anyone done the PDA without being sponsored by a firm to do it?

bigmc23

had some advice from sodabread on this forum already but would like to see if anyone else can give me some advice. Basically, I've got two options - starting the PDA up in jordanstown next month and do the milkround in oct OR do the milkround in oct and try and get sponsored to do the PDA then begin my training contract in oct 2013 after the PDA. Has anyone went ahead and done the PDA without having sponsorship? would like to know if anyone was in my position before and what they decided to do in the end.

d.m.b1990

Haven't done it but am doing it starting next month. Thought about hanging around and trying to get sponsorship but didn't think I'd get an offer I wanted without it, so that made up my mind.

bigmc23

d.m.b1990 wrote: »

Haven't done it but am doing it starting next month. Thought about hanging around and trying to get sponsorship but didn't think I'd get an offer I wanted without it, so that made up my mind.

do you mean you think you've got a better chance of getting a contract with a big firm to start in 2013 on the basis that you'd have done the pda and got the exemptions?

d.m.b1990

Absolutely, I was told by a recruiter that the lack of a numerical college course (I did law) was a serious disadvantage, while your course not need be accountancy a background in something like engineering or maths is next best thing. It's costing 5500 to do it and I am confident it is worth every cent!

bigmc23

Didn't realise you had replied until now d.m.b1990, thanks for that. do you hope your able to recoup some of the fees for the PDA from the firm that you get a contract with?

d.m.b1990 wrote: »

Absolutely, I was told by a recruiter that the lack of a numerical college course (I did law) was a serious disadvantage, while your course not need be accountancy a background in something like engineering or maths is next best thing. It's costing 5500 to do it and I am confident it is worth every cent!

d.m.b1990

bigmc23 wrote: »

Didn't realise you had replied until now d.m.b1990, thanks for that. do you hope your able to recoup some of the fees for the PDA from the firm that you get a contract with?

Well to be honest I'm kind of writing the 5k off, I think the PDA is worth so much more long term so am not going to think about it too much.

jus_tin4

what is pda?....

bigmc23

jus_tin4 wrote: »

what is pda?....

it's the post graduate diploma in accounting. You get your CAP1 exemptions if you do well.

Stabshauptmann

You probably know this, but I was amazed when I found out others didn't so just so we're all on the same page:
My firm asked on the application form if you were looking for sponsorship for a masters or PDA. There is a predetermined range/limit for job offers that come with sponsorship so opting in is also opting for a tougher recruitment route.

I imagine that if your application includes a PDA or masters you got off your own bat that is a positive thing, OP.

This may be of use to someone else reading the thread though. I suspect that attaining a PDA will not overcome any deficiencies in your CV. That is to say, if for example you had a 350 point leaving cert and a pass degree, having an MAcc from Smurfit might not get you an interview with a Big 4.

My advice would be to do the PDA if accounting is a route you want to go down and you have had no success in the milk rounds to date. Heck, if you like college I'd do it anyway, for 9 months in college you knock 5 off a training contract, and double your possible attempts at CAP2. Its all about personal circumstances though - and I would not expect the money you spend to be recoverable from an employer.

bigmc23

Would it be an issue for firms that at the time of applying in october i'd only started the PDA the previous month and that they won't have my results till June?

I'm not doing it because I have deficiencies on my CV unless you count having no relevant accounting experience as a deficiency?

I didn't know that the joining with a PDA will double your possible attempts at CAP2 so that's good. I think it would be a bit stupid for me not to do it anyways, this is my first milkround and if i didn't start with the PDA next month i'd be doing the milkround and ticking the box to get sponsorship for the PDA (No guarantees to get a sponsored position and tougher recruitment route like you said) and starting to work with the firm in 2014. The only thought that going through my mind is to do the ACA with ICAEW in england which seems to be a bit easier! ha. Also, i'll have to try and get a graduate loan for the bank to pay for the PDA course fees

Stabshauptmann wrote: »

You probably know this, but I was amazed when I found out others didn't so just so we're all on the same page:
My firm asked on the application form if you were looking for sponsorship for a masters or PDA. There is a predetermined range/limit for job offers that come with sponsorship so opting in is also opting for a tougher recruitment route.

I imagine that if your application includes a PDA or masters you got off your own bat that is a positive thing, OP.

