Career change to accountancy

Ferrell

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking about training to be an accountant and wondering what the best route to do this is? I have no prior experience/qualification in accounting or business but have a 2:1 science based degree and several years work experience post graduation. I'm open to going back to college or starting a traineeship etc but I'm just not sure what would be most beneficial in my circumstance. Any advice would be much appreciated!

(apologies if in wrong category!)

Spear

Moved to a forum that's related to the topic instead.

Jim2007

The world of accounting is a very big field, a lot depends on what you want to achieve. Do you want to work in practice or in industry. In practice would want to develop a career in audit, tax, advisory services, consulting etc and like wise in industry to what to work in the financial or fiduciary area or more in cost and management accounting. On the industrial side the other question would be what sector would you like to work in - something in the services area or in the manufacturing/construction/fabrication area.

And what is the long term objective - a partner in a large practice or running your own practice, the CFO of a company, another senior management position and so on.

Citrus_8

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058278925/career-change-to-accountancy

I can't speak for others, but my opinion that college is a waste of time for mature accounting students. Better to look for accounting or accounting technician professional (not academic) studies. You can join one of the accounting (accounting technician) bodies AAT, CAT, CTA, ATI or jump straight into ACCA or CIMA and work with it. Currently Springboard has openings and a few days left to apply - check their website, type in the search 'ACCA'. Watch Youtube 'how to become an accountant'. Read Google AAT vs ACCA, CIMA vs ACCA etc. There will be less info about CTA or ATI as they are not very globally known because they are mainly operating basically just in Ireland.

Some people do AAT (or ATI, or CAT), then get some exemptions and continue with ACCA, then take ATT for a deeper knowledge of taxation. Some stick with just one of them. Some go to academic studies (business/finance) and then get exemptions to some ACCA exams and then do the rest of them once they graduate from their college... Just make sure you ask the college about the ACCA exemptions, if you'd go this way.

I personally find ACCA very exciting, however, challenging as my background is completely different. But if you have a good grasp and are motivated, then ACCA in the evenings/weekends is possible even working full time. However, I found doing one of the Springboard courses is best for me, as they give some sort of a structure, discipline and certainly professional guidance.

If you don't feel confident, then do free courses firstly. They would show you if you like it or not. And if you do, then they would build a solid basic understanding which could help making more serious steps into college or one of the above accountancy bodies.

Springboard.

Application deadline 30/01/2023

https://springboardcourses.ie/details/10854

Application deadline 24/02/2023

https://springboardcourses.ie/details/10865

https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-bookkeeping-2?index=product&queryID=31e8136fb2841e1228839ee3bb9e73b7&position=1&eaid=0&v=0&linked_from=autocomplete&c=autocomplete

https://www.edx.org/course/intermediate-bookkeeping-2?index=product&queryID=f7c8112c41376794735b6641cfdab4c8&position=9&eaid=0&v=0&linked_from=autocomplete&c=autocomplete

https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-management-accounting-2?index=product&queryID=6d3a37e3cc14b1beb438f015363ad780&position=2&eaid=0&v=0&linked_from=autocomplete&c=autocomplete

https://www.edx.org/course/intermediate-management-accounting-2?index=product&queryID=60008a104796c4abeeff730ad77c31b4&position=3&eaid=0&v=0&linked_from=autocomplete&c=autocomplete

Ferrell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120118162#Comment_120118162

Thanks a million for that very informative reply Citrus_8, I'll definitely check out Springboard and apply for something there! Thanks again

Ferrell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120115133#Comment_120115133

Thanks Jim2007, much appreciated!

Citrus_8

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120121998#Comment_120121998

Welcome on board! Also, I forgot to mention that you can watch free lectures and even get free lecture notes from OpenTuition website - that is enough to prepare for exams if you have a good memory, are organised, consistent, proactive and aimed to the result. They are absolutely brilliant. Many people use only then, however, I found that I prefer more interaction so Springboard courses are better to me. There are lots and lots of people who start an ACCA but give up as it is indeed challenging, but keep it going if you can enjoy it ;)