Advice

GavinDoyle

Hi There,

I am currently studying an ordinary degree in accountancy, and have been employed by the job bridge scheme in order to gain office experience in accounts. i was wondering would i be better off trying to go for my professional exams now and not doing the honors degree or stay on in college to complete the honors degree. they dont give us much career guidance in college and everyone is a bit confused on what to do.

Also how would i go about trying to get into a big company, for them to take me on as a trainee accountant, I am eager to get started in a roll like this

Rathdaler

I'm in a similar position. Any advice would be useful.

Morte

The advice I got from quite a few people on a degree versus a masters is that nobody really cares about your college course once you qualify with your professional qualification. So in the long term it's a minor footnote on your CV. In the short term it would be easier to get that training contract with a better degree.

An important point is that if you don't qualify or decide on a change of career an honours degree might look better than an ordinary one (I wouldn't be sure myself how big a deal this is). Your course head may be able to advise on if there are avenues that would be more open to you with an honours degree. Might be needed for the h.dip for teaching?

Companies will advertise for trainee accountants in much the same places as any other job. Job sites, their website, recruitment agencies. The accountancy bodies will probably have a list of their member firms who are looking for trainees if you're trying to get a job in an accountancy office.

thomlin

Hi Gavin, all,

The advise I was given is do the honours degree in accounting as the top ten firms are looking for that at a minimum also you will get more exemptions if you have an honours degree compared to an ordinary degree when you decide to sit professional exams with one of the accounting bodies.

HTH

Look for an employer who will take you on as you are but prepare to go back for the honours degree.

Consider your exemptions - what are you entitled to now versus what would you be entitled to with an honours degree?

Would you be able to make up any difference now without returning to college?

Would your work experience now be counted towards your experience requirements?

Do you think your current internship could be converted into a job at the end?

Edit: Caveat: many employers will require an honours degree as a minimum.