Quickest/easiest way to qualify as accountant

KarrieF

Hi,
I know there is no quick or easy way to gain an accountancy qualification, but I would like to know what people regard as the shortest route of entry.
I have a bus/economics degree from TCD and have been working in treasury and trade finance for about 10 years. However, until now I haven't been particularly ambitious, with the result that I'm not too happy with my current role or prospects. A lot of positions I look at seem to require an accounting qualification. So I have decided I will try qualify. I know it will take time and a lot of work, so my questions are what stream would people recommend for someone who would like to work in industry, not practice, and what is the best way to do this?
I also should mention I have 2 young children, so that is why I seek a shorter/easier route, if one exists. Also, costs would be a factor too, although not the number one factor.
Hope this makes sense,
Thanks Karrie

adrianw

If you elect for the ACCA qualification, most of the financial service providers are ACCA approved employers, so you probably / may already have the required experience. So all you are left with is the exams.
You can check your exemptions on the ACCA website (wasn't allowed post link).

You will probably have to do 13 exams. In theory you could pass all in 4 sittings in 2 years but that would be quite an accomplishment and require a lot of effort.

Most likely it will take 3 to 3 and a half with exam sittings every June and December.

SBWife

If you are out of college more than 10 years you most likely will not have any valid exceptions. It is possible but not easy to do the ACCA exams 4 at a sitting so you can be qualified in about 2 years; but taking 4 of the final P level exams at one sitting is very painful and while I managed to pass them all on the first attempt I'd recommend only doing 2 or 3 of these in a sitting. The F papers are very manageable so I'd say that while most people do them 2 at a time 3 or 4 are very doable especially with F1-F4.

Sean Amhlaoibh

Thanks for the info.

Pawwed Rig

As someone who is currently doing professional exams that has 1 child I cannot emphasise how difficult this will be. Your time with your kids will suffer due to the workload of these exams and you will miss out on alot. I was lucky in that I could finance three months off work unpaid when my little fellah was born so I could bond with him and still maintain some studying but I still failed. Previously I had gone through a degree course and got first class honours (never failed an exam), went through ACA CAP2 and FAE all passed first time, AITI part 2 passed first time - child born - AITI part 3 Failed everything. The time just wasn't there to have a decent crack at them. I am not saying don't do it but more trying to advise that you enter this with realsistic expectations on how difficult and stressful it will be for you. If you cannot guarantee a certain number of hours every day for just studying then you have to be realistic about your prospects. Professional exams are tough tough tough. Forget college, these are a different level and imo are for 22-27 year olds with no partners or kids.

Loughc

ACCA is the best route as you can sit exams both in June and December. To help lighten the load sit 2 exams at each sitting rather than trying to bash 4 out. It will take you longer to qualify this way but it will give you more time to spend with your kids.

Working and doing exams is stressful enough add kids into the mix and it's a hell of alot harder. The more you can spread the work load the easier you'll find it and the quicker you'll be able to build it into your routine.