Start out in Accountancy.

aridion

Hi All. I am considering doing the Higher Diploma Accounting in University of Ulster, Jordanstown. Having this will mean that I will not have to do CAP 1.
I was just wondering what would be the path to take after completing this Higher Diploma? Would I have to do a 3 years apprenticeship? What would my salary be when doing this apprenticeship? And, are there many jobs out there for Accountants right now.

Thank you in advance,
Aridion.

SemiMental

Well if you wanted to go on to become a chartered accountant, then you would have to get a job in an accounting firm, usually a 3-3.5 year contract and do your CAP2 and FAE exams.
The pay would depend on the firm, The big 4 are offering around €22,000 for your first year, but for smaller firms the pay could be a good bit lower.
Don't really know much on the state of the jobs market in accounting.
The big 4 accounting are still offering a lot of places to graduates though, about 150 or more each.

aka accounts 2010

Firstly, check that you will be fully exempt from CAP 1. Usually you will need to get a minimum mark of 50 in selection of subjects which Chartered Accountants Ireland will have agreed with the university. Once finished, you will need to secure a 3.5 year training contract with a recognised training firm. You will be required to work your usual working week plus attend lectures for CAP 2 some week nights and a lot of weekends (usually Sat and Sun 9.30 - 4.30). Pass those exams and move onto FAE's. I'm currently in this system, I know people earning anywhere from 10k a year to 20k depending on firm, location and economic conditions. In this market, the employer has control but you must remember that at this stage of your career it's all about gaining experience and passing the exams and not the money!!! As far as jobs go, it's all hard work and some luck of being in the right place at the right time...

aridion

Thanx for the replies. I am 31 now. So I would probably not be fully quafied until I was 35 or 36. A long time. My biggest worry is, are there plenty of jobs for accountants in Ireland right now. I have a friend who just qualified as a solicitor, but cannot find work. I wouldn't want to commit to the next 4 or 5 years and then not have the a high earning job after it.

jonnybravo

aridion wrote: »

Thanx for the replies. I am 31 now. So I would probably not be fully quafied until I was 35 or 36. A long time. My biggest worry is, are there plenty of jobs for accountants in Ireland right now. I have a friend who just qualified as a solicitor, but cannot find work. I wouldn't want to commit to the next 4 or 5 years and then not have the a high earning job after it.

Impossible to say what the market for accountants will be like in 4 years. At the moment I know a good few people that have gotten jobs (ACA big 4 qualified) in the past few months. I qualified last year and out of my Masters / people I worked with in Big 4 I know no one that hasn't a job (though alot of people have gone travelling).

I don't know much about the employment opportunities for people that haven't qualified through the big 4. Getting into the Big 4 for you will be largely dependent on what grade you got in your previous degree. Presume you'll be starting to do your course next Sept / Oct `11 the interviews for the Big 4 are in Oct / Nov `11 so your result in the Diploma won't help you get a job.

Also for your own information you'll only have to do a 3 year training contract as you have done a post graduate course.

jkjhngk

SemiMental wrote: »

Well if you wanted to go on to become a chartered accountant, then you would have to get a job in an accounting firm, usually a 3-3.5 year contract and do your CAP2 and FAE exams.
The pay would depend on the firm, The big 4 are offering around €22,000 for your first year, but for smaller firms the pay could be a good bit lower.
Don't really know much on the state of the jobs market in accounting.
The big 4 accounting are still offering a lot of places to graduates though, about 150 or more each.

Do you have to have a job to study the exams? if one was unemployed could stay study the exams at home and sit them?

ianuss

jkjhngk wrote: »

Do you have to have a job to study the exams? if one was unemployed could stay study the exams at home and sit them?

You could with ACCA.

Saint Sonner

jonnybravo wrote: »

Impossible to say what the market for accountants will be like in 4 years. At the moment I know a good few people that have gotten jobs (ACA big 4 qualified) in the past few months. I qualified last year and out of my Masters / people I worked with in Big 4 I know no one that hasn't a job (though alot of people have gone travelling).

I don't know much about the employment opportunities for people that haven't qualified through the big 4. Getting into the Big 4 for you will be largely dependent on what grade you got in your previous degree. Presume you'll be starting to do your course next Sept / Oct `11 the interviews for the Big 4 are in Oct / Nov `11 so your result in the Diploma won't help you get a job.

Also for your own information you'll only have to do a 3 year training contract as you have done a post graduate course.

Big 4 this; Big 4 that; Big 4; Big 4; Big 4

Sounds like someones been brainwashed.

<You have to a have at least 100 posts to make poor clichéd "jokes">

EDudder

One thing i've noticed is that (and i'm assuming you would be doing your CAP2/FAE's in Belfast) is that in Belfast they seem to do the decent thing and have no lectures on sundays. At least your guaranteed one day a week off.

I'll never understand how the other lecture centres get away with having lectures on a Sunday when it obviously isn't a necessity.