Accounting technician course 2014/15

Foxylocks

The college I'm in starts on the 22nd!

willietherock

Started this today. Anyone where I could pick last yrs books for yr 1 cheapish?

juncert

They are changing some of the law course and the tax changes every year so you might need the new versions of these books.

Foxylocks

We very rarely used the books tbh, not to say to don't need them you do but I with the new tax levys and all that you may need the new versions. If you still want the old ones, Adverts have a selection of people selling their old books

Foxylocks

Wohoo passed, y2 here I come

wally1990

Well done!!!!

juncert

Well done foxylocks.
How is 2nd year going for everyone?

wally1990

Grand I much prefer it now, really like management accounting

juncert

So far that's my least favourite one ! IAS seems ok and FA is starting to come back

wally1990

Really don't enjoy IAS in my class.
The teacher is 'flying through' the practical stuff on sage50 and there is no explanation to the theory/application of it in the background (if that's makes sense)

Have people downloaded it and tried it from home??

juncert

We have done a bit and am really enjoying it, teacher is great and really talks you through each step. We have started sage micro pay and excel case studies. Hope your class improves, is it a big class?

Wendy2000

hi all does anyone have any reccomendations for grinds for financial accounting year one, i did email the relevant college they dont have a list etc very disappointed but not to worry said ill try here, based in north dublin

thanks

juncert

How is everyone doing on year 2,anyone doing the revision classes in Dublin?

juncert

Anybody doing 2nd year exams this May? Would be nice to chat and see how its going?

wally1990

I'm doing year 2 I passed the first year the first time around for all the exams but I did a good bit of study but this year I am struggling big time
How about you

juncert

Yes finding it hard going, maybe because law and business only required reading but this year its 4 subject that require much more work, mostly with numbers and numerous rules. did Dublin revision class last Saturday it was very good.

wally1990

How many hours of class do you have per week and how nany hours of additional study(if any) are you doing?

wally1990

Has anyone done the Ias exam? If so how was it

wally1990

How is the study coming along?

juncert

Trying to bring the parts together, mainly looking at afa, a small bit of tax, leaving management until next weekend.
Did you get any study time off.

wally1990

Ya i have loads of time off during the exams. I am F** ked for tax. Looking at it now and lost

same last year and i got 50% exactly(examiner feeling generous i say)

Should be ok for management accounting. Havent even looked at financial yet because Im looking at Tax now(have a class tonight)

I have a strong feeling i will be repeating this year

Was thinking about the IAS. 70% is alright to get like!!!

juncert

For Tax: corp tax one question, income tax one question and CGT one question, vat one question, it is a handy one not harder than last year just learn services and filing dates.
Look over questions from 14 and 15 learn the layouts for corp tax and closed rules. I would concentrate on these key areas. Good luck we have finished classes and a lot of people are feeling unsure about the exams your not the only one.

wally1990

Thanks Juncert

the above is very helpful.

Most def will follow it

wally1990

Well what did people think?????

juncert

you could have done the first 2 chapter and soci and passed well. I don't think it was an accounting exam, to much theory.

wally1990

juncert wrote: »

you could have done the first 2 chapter and soci and passed well. I don't think it was an accounting exam, to much theory.

Everyone said the same everyone was given out about the theory and the paper as a whole

juncert

Very unfair with the hours put in on all the statements,ratio's etc. What did you think?

wally1990

Ya like government grants, manufacturing accounts, detailed ratio analysis , etc nothing really

I'm dissapointed and not too confident hopefully won't have to repeat but if so , so be it at this point . My attitude is different this year as I know I didn't put in much work so if I fail 2/4 I'd be satisfied haha which is bad I know but still . Loads left the exam early today too

How about yours ?
. How you set for tax ?

juncert

I put in a lot of work the last 2 months, hope to pass it, I will not do as well as last years that's for sure, but this year if I pass them I will be very happy. The exam should be 50/50 theory but that felt 75/25.I did not see many leaving today. Less in the hall than last year.
I have not look at tax for a week so going to get started on it now. Good luck.

