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hammerintheorient 8:38 Sun Jul 10
Accountancy question: Careers

My son (18) has shown an interest in doing a (four-year) accountancy undergraduate degree (not in England). If he completed such a program, what are the job prospects and options available career-wise at present in UK these days? Could he find work in UK easily enough? What is the best way to secure decent employment in this sector?

Excuse my ignorance; any tips or advice most welcome ...

hammerintheorient 8:38 Wed Jul 13
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Much obliged Stranded, if I had a property/job, etc in the area, that would be worth pursuing ...

Stranded 4:24 Tue Jul 12
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Probably not what your son is looking for, but maybe someone on here knows a youngster that might be interested.

..

https://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk/Search/Jobs.aspx?id=46606&id1=1

Apprentice Accounting Assistant

West Ham United Foundation

To achieve this, you will have in-house training within a finance department and attend one day a week at Newham College London where you will complete the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting This Opportunity is managed with Leadership through Sport and Business, a national social mobility charity that gives bright, disadvantaged young people access to high level careers in business and finance.

Detailed Job Description

Duties involve: Engagement within community programmes and working with young people in Sport Enter purchase invoices Maintain supplier accounts Reconcile supplier statements Reconciliation of balance sheet codes Liaise with suppliers as necessary Make postings to nominal ledger accounts Using Excel for uploads and reconciliations Undertake administrative duties

Requirements and Prospects

Qualifications Required

5 A*-C Grades in GCSE Maths & English or equivalent, with minimum B in Maths and English. Level 2 AAT

Skills Required

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Strong ability to work with clients and staff at all levels Professional and punctual nature

Personal Qualities

A passion to be involved in finance and sport industries. Highly motivated and enthusiastic with a positive can-do attitude. A team player who is adaptable to new ways of working & thinking and who can use their own initiative. Hold high aspirations and personal standards. Understand and wish to develop the skills required to become successful leaders/ambassadors. Unique and have the desire to inspire young people. The aspiration to increase your employability.

Future Prospects

A strong possibility of a full time position on achievement and completion of the apprenticeship for the right candidates

Additional Information

Training Provided

Level 3 Diploma In Accountancy Level 2 ERR- Employer Rights and Responsibilities

Lunches not Paid

Newham College - Learning Provider

For more information about this vacancy please contact the provider Newham College on 02082574258 or email: Neil.Coates@newham.ac.uk (Ref ID:46606)

Possible Start Date: 15/08/2016

Programme Duration: 18 months

Job Summary

Reference 46606

Wages P/W £118.80

Hours P/W 36.00

Location London

Posted 11/07/2016

Status New Vacancy

Sector Accountancy

Employer West Ham United Foundation

overbyyer 6:31 Mon Jul 11
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

A sector now dominated by ethnics, as they don't care about interesting careers as long as they get to touch money, albeit on spreadsheets.

The dullest three years of university you can imagine, or four if you want the pain of Honours dullery.


Then the prospect of a career in something like Private Equity, with no scupples or moral compass to worry about.

hammerintheorient 4:47 Mon Jul 11
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Hey , thank you very much everyone - really appreciate all your advice and pointers.

lincshammer 11:49 Mon Jul 11
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Haha your not wrong OTB, boring but well paid!!

zebthecat 11:34 Mon Jul 11
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Well, it is a steady job and he will never be out of work. I started out out on it doing the the first two years of ACCA while I was a civil servant but, frankly, was bored stupid and switched to software development (accounting systems to start with) and have never regretted it.
It all depends on what he enjoys. My brother stuck with accountancy and is now head of audit with a travel company and loves it.
The degree won't do him any harm but he might think about finding a company that will pay for the training.

Hasans Fish Bar RIP 11:05 Mon Jul 11
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

I did CIMA which at the time of doing it was the qualification most employers preferred out of the two certified routes.

Accountancy is quite a broad field. Management accounting in my opinion attracts a different more commercially aware type person, than say a financial accountant who normally fits the 'bean counter' stereotype that an accountant has.

