Accountancy career

AdamOHare

I really wasnt sure where to post this at all. Mods feel free to move if you can figure somewhere more appropriate. But after hours seems like the most 'ask a general question' place (and some of you lot can be quite clever when the mood takes ya's ) so I guess its here for now.

Im out of work again and I was considering getting into accountancy. I actually think it could be something I could do well in. Especially compared to some of the other suggestions LES throw my way.

So whats the general thought on accountancy these days? Is there any work left in it? Too many graduates undercutting everybody else? Would it be a bad career choice? Is it a hard market to make a name in?

Banjo String

IT industry is where it's at apparently

I'd love to get in to programming having studied Cobol, Pascal abd basic in college in the nineties.

Wouldn't even know where to start now to get back in it (it's something I loved doing too)

Hope it works out for you OP, fair balls for giving something new a go.

Fr_Dougal

"I'm an accountant, but I'm not your typical accountant; I'm great craic"

flutterflye

Everyone knows accountants get all the girls. Nothing sexier than a man who knows how to work a balance sheet. Go for it.

kneemos

Throw a stone you'll hit five of the feckers.

Lando Griffin

I get my OH to dress up as an accountant just to add a bit of umph to our relationship.

Abracastabya

A few ways, if you are currently unemployed, why not take the back to education route and do a degree in accounting? Many I.T's around the country offer three year degrees in accounting, which afterwards you could enter a training contract and become a chartered accountant. Or, this may be of interest to you, Fás offer Accounting Technician courses you could do. It would be a good stepping stone.

Best of luck.

Sergeant

What does an accountant use as contraception?

Their personality.

cson

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=872

Sunny Dayz

There's an accountancy forum under the business section where this topic regularily crops up.

It's a long road to qualify as an accountant and there are many different routes to it, depending on what qualifications you already hold and where you see yourself ending up, pratice or industry

Trainee salaries aren't great, hours can be long at busy times.

My advice would be to get a few weeks work experience in an accountany practice or in a business to see what you think of before you commit to anything.

Pollydee

My number one piece of advice is make sure you really, really like accountancy if you're going to pursue a career in it. It's not a path to go down just because it seems like a good career. The exams are hellish, the worst I've ever experienced. It will take real genuine interest and commitment to get through them. That's not to discourage you, if you're interested in it as a subject, you will do well at them. Also while you are training, the hours can be tough and long. However it is a great career for a person who has the interest in accountancy. You get to meet a huge variety of people and experience a huge amount of different types of businesses etc. The team work ethic can be fantastic. There are a lot of sterotypical weirdo accountants but there are a lot of great people in it as well. The opportunities are still there. The money isn't as great as it used to be but it has picked up a little in the past few years here. Also I know a lot of people who went to Canada, Australia and the Caymans when they qualified and have done really well.

I agree with Sunny Dayz. A few weeks work experience would really help your choice. Do you have much prior experience of accounts work? Have you studied it before?
Best of luck with what you decide :-)