Which accountancy course to do? Advice please!

SlaveToTheSkids

Hi all,

I've decided to go back & get some kind of qualification so I'm looking for a bit of advise on which course to do. All info welcomed

A bit of a background on myself: I've 8yrs experience working in various accounts roles incl. senior positions managing divisions & entire co accounts myself up to mth end/year end level. I've worked with Sage, Tas etc.

However I am 5yrs out of the game as I left to have a baby. I have been working part time the entire time just not in accounts. So I'm looking to go back to a part time accounts job & do a part time course along side it to give me a competitive edge for the future & a bump up in wages!

There is also a possibility I may move to Canada in a year or so time so I'm looking for a qualification that is internationally recognized for work and/or to continue studying.

Also can anyone tell me what exactly it means to be part-qualified? It seems to be a term that recruiters have made up & I can't seem to find any real definition for it. It's something I'd be very interested in.


Sorry Mods if this is posted in the wrong section!

Should Have Done Arts

Will if you ask me part qualified is any one with an exemption for a professional exam. But in the recruitment world they mean have a good few exemptions and over a years experience.

ACA is limited the most compare to the others if your going traveling.

With your work experience and considering you going to the states I would suggest jump right into CPA the professional exams. With a bit of hard work you will get qualified in the same amount of time it would take to go through college and cost about the same.CPA's are the best body for america, But get exams here as I heard there easier here ( dono is that true or not).

Americans eve n refer to accounts as CPA's

Hope this sheds some light.

smcgiff

^^ can be pretty much ignored as it's misleading.

CPA Ireland has nothing to do with the bodies in the US or Canada that share the same acronym (but different meanings).

CPA Ireland has a mutual agreement with one of the 3 three big players in Canada which are in the process of merging.

Again, contrary to that mentioned above, ACA is an excellent qualification to have if thinking of travelling. Indeed they have a mutual agreement with the largest body in Canada, CICA.

OP, definitely start with the professional exams of one of the bodies. My advice would be not to do the technician exams. Good luck.

smcgiff

Re part qualified. No accounting body that I know of gives a definition, and therefore is open to interpretation. It probably means having at least one professional exam and some work experience. Others would not consider this enough.

SlaveToTheSkids

Thanks for the advice!

I had been leaning on the side of the professional exams. Am I right in thinking this route would mean I could study & sit exams at my own pace? i.e. instead of a standard 4yr college degree or qualification; I could attend the part time professional body courses & sit exams as quickly or as slowly as I wanted?

I'm thinking if I am gong to Canada in a years time to get as many exams as I can under my belt in that space of time.

Kaka86

ACA ..... I think you have to sit a certain amount of exams together.

ACCA .... you can to at your own pace (10years to complete from initial registration)

Best of luck with your studies

Prettyblack

Kaka86 wrote: »

ACA ..... I think you have to sit a certain amount of exams together.

ACCA .... you can to at your own pace (10years to complete from initial registration)

Best of luck with your studies

You can do ACA exams in twos... and take 8 years to complete. So more or less at your own pace until you get to FAE level.