wally1990

How are people getting on? I'm dreading the exam. Sample papers 2&3 I think are very hard sample paper 1 is ok

juncert

Have not looked at sample papers really, just doing 2015 2014 and reading the book,
good look.

wally1990

How did u get on?
Everyone I. My class thought it was fine but I personally struggled . prob failed and be back in August

juncert

I thought it was a fair paper, but a lot of workings. Very spread out with sub questions. You never know how you did, i thought last year I did really badly in a paper and it was my best exam. Good luck, now on to the last one!

wally1990

Hey Juncert, what did u think?

juncert

Spent to long on questions 1-3 and really cut time short for the last 2 question. Got them done I feel I passed it, fingers crossed. It was a really long paper I had done no mock in it so first time I did a full paper, our teacher was really bad so if I pass, it will be down to my work not his. What did you think?

wally1990

juncert wrote: »

Spent to long on questions 1-3 and really cut time short for the last 2 question. Got them done I feel I passed it, fingers crossed. It was a really long paper I had done no mock in it so first time I did a full paper, our teacher was really bad so if I pass, it will be down to my work not his. What did you think?

I think I did enough to get the 50% but I def failed tax and hopefully passed the rest

Went for few drinks tonight thank god to celebrate it all over so so delighted it's finished for another while hahah

juncert

Good luck, fingers crossed:)

SusieBlue

Have applied to start this course in September but after reading this thread I'm terrified!

I have little to no accounting experience & my field in college was completely unrelated to this course.

I struggled big time with maths in school, achieving only a D3 in pass in my leaving cert.

Any words of advice from anyone who has done this course? Is it a course more suited to those who have previously worked in finance or will someone like me, with little experience to speak of, struggle?

Also the course I'm doing is over 2 years, 2 evenings a week. How much outside study and work will be involved outside of these hours? Just trying to get an idea as I'll be working full time too. Thanks in advance!

wally1990

Hi ya
DO NOT BE worried

I had zero accounting or business as I NEVER did it in school and started knowing Absoultely nothing for the accounting technician. You have picked the perfect corse in fact because year 1 teaches you all of the basics from maths to double entry to the terminology to the basic law for accounting

Year 2 builds on the fundamentals and goes into more advanced level based on information taught in year 1

The maths is fine it is simple Multiple divide subtract and addition and percentages which u will be taught(and if not use google)
Eg what is 10% of €100

Remember what your reading above we have all studied and knew nothing at the start .

You do not need to be a whiz at maths or even extremely strong .

Accounting is all about theory of how money and transactions are accounted for within the correct manner and the maths will follow in basic methods

You will do Absoultely fine. It is very doable and the course will have people aged 18->50 with little or basic experience from school leavers or people looking to return to study

There is great online tuition support (videos etc) and YouTube videos in addition to the detailed text books and boards.ie for chats . I worked full time and attended 2 evenings a week but study is required from the start. I had zero finance experience (worked in call centre ) and knew Absoultely nothing About finance( and you don't need to)

Remember you will start from the very basics but my advice is study on weekends and evenings the chapters covered during the weeks as the work load for 4 modules can become a lot quite fast .

Best of luck and don't be doubting yourself !!! (Seriously) it's very doable and remember you do not need ANY accounting or business studies experience at all. This is taught to you. Accounting technician is the perfect course to gather a grounding and you may look at further study options such as Aca Acca cima CPA etc which are different accounting bodies all offering there qualification (don't worry about this anyway just be aware you can enter this professional exams after accounting technician and with exemptions from accounting technician)

This is the course is FOR . To teach you
Good luck and chin up, you should be looking forward to it , not worried

From
a one time complete novice and person who struggled at maths student too
Btw . I'm finished the 2 year course

juncert

How did everyone do? results are out.

wally1990

Failed Tax and IAS,gutted but expected to fail tax. I wasn't prepared enough and left all my study till last minute. So I'm gonna take positives from this and belt on for the 2 repeats.
Yourself? No point dwelling over spilt milk now .trying to be positive.

juncert

Sorry to hear about tax and ias, but onward and upward 2 down 2 to go.Good luck. Im happy, passed all, thank God.