How to become an accountant

Posy

Hi. I have a degree in English, and didn't study accounting for the Leaving Cert, but what I would really like to do is become an accountant.
I need to work full time because I have bills to pay so I'm thinking that I could do a part time 3 year honours ba in accounting and finance in griffith college, which would exempt me from the first 9 acca exams, then do the last 5 while, hopefully, working in some junior position in an accounting firm.
Does this sound like the best way to become an acca accountant?

Might I just be better off doing the ACCA exams in my spare time, or would not having a degree in this field hamper my prospects?
Any advice, info or input would really be appreciated.

smcgiff

Posy wrote: »

Hi. I have a degree in English, and didn't study accounting for the Leaving Cert, but what I would really like to do is become an accountant.
I need to work full time because I have bills to pay so I'm thinking that I could do a part time 3 year honours ba in accounting and finance in griffith college, which would exempt me from the first 9 acca exams, then do the last 5 while, hopefully, working in some junior position in an accounting firm.
Does this sound like the best way to become an acca accountant?

Might I just be better off doing the ACCA exams in my spare time, or would not having a degree in this field hamper my prospects?
Any advice, info or input would really be appreciated.

No accounting degree required.

I'd say you'll need some exams passed to get a trainee role. If you're working full time somewhere you might want to consider the actual ACCA exams part-time. They will provide better progression to the post level 9 exams.

Posy

smcgiff wrote: »

No accounting degree required.

I'd say you'll need some exams passed to get a trainee role. If you're working full time somewhere you might want to consider the actual ACCA exams part-time. They will provide better progression to the post level 9 exams.

Thanks!
So I could, say, do the first nine exams in my spare time and then try and find a junior roll somewhere?
Can you do the 'p' exams in your spare time or should I be working in the field before attempting them?

ants09

Posy wrote: »

Thanks!
So I could, say, do the first nine exams in my spare time and then try and find a junior roll somewhere?
Can you do the 'p' exams in your spare time or should I be working in the field before attempting them?

You can do the 'P' exams in your spare time and dont need to be working to complete them but you need 3 years experience to gain membership

Posy

ants09 wrote: »

You can do the 'P' exams in your spare time and dont need to be working to complete them but you need 3 years experience to gain membership

Ah, I see. Thank you.
So you can actually get the 3 years experience before you do all 14 exams?

After how many exams would a person with no experience working as an accountant before be vaguely employable? Obviously that's a matter of opinion, but I'm just looking for a general ballpark.

Posy

If I sign up for an F1 ACCA course should that be easy enough to pass in June with no accounting experience, provided I put the study in? (Hypothetically speaking, I mean, since you don't actually know me!)

cson

Appreciate your endeavour but it gonna take a little more than passing a few exams... Honestly I dont mean to shatter how great accounting is but its gonna take up a lot of you life if your serious about it.

Posy

Well I'm applying for trainee accountant jobs so I could study as part of my work if I got a position like that. Otherwise, I may go down the part time degree or diploma route, at least that would give me a good few ACCA exemptions, F1-F9 if I did a part time 3 year BA.

EveT

Would you think about ACA and getting into a 3.5 year training contract? There is generally better student support, time off for exams etc, but can be lower pay, but firms often dont expect prior accounting experience