Business Accounting - Guidance?

MagicMarker

Hi Guys,

This seems to be the best place for me to seek guidance. I'm thinking of going to college part time in Sept to gain a Business Degree in Accounting, initially starting with this course.

I'm 26 and getting tired of working generic low paid jobs, and figure some kind of degree would benefit me in the long term. I always figured that if I went back to college I would do some kind of business degree, and this seems ideal with a lot of options when I eventually finish.

I'm just wondering if anyone could give me some pointers? Is this a good direction to be going in right now? Am I mad to be doing this?! What would be potential salaries when I finish etc?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

MagicMarker

Oh yeah, this is the actual degree course.

Thanks

smcgiff

First of all - can you apply for this position? It seems to be an add on degree 1 year course for those with a Diploma (level 7) in accounting first.

MagicMarker

Not yet no, in my first post I referenced this course which is the one that I'll hopefully start in Sept, which is the level 6 cert.

Level 6 Certificate - 2 years
Level 7 Ord Degree - 1 year
Level 8 Hon Degree - 1 year.

I don't know why they haven't grouped them together into one 4 year degree tbh. It confused me at the start too!

tenchi-fan

Quick question. Do you actually want to be an accountant or do you just want to have a degree?

A degree can help your career, but after 4 years in college you'll still have another year and a half of accounting exams and you'll be on as low as €15k in Dublin or €12k outside of Dublin. Even if you were lucky enough to get on a graduate programme you could be on as low as €20k.

You might consider trying to get a job in accountancy and do your acca exams from the beginning without the 4 years full-time study.

Here are acca's entry requirements: at least five separate subjects in the LC (including Mathematics & English) with at least 3 subjects at Higher Level (Grade C3 or above) and at least 2 subjects at Grade D3 or above, either at Higher or Ordinary Level

"The length of time it takes to qualify as an ACCA member depends on you, but on average, an individual registering with the minimum entry requirements, working full-time and studying on a part-time basis would take approximately three to four years to gain their ACCA Qualification."

You'd be getting paid at the same time (albeit a low wage), your employer would give you study leave and pay for your tuition.

MagicMarker

Thanks for the response.

I suppose I want the degree first and foremost. Unfortunately I'm one of those people who doesn't really know what he wants to be or do, and it's getting to the stage where I need to just pick something and stick to it, because I'm not getting any younger! The course itself seems quite broad, leaving me with plenty of options when it's finished, unless I'm mistaken?

Just to clarify, the courses above are part time, so I would be working also. I suppose getting a job in accountancy now and studying for the acca part time is an option, but it seems quite unlikely given the economic climate and the fact that I actually don't think I meet those entry requirements.

smcgiff

MagicMarker wrote: »

I actually don't think I meet those entry requirements.

See entry requirements for ACCA here... http://www.accaglobal.com/join/acca/entry

If you are over 21 you don't need any qualificaitons.

However, if you're not 100% sure of what you want to do then don't go down the ACCA route. Professional accountancy is not something to take on if you're not sure accountancy is what you want to do.*

I'd go for a business degree if I were you, and see what you want. Possibly marketing, HR, PR and yeah accounting.


*although, down the line you can branch out.

Good luck.

MagicMarker

Just want to say thanks for the advice guys. I applied for the course I referred to last week and paid the application fee!:eek:

Although I was never 100% sure, I feel much better now that I've done it and got the ball rolling. I'm looking forward to getting started!

At least if I don't like it I could probably use any credits earned towards a different degree.

MagicMarker

Well it's confirmed!

As of the 13th Sept I'm officially a student again :eek:

The more I think about it, the more I'm liking the idea of accountancy, I think it really suits me, as boring as that sounds!

Should I complete the degree I'd be exempt from 9 ACCA exams, which sounds good enough.

smcgiff

Good for you!

Would not mind being in that position... apart from the exams that is!

MagicMarker

smcgiff wrote: »

Good for you!

Would not mind being in that position... apart from the exams that is!

Well, semi student! I'm still going to be working full time. So I get the best and worst of both worlds, except the working part has no good parts really to speak of.

smcgiff

MagicMarker wrote: »

except the working part has no good parts really to speak of.

Pay day?

civis_liberalis

Didn't bother starting a new thread.

I was considering doing something similar to MagicMarker.

I'm 25 and have no qualifications past Leaving Cert. I've been out of work for a while and would strongly consider doing accountancy, especially if I was able to work at the same time. Just to clarify, I do have an actual interest in accountancy.

Are firms hiring? I'm in Galway.

Basically, my question boils down to, can I walk into a paid job/study arrangement with no prior qualifications or experience?

I understand that it isn't very well paid, but anything is better than having to rely on the dole. Soul-destroying.

Check the chartered accountants Ireland or ACCA website for firms hiring.

Sorry to tell you though - a former colleague of mine advertised for a trainee position in the Advertiser a few months ago and got almost 100 applicants.

It's a competitive job market.

civis_liberalis

Deleted User wrote: »

Sorry to tell you though - a former colleague of mine advertised for a trainee position in the Advertiser a few months ago and got almost 100 applicants.

It's a competitive job market.

I think with my "experience" it's safe to say that I'm better off not wasting any time with it.

smcgiff

civis_liberalis wrote: »

I think with my "experience" it's safe to say that I'm better off not wasting any time with it.

Not necessarily, remember these are trainee jobs and no prior experience is required. Now that's not to say some of the 100 mentioned above will not have experience, but they were let go or are trying to move for some reason. That needs to be explained too.

civis_liberalis

Unfortunately I've been out of work for quite a while and finding any job seems to get harder the longer I'm out of work.

I can't read the minds of employers but I'd imagine that a person who hasn't been working for a while might put a person down the pecking order.

smcgiff

civis_liberalis wrote: »

Unfortunately I've been out of work for quite a while and finding any job seems to get harder the longer I'm out of work.

I can't read the minds of employers but I'd imagine that a person who hasn't been working for a while might put a person down the pecking order.

Have you considered contacting FAS - they run an introduction to accounting and payroll course, which might give you an edge on others.

civis_liberalis

I'm currently doing a course with FÁS, unrelated to accountancy. There isn't any chance of a job at the end of it really. I just got tired of getting knocked back so I took something to fill some of the time.

It's supposedly full-time, but not really. Won't finish until September. I don't think they'd allow me to quit this for another course.