This may be of use to someone else reading the thread though. I suspect that attaining a PDA will not overcome any deficiencies in your CV. That is to say, if for example you had a 350 point leaving cert and a pass degree, having an MAcc from Smurfit might not get you an interview with a Big 4.

My advice would be to do the PDA if accounting is a route you want to go down and you have had no success in the milk rounds to date. Heck, if you like college I'd do it anyway, for 9 months in college you knock 5 off a training contract, and double your possible attempts at CAP2. Its all about personal circumstances though - and I would not expect the money you spend to be recoverable from an employer.

Stabshauptmann

Dont think I can answer your questions, but if you were to do the ICAEW exams you'd have to do a conversion exam afaik to be qualified in Ireland. Tax and law change from UK to Ireland...

ManwitaPlan

Hey guys, I did the PDA a few years back. Some general points:

1. I was amazed that the majority of the class was not sponsored..they did it off their own bat...in fact the people sponsored were a very small minority.

2. Nearly everybody in the class got jobs with the Big4.

3. The Big 4 love the PDA....I suppose it boils down to the fact that it saves them a fortune especially when they dont sponsor you.

4. The course itself was easy enough to pass. I dont know anybody who did not get it (not saying it doesnt happen). Compared to CAP 1's it seems a stroll in the park tbh. We also got an overview of some of the tax stuff for CAP 2 which gave a nice head start.

5. It gives you an extra year free in which you will have no exams and gives you some leeway to repeat e.g. instead of year 1 Cap 1 year 2 Cap 2 year 3 FAE you have year 1 CAP 2 year 2 FAE Year 3 free. This is a big big advantage...especially if you were to fail FAE which lets face it is not unheard of:rolleyes:

6. You'll have a 3 year contract instead of 3.5...seems nothing now but oh my will you cherish it in 3 years time:D that little .5 is massive...one year in student world is a billion times better than 6 months of busy season in a Big 4 firm.

Actually looking at those points above it brings home that it was very worthwhile...I'd recommend it tpo anybody.

Stabshauptmann

Agree with above poster. Just another thought - it is possible to sit the CAP1 exams externally. Costs less than the PDA, and has the same net effect, one years less exam.

You would still have a 3.5year contract, but you would be attractive to an employer if you get across that you took the initiative to do a set of exams pre contract and are now "ahead" of other candidates.

Personally, I came from a Bcomm and did three Cap1s with no ICAI lectures or notes (exempt from Financial Reporting) in three weeks. Possibly not an option though for the OP, as with a non business background PDA / lecturing is probable required.

bigmc23

just what i wanted to hear! ha. I've been offered a place up at the uni of ulster in jordanstown to do it so think i'm going to accept. Let the fun begin

ManwitaPlan wrote: »

Hey guys, I did the PDA a few years back. Some general points:

1. I was amazed that the majority of the class was not sponsored..they did it off their own bat...in fact the people sponsored were a very small minority.

2. Nearly everybody in the class got jobs with the Big4.

3. The Big 4 love the PDA....I suppose it boils down to the fact that it saves them a fortune especially when they dont sponsor you.

4. The course itself was easy enough to pass. I dont know anybody who did not get it (not saying it doesnt happen). Compared to CAP 1's it seems a stroll in the park tbh. We also got an overview of some of the tax stuff for CAP 2 which gave a nice head start.

5. It gives you an extra year free in which you will have no exams and gives you some leeway to repeat e.g. instead of year 1 Cap 1 year 2 Cap 2 year 3 FAE you have year 1 CAP 2 year 2 FAE Year 3 free. This is a big big advantage...especially if you were to fail FAE which lets face it is not unheard of:rolleyes:

6. You'll have a 3 year contract instead of 3.5...seems nothing now but oh my will you cherish it in 3 years time:D that little .5 is massive...one year in student world is a billion times better than 6 months of busy season in a Big 4 firm.

Actually looking at those points above it brings home that it was very worthwhile...I'd recommend it tpo anybody.

donegal11

ManwitaPlan wrote: »

Hey guys, I did the PDA a few years back. Some general points:

1. I was amazed that the majority of the class was not sponsored..they did it off their own bat...in fact the people sponsored were a very small minority.

2. Nearly everybody in the class got jobs with the Big4.

How long is a few years back ? competition could be tougher now