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Career change to Accountancy!!!

  • 20-03-2009 12:54am
    #1
    pajoblue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭


    Hi Guys

    I'd like some advice from all you experienced Accountancy types please?

    I'm mid 30's - a Chartered Civil Engineer with 10 years experience in Project Management / Sewer Network Modelling. Imagine - people say Accountancy is boring!!! But I've given all that up and been self employed for 2 years but with the current climate that just isn't working out. So back to work I go.....

    I'm seriously considering embarking on re-training in Accountancy. I know, I know that is a massive undertaking!!! Trouble is I don't have Accounting qualifications beyond GCSE (I'm in Northern Ireland) but do have good mathematical A-levels (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) and Degree (Civil Eng).

    Where do I start? I can't afford to study full-time. Is there any chance whatsoever of gaining paid employment as a trainee technician /junior etc and going fairly quickly through the ranks through my own hard work. Would that involve doing IATI/ACCA CAT exams even though my long term goal is to become a Chartered Accountant..... Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also any idea of approximate pay one might expect on the way through the ranks - obviously I wouldn't expect much early on but after 2 years -assuming maximum progress on exams etc -should I still expect to earn a pittance?


Comments

  • #2
    Vaioer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 96 ✭✭Vaioer


    Have you thought of joining the Advisory/Consultancy arms of one of the bigger firms?

    I'm a trainee in that end and there are a number of people who have swapped over and used their Project Management as an "in", then training as they go along.


  • #3
    Carb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 831 ✭✭✭Carb


    You could go the ACCA route. I don't think your qualifications will gain you exemptions, but there are numerous ways of studying for the exams, mainly home study or evening courses. You could try some of these to make sure that you're happy this is what you want to do and at that point, the exams passed may help you get into a trainee role. The money is unlikely to be great, depending on where you are based.


  • #4
    Audio
    Closed Accounts Posts: 38 ✭Audio


    Im 28 now and decided to switch career last January. Was working in financial sales and absoultely hated it so just packed it in one day. I registered with CIMA and started doing the certificate level. I have a pharmacology degree but they gave me an exemption for Maths. I spent most of last year looking for a entry level accounts position without much success because of my lack of experience. Ive been temping in an unrelated area since I left my sales job last January. Ive completed 4 CIMA cert exams (inc my exemption) in the last year through home study. They are not difficult really. I have one left to do now and then I will move on to the managerial.

    Ive just been offered a position on the Arcadia finance graduate programme so absolutely chuffed. It may seen a bit daunting at first but if you pereserve you will get there...


  • #5
    Collumbo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 180 ✭✭Collumbo


    Pajo, do either ACCA or CIMA.. depending on what you want to get out of it. CIMA has more business strategy style subjects thrown in and is let's say a bit more "rounded". ACCA takes Financial Reporting to a very high level... so if that sort of thing takes your fancy, that is the one you should do. My background - Degree in Comp. Science then hopped to CIMA after 3 years of work. Lots of people from many different backgrounds in the class so don't be shy to get going.


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