Accounting Qualifications - starting out

Koolhanger

Hey all, I'm looking for some advice on the subject of Accounting Qualifications.

Is the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) a valuable membership to have in Ireland?

I decided to make a career change back in January, so I have been studying for a Certificate in Accounting with The Career Academy.

I plan on following this up with their Accounting Pathway Program which includes AAT membership. I just wanted to check if AAT membership or, indeed, the Accounting Pathway Program from The Career Academy will mean much to any potential employers?

Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated

Koolhanger

tanit

Koolhanger wrote: »

Hey all, I'm looking for some advice on the subject of Accounting Qualifications.

Is the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) a valuable membership to have in Ireland?

I decided to make a career change back in January, so I have been studying for a Certificate in Accounting with The Career Academy.

I plan on following this up with their Accounting Pathway Program which includes AAT membership. I just wanted to check if AAT membership or, indeed, the Accounting Pathway Program from The Career Academy will mean much to any potential employers?

Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated

Koolhanger

Have you considered Accounting Technicians Ireland They are the same type of certification and they are a bigger body in Ireland. They are the sister body of Chartered Accountants Ireland. With the agreements they have with other bodies you could get a fair amount of exemptions if you want to continue and go for a professional qualification once you finish with them with either Chartered, CPA, ACCA etc.

As far as I know they are approximately the same (AAT) than ATI but ATI has been established longer in Ireland (homegrown). ATI also has an apprenticeship program that you maybe you might be able to apply to.

You can also consider going directly into a professional qualification if you have a relatively recent degree with any of the professional bodies instead. Just check the websites

Koolhanger

Thank you for all the information, tanit.

I'm going to check out ATI and the various courses they offer.

olestoepoke

tanit wrote: »

Have you considered Accounting Technicians Ireland They are the same type of certification and they are a bigger body in Ireland. They are the sister body of Chartered Accountants Ireland. With the agreements they have with other bodies you could get a fair amount of exemptions if you want to continue and go for a professional qualification once you finish with them with either Chartered, CPA, ACCA etc.

As far as I know they are approximately the same (AAT) than ATI but ATI has been established longer in Ireland (homegrown). ATI also has an apprenticeship program that you maybe you might be able to apply to.

You can also consider going directly into a professional qualification if you have a relatively recent degree with any of the professional bodies instead. Just check the websites

Hya, I recently finished a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance. I have full cap1 exemptions with ACA and I'm considering my next move. I have heard that the ACCA(also have exemptions) exams are more flexible and this might suit me as I have a young family and my wife works full time. Would you see me choosing ACCA for their flexibility as a mistake or in the end is it the same as ACA. I have researched a good bit regarding CPA. CIMA, ACA snd ACCA and can't Really make my mind up on which body to go with. Would love to hear your thoughts on it. Thanks.

tanit

olestoepoke wrote: »

Hya, I recently finished a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance. I have full cap1 exemptions with ACA and I'm considering my next move. I have heard that the ACCA(also have exemptions) exams are more flexible and this might suit me as I have a young family and my wife works full time. Would you see me choosing ACCA for their flexibility as a mistake or in the end is it the same as ACA. I have researched a good bit regarding CPA. CIMA, ACA snd ACCA and can't Really make my mind up on which body to go with. Would love to hear your thoughts on it. Thanks.

ACCA is going to allow you flexibility when taking the exams. That is going to be important if you are not in a training contract and have a young family. The difference between being in a training contract and not is that you will get study leave and that will give you time to prepare for the exams.

I have heard of people doing it through the exams using their annual leave as a study leave (I did that in ATI and my first 2 years in CAI) but it becomes exhausting not having a day off for years. If you have a family and your wife works full time either she decides to be incredibly supportive and understanding for the next two years (I've seen even husbands doing it for their wives) or your life can become misery.

Talk with your wife (and let her know of all the warts and horrors of the next two years) and see if you both can organise something and check if you are going to be able to get some study leave for the next two years. If not, it might be better to go one exam at a time.

TitianGerm

olestoepoke wrote: »

Hya, I recently finished a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance. I have full cap1 exemptions with ACA and I'm considering my next move. I have heard that the ACCA(also have exemptions) exams are more flexible and this might suit me as I have a young family and my wife works full time. Would you see me choosing ACCA for their flexibility as a mistake or in the end is it the same as ACA. I have researched a good bit regarding CPA. CIMA, ACA snd ACCA and can't Really make my mind up on which body to go with. Would love to hear your thoughts on it. Thanks.

ACCA is more flexible and you can sit one exam at a time and they have four exam sittings a year. They are also rolling out the ability to sit exams remotely from your own home which is a huge plus.