Accounting technician course or Professional ACCA

DRice

hi i am looking to break into accounting from another field, I have a degree in science and currently work in life assurance

opinions :
- should i do a 2 year accounting technician course , and if so IATA or CAT?
- or should i just go straight into ACCA exams?
- from which course am i most likely to get my first job to start the work experience? (salary not important)

smcgiff

Depends - do you eventually want to go on and become a full accountant?

If so, I can see why a school leaver might choose the technician course, but in most cases the professional route would be best for mature students, especially those that already have a degree level education.

Which is more employable? I would say as a professional level student you'd be more employable.

DRice

smcgiff wrote: »

Depends - do you eventually want to go on and become a full accountant?

If so, I can see why a school leaver might choose the technician course, but in most cases the professional route would be best for mature students, especially those that already have a degree level education.

Which is more employable? I would say as a professional level student you'd be more employable.

Thanks .Yes I do want to become a full accountant. The only thing swaying me towards the technician route is the jobs on irishjobs.ie that do not require experience seek to be aimed at technician candidates and I will need experience somewhere!

smcgiff

DRice wrote: »

Thanks .Yes I do want to become a full accountant. The only thing swaying me towards the technician route is the jobs on irishjobs.ie that do not require experience seek to be aimed at technician candidates and I will need experience somewhere!

Not sure of the particular ads, but from what I know of recruitment if say the ad is pitched at part qualifieds. Some unemployed qualified will apply, and can be taken on by the employer. In my example some might be considered over qualified.

In your case a part qualified accountant Vs a qualified Accounting Technician - even for Technician Level jobs, I'd say you'd be better off being a part qualified accountant.

smyth79

Hi. I completed the accounting technicans course with IATI this year but have not had any luck finding a job in galway yet. I do not have any work experience in accounting and def think this is the biggest weakness on my cv.
I def see alot more adverts for part qualified accountants than for accounting technicians but im not sure how far into your studies with ACCA or how much work experience you need to have before your classed as part qualified..

DRice

smyth79 wrote: »

Hi. I completed the accounting technicans course with IATI this year but have not had any luck finding a job in galway yet. I do not have any work experience in accounting and def think this is the biggest weakness on my cv.
I def see alot more adverts for part qualified accountants than for accounting technicians but im not sure how far into your studies with ACCA or how much work experience you need to have before your classed as part qualified..

Thanks, I guess finding a job is tough no matter what so I suppose going for the full acca is better as that's where I will heading in the end. Starting on thuradays first paper! Good luck to all of us

kilburn

As a mature student who took the accounting technician route and wants to become a full accountant my advice is go straight into the professional exams otherwise you will be wasting 2 years, i am kicking myself that I did not go straight into the professional route. Just take your time at the exams and if you put the time in you will be grand

esposito

I'm looking for advice. Which is the best/ what do you recommend? CPA or ACCA or any other? I'm so confused. I haven't done the Accounting Technician exams. Do I really need to or can I go straight into the professional exams?
Thanks in advance!

smcgiff

esposito wrote: »

I'm looking for advice. Which is the best/ what do you recommend? CPA or ACCA or any other? I'm so confused. I haven't done the Accounting Technician exams. Do I really need to or can I go straight into the professional exams?
Thanks in advance!

Sticky at the top of this forum covers a lot of what you are looking for.

Mitzy

Hi OP. I think it really depends on your level of knowledge of accountancy at the moment.
I did ATI & am now doing ACCA. I had no experience of accountancy (in that I had never even done accountancy in school). I found that Accounting Technician gave me a great foundation and it really gave me a head start above other's doing the ACCA qualification. I don't feel that the 2 years I spent doing ATI was a waste.
I was working in an accounts clerk role when I started the ATI course but I really hated the job I was in and I was lucky to get a great job in a fab company however without having the ATI course on my CV I wouldn't have even got an interview. In this jobs market you have to persevere - the right job is out there for you........just be patient.
Please PM me if you would like some more info. I'd be more than happy to help
Best of luck in your decision.

JohnMayo11

Hi guys, im also thinking of starting an accountancy course. I also have no basic experience (coming from an engineering background) I am considering the CCMA route. Can anyone advise on what would be the best subject to start on if going for distance learning I'm thinking of only doing one subject the first semester? is there any college that you can recommend? also is it to late to start this term?
Thanks
John