is a huge addition to have on your CV and makes it easier to further your career.

I certainly wasn't denigrating people's training in other firms.

adrianw · 01-05-2015 3:15pm

i think the intake for 2015 for most of them is probably already full by now. So he'd probably be looking at September 2016 at this stage.

Whoisin thehouse · 01-05-2015 5:22pm

ACCA is probably a bit more flexible for somebody with his experience. He could continue to work and study in the evenings, if he completes the first 3 ACCA papers he will get a Certificate so at least he would have that in his back pocket if he decides it does not suit him. Some of the private colleges run ACCA on a Full Time basis which might be interest to him.

He is still very young at 28, about 40 years left of working so an investment now of 3 or 4 years is a wise consideration, with over 500 points in the leaving he should be well able for either ACCA or ACA.

He will be a very useful accountant to somebody in the construction industry in a few years .....

prettyrestless · 01-05-2015 5:45pm

ACCA/ACA might be difficult without a degree. I know people who did the accounting technician exams (1-2 years) then got a job in a small practice and did the CPA exams (about 3 years). CPA isn't as renowned as the other qualifications but may be something to bear in mind.

bulmersgal · 02-05-2015 10:47pm

I done accounts technician myself then got accepted into the 3rd year of a degree and got a job as accounts payable. Have recently got a trainee role in practice and have started ACCA I got exempt from 7 out of 14.

If I was to do it again for the amount of money I spent it would of been better to just do Acca as I had to pay exam fees for my exemption so wasn't cheap but in saying that if I had of decided to stop I would still have a degree and be a accounts technician

Marcusm · 04-05-2015 9:35pm

It's a shame if the big 4 have abandoned school leaver entry - there were 75 of us in my NCIR year but I guess that's showing my age in itself. It will be interesting to see if it becomes accessible again - the big 4 have started taking on school leavers again on an extended contract where, for certain firms, they complete the contract with both a degree and an ACA qualification.

07-05-2015 12:15pm

Hello all, I'm posting from Chartered Accountants Ireland Careers Team.

I just wanted to point out that the above mentioned "Elevation" route is now called the "Flexible Option" and allows students train in the same fashion as Elevation, ie outside of a training contract and with flexible exam options.

There is also a school leaver "direct" route with Accounting Technicians Ireland, which allows entry into the Chartered Accountancy programme. Students can complete Year 1 ATI exams and proceed to CAP 1, as long as they gain a Merit in the ATI exams. Students can also complete the 2nd year ATI exams, and start CAP 1 with three exemptions.

If anyone has any questions, please PM me.

EveT · 13-05-2015 11:33pm

I did the Aca school leaver route In industry, pm me if you have any questions. Finished 2 years and like him I had 500+ points

Accountancy - No Degree

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