A lot of companies out there take on say assistant MA's and will fund your qualification as well as giving you a bit of time off for study and exams.

As others have said a degree will only give you certain exemptions.

Woodford Green 10:28 Mon Jul 11
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

What Heath Hammer said. If he has good at least a couple of A grade at A-Level you can be reasonably confident of getting on an ACA programme with a good firm if he gets a 2.1 at Uni. The big firms tend to be a bit snobbish when looking at what uni you go to so that needs to be considered too.

FatSamsArmy 9:54 Mon Jul 11
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

If he wants to get a job as an accountant he will have to get an accountancy qualification after his degree. The main 2 are ACA (Chartered) and ACCA (Certified), For the chartered route he will have to join an accountancy firm as an Articled Clerk. This is basically a training program where he will be employed by them while he undertakes the exams. The Certified route can be taken while working in any business industry.

On The Ball 9:28 Mon Jul 11
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Just look at how boring lincshammer's post was, do you want him turning out like that?

;)

lincshammer 10:13 Sun Jul 10
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

I am an accountant, I would say doing a degree is pretty pointless as you still have to do the professional qualification afterwards. You get some exemptions for having a degree but still have to do higher level exams and the ones who have a degree struggle with these as they don't have the exam technique or base knowledge as a uni degree is very different.

I work in industry which is much more varied than for a big accountancy firm. If you have any questions WHOmail me and I'll try and help.

Heath Hammer 10:08 Sun Jul 10
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Being an accountant is probably pretty dull, but getting qualified at a top firm opens many doors (investment banking, private equity etc)

Main thing the top firms looks for when taking on ACA candidates is very strong A-levels ...generally any 2:1 degree will be ok

(Apparently stronger correlation between a-levels and professional qualifications that degrees)

On The Ball 10:06 Sun Jul 10
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Accountants don't have to work at accountancy firms. I sit next to one in the NHS, she does contract stuff - it's accountancy, just not in the way we'd all expect.

Seems like a good idea to me, although I'd be worried that at his age this "interests" him. Weird kid.

Romfordboy 10:01 Sun Jul 10
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Always need accountants jobs everywhere downside its boring... As my dad says 'enjoy what you do or you are in for a hard life...'

yogib 9:56 Sun Jul 10
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

I would suggest that if he wants to do Accountancy he starts to apply now for intern roles for the holidays with Accountancy firms or Banks.

My Nephew got a 2:1 in Accountancy and Business, struggled to get a job 'cos he worked in the holidays to earn money, so that also depends on how much you can support him.

End result was that he got a job with a local Accountancy firm who took him on for 6 mths and just covered his expenses, he excelled and they moved him from Gants Hill to their flagship office at the Gherkin....He now works at a Private Equity Firm having proven that he had the desire to prove himself

Toe Rag 9:09 Sun Jul 10
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Cant you convince him to do something interesting or worth while instead?

bertie 8:57 Sun Jul 10
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

He will have to do an accountancy qualification after the degree, this is another 3 years usually whilst working in an accounting practice. I did Acca back in the 90's and it was really tough getting a job in an accounting practice. Not sure what it's like now. I had a 1 st in an accounts degree as well, strangely the accounts firms didn't prefer an accounts degree as they felt that those students took the accounts qualification exams too lightly.

Once qualified you can stay in practice (decent job security but fairly dull work) or go into industry for more variety.
I've been in industry for a while and I'm finding software is starting to eat into my job security. So he should really think about enhancing his advanced excel/it skills as in industry compiling accounts is a fairly small part of my current role. It more about advising the economically illiterate management team.

Overall I would say it is a safe career choice with the software aspect being my only concern for longevity. If I was 18 again I probably wouldn't choose it again, however I have a comfortable life with no money worries, so it's swings and roundabouts.

Hope that helps a bit.

BRANDED 8:51 Sun Jul 10
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

The best thing he could do. You'll always have opportunity with accountancy skills.

Dr Matt 8:45 Sun Jul 10
Re: Accountancy question: Careers

Do a school leaver programme at a big accountancy firm. HTHs.