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The Book-keepers Forum -> Recruitment & Jobs -> Accountant Career Question. University Courses
Post Info TOPIC: Accountant Career Question. University Courses
Shaun UK


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Posts: 53
Date: Sun Dec 25 14:28 2011
Accountant Career Question. University Courses
 

Hi there.

On previous research missions I generally came across the viewpoint that Accountancy degrees at university aren't worth a great deal. For the most part the advice I saw was if I had enough about me to get a general entry level accounts related role, then do so and go for AAT, afterwards trying to move up to CIMA/ACCA if possible/supported. In other words putting in the effort to study these in own time (if financially possible) would reap far greater rewards than university. This process being the inevitable route after any university degree anyway (minus the AAT if graduate job).

I'm at a point in life however where I'm really feeling like I've missed out on university. I look at my earning potential at the moment and see only potential for a very slight incline in salary through 30's, 40s. Although I accept university won't guarantee work, it is what you make it and I imagine that if I make it well, then that future earning potential will be increased. Aside from this I want to learn and have that my 100% focus. I would be able to enjoy the final years of my 20's, with time to undertake activities/interests whilst at physical peak. I will look to learn a language whilst there. Having the resultant degree affords me the future potential to emigrate. Basically, I'm looking at this as an opportunity for personal development whilst effectively pausing career for 4 years. 4 years out of the rest of my life. 4 years spent with a student loan/overdraft/savings that bottom line means I drop £200 a month in budget from present, but gain so much time to explore many other avenues. (I'm on £16k as an Expense Clerk)

I enjoy all things accounting/taxation. I enjoy knowledge, business, improving performance and so on. I have looked into the considerations for ACA/ACCA/CIMA. I believe my interests/goals lie in industry consulting. Now though the question. If I at university decide not to take accounting (bearing in mind the first paragraph) in order to widen out further still with perhaps a combined honours degree in Spanish and Business(+International)/Economics or another subject I am interested in, will I still have the opportunity to pursue Accounting afterwards? It would be an explicit choice to study something else most likely business related, with the goal to return to Accounting and the prof qual route later. OR, if so be it I must go to university to satisfy myself,must I definitely do Accountancy if want the opportunity to pursue it later?

I really appreciate your time in sharing your view and knowledge. This is a major turning point in my life and I really must be sure of what I am doing. I would like to learn other things before returning to accountancy, only if that opportunity isn't usurped as a result. 

Many many thanks for reading through!!



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Shamus


Forum Moderator & Expert

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Date: Sun Dec 25 15:30 2011
 

Hi Shaun.

just answering the highlighted bit for now as that parts obviously worrying you the most.

Simple answer there is no. The big four tend to prefer people with law degree's to accountancy!

Same with IT. The last people that IT companies want to employ is someone who has done a degree in IT as the first thing that you need to do is try and make them unlearn everything that they have been taught previously before teaching them properly.

Sorry got to rush, I'm cooking at the mo.

I'll try and find time to give a fuller answer later in the week but for now suffice to say the above and we'll take it from there on my next post.

kind regards,

Shaun.



-- Edited by Shamus on Sunday 25th of December 2011 03:41:39 PM

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Shaun UK


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Posts: 53
Date: Sun Dec 25 16:38 2011
 

Thanks so much for that Shaun. I'm just about to start cooking! Leg of lamb the focal point of this meal! Although I forgot the cranberries!

That's the other thing I thought about; studying accountancy for years at uni only to come out and initially study much the same again but without fresh perspective on the ACCA etc. Might lead to a somewhat tired brain.

Thanks for your time on this day. Mine is being spent looking over unis, their courses and what other mature students are saying. Xmas spent researching! I'll look forward to your later reply.

Much appreciated.





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YLB-HO


Senior Member

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Posts: 411
Date: Tue Dec 27 11:51 2011
 

Shaun is right. My brother studied with one of the big 4 with an engineering degree, and most of his contempories had history, geography etc degrees. I know a lot of firms will not touch people with accountancy degrees because most degrees do not include basic accounting skills! You should do the subject that interest you, and that way you will have more choices. An Accounting degree is very restrictive.

I may be completely wrong, but I don't think what is holding you back is not having a degree. Its your lack of confidence in yourself caused by not having a degree! As someone who used to work for a very successful Engineering company who automatically threw away any CV for anyone with a degree and only employed people with confidence in their abilities and experience, I realised companies who asked for degrees, tend to be companies run by people with degrees, whereas companies run by people who don't have degrees, tend to employ people without them!

I know more unemployed people with degrees, than unemployed people without them.



-- Edited by YLB-HO on Wednesday 28th of December 2011 11:20:45 AM



-- Edited by YLB-HO on Wednesday 28th of December 2011 11:21:14 AM

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Kind Regards
Frauke (FFA FIAB FFTA)

Tutor for the IAB Level 4 Diploma in Personal & Business Tax, & mentor for the yourlocalbook-keeper.co.uk network

BKN Book-keeper of the year 2011
Hal


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Date: Thu Dec 29 23:15 2011
 

Okay I'll confess I did an Accountancy and law degree and that got me quite a few exemptions from my ICAEW exams.

Mind you that was a long time ago.

On the legal qualification front LLBs are pretty much expected.

So doing a vocation focused degree is not a bad move and unlike Frauke I have never come across an Accountancy firm refusing to look at someone because they had an accountancy degree.

Hal AFA FFTA

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Hal
Shamus


Forum Moderator & Expert

Status: Online
Posts: 4056
Date: Thu Dec 29 23:36 2011
 

Have to say that when I'm on the other side of the desk I tend to interview most people regardless as to their academic background.

People with no experience will get interviewed for roles only where they are in their early twenties and went to Uni straight from school. That aside regardless as to whether or not one holds a degree it's all about relevant prior experience.

CVs get regected because they are really badly written or the person does not have the relevant skills necessary for the position. That said, when an agency is involved the CVs of a lot of people who would have got the job never reach the eye's of the person who would have made the selection.

I've seen people with masters with absolutely no people skills and I've seen people with no formal qualifications who have really impressed me and been offered the position.

However, on the IT degree statement I can say categorically that there are IT companies out there who will not contemplate people straight from Uni with an IT degree.

I'm sure that frauke has much more experience than myself from an accountancy firm perspective (my background is predominantly banking back office operations) but I can see the same issues. But only where it's a degree without relevant experience which would change the scenario completely. Although then of course it's the experience that gets the position rather than the degree.





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All responses are copyright and may not be repoduced or referenced in whole or part outside the forum. Answers given are for outline only and formal advice should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
NA_AA


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date: Fri Dec 30 13:11 2011
 

I would like to say that previously it used to seem that if you had a degree you were a more preferential candidate against those who did not have a degree.

For me, I went through university got my degree (1st Class in BA Hons Accounting), but it was difficult to find a job after graduation as everyone wanted you to have atleast 2 years worth of work experience. Eventually I got my lucky break - after 2 years of graduation!!!!! which then allowed me to work towards a professional qualification.

If I compare myself to my friend who did not go to university:
- Got onto a school leavers programme with one of the Big 4
- Worked with 2 of the Big 4 plus some of the largest Global companies
- Over 14 years has accumilated vast amount of technical knowledge and experience
- Is now an FCCA
- Very respectible Current role as a FC for a Global Corporation - Plus very handsome salary!!!
- Acheived all this at the age of 30 - not to forget 2 Children aswell
Now i'd say that's not bad going

Therefore in my personal opinion - if I had a choice to go back and change things, I probably would not have gone to university knowing what I know now

However, the experience of university is great - develops you in many different ways - but you have to weigh the cost v benefit

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