ACCA/CIMA info
Discussion
I studied with BPP. Was ok, but I think that it was down to the quality of the tutors, I had one for F2 or F1 that was useless. Still, managed to pass all the exams 1st time which I'm more than happy with. I found the F papers the hardest to study for, but got my best marks in them 
FD, how are you finding the strategic so far?
I was bemused to see some people complaining about their passes being nullified because they didn't attend one of the three exams when it is clearly explained that you have to make an attempt at all three.
FD, how are you finding the strategic so far?
I was bemused to see some people complaining about their passes being nullified because they didn't attend one of the three exams when it is clearly explained that you have to make an attempt at all three.
I've found the move from management --> strategic... Odd.
I'm finding the move up the 'E' & 'P' pillars quite incremental, (i.e. the core knowledge similar, but the exam verbs becoming more sophisticated), but the move up 'F' exponentially harder.
The real revision starts today.
Cheers for asking
I'm finding the move up the 'E' & 'P' pillars quite incremental, (i.e. the core knowledge similar, but the exam verbs becoming more sophisticated), but the move up 'F' exponentially harder.
The real revision starts today.
Cheers for asking
FamilyDub said:
^^ that seems to be what most folk do, but ten years ago I had no idea what I wanted to do and if I'm honest, I feel slightly sorry for the folk aged 18-24 in my classes at the weekend who go home and have to study all the time.
I did enough partying then, I'm happy to focus now I'm a bit older & boring anyway!
Could be because I'm with a smaller provider (Acorn), but the age range in all of the modules I've done thus far (3xCBA, 2 operational) is firmly late 20s to late 30s. From chatting to people, most seem to have come back into studying to protect careers rather than set themselves on some ferociously aspirational path to the top. I was expecting a lot more people direct from university, but it's not the case at all. Do BPP and Kaplan tend to soak up that sort of client I wonder?I did enough partying then, I'm happy to focus now I'm a bit older & boring anyway!
hornet said:
Do BPP and Kaplan tend to soak up that sort of client I wonder?
^^ Well, I'm from around Glasgow. I assume BPP and Kaplan are the only choices here, although to be fair I haven't looked into it. Kaplan got me through the heinous experience that was P1, so I've stuck with them.Strangely though, I've noticed the demographic getting younger as I've moved up the chain, I reckon about 25% of my class is <24, the bulk around 24-26 and only 1 or 2 people 27 or over.
Also, I did actually overhear someone in the lift on Saturday saying to a pal, 'oh, it's almost a year since I finished Uni. How will I be able to get back to studying!? LOL'
Office_Monkey said:
BPP seemed to mainly consist of people being sent from employers (banks/consultancy/other PLC), am guessing this is to do with high prices putting self funded people off.
^^ Well, since January, between re-sits, subs fees, classes & exam entry fees, I've spent around £2,500. There's no chance I'd be able to afford that without my employer footing (most of) the bill...Edited by FamilyDub on Monday 26th March 21:54
Edited by FamilyDub on Monday 26th March 21:55
hornet said:
FamilyDub said:
Also, I did actually overhear someone in the lift on Saturday saying to a pal, 'oh, it's almost a year since I finished Uni. How will I be able to get back to studying!? LOL'
Kids these days eh? I went back in after a break of 12 years since doing my HNC!
worse than me, I had four years off studying after HNC (I was mid 20's when I finished it).Office_Monkey said:
Cheer dub, found out today I've passed! Just have to submit my practical experience and I'll be qualified 
Good luck with the strats, they aren't hard if I can pass them first time round
Congrats mate, I found out the same result last Thursday! Great feeling, even if it hasn't sunk in yet am sure it will in May when we're not doing exams! Good luck with the strats, they aren't hard if I can pass them first time round Oh & to add some value to the thread, I studied with BPP in London. Generally good, highly dependant on tutor & also location - I did most of mine at Waterloo, however preferred other locations as the classes were smaller.
Most people were around mid 20's I'd say, some self funded but almost all from blue chip/ consultancy/ bank/ public sector (NHS). I went straight in to it from Uni as funded by my blue chip employer.
Most people were around mid 20's I'd say, some self funded but almost all from blue chip/ consultancy/ bank/ public sector (NHS). I went straight in to it from Uni as funded by my blue chip employer.
In my second year of AAT.. I have all of this to look forward to!
I think I'm leaning towards CIMA as well, it's nice to see everyones opinions and advice. The team I'm in at the moment only has one other person studying (ACCA) and when I've tried to ask about it the conversation hasn't got very far..
I think I'm leaning towards CIMA as well, it's nice to see everyones opinions and advice. The team I'm in at the moment only has one other person studying (ACCA) and when I've tried to ask about it the conversation hasn't got very far..
I did mine straight after Uni, Uni finals in the June - started ACCA in September, initially self funded and then employer funded.
To keep costs down I used used Uni of Westminster and then TVU evening and weekend classes. It was about £100 per subject including the book. For the last three exams I just bought the book and taught myself. All done by the age of 24.
I wouldn't want to have done it at a later age, getting back into studying is hard. I work with so many 30-somethings trying to study, spending £ks at BPP and still struggling.
To keep costs down I used used Uni of Westminster and then TVU evening and weekend classes. It was about £100 per subject including the book. For the last three exams I just bought the book and taught myself. All done by the age of 24.
I wouldn't want to have done it at a later age, getting back into studying is hard. I work with so many 30-somethings trying to study, spending £ks at BPP and still struggling.
sastanack said:
In my second year of AAT.. I have all of this to look forward to!
I think I'm leaning towards CIMA as well, it's nice to see everyones opinions and advice. The team I'm in at the moment only has one other person studying (ACCA) and when I've tried to ask about it the conversation hasn't got very far..
If it helps, my Sister is currently on the same stage of AAT and at least at CIMA operational level, there seems to be a fair amount of overlap. Everything I'm doing in CIMA P1 seems to have been covered in some capacity on her AAT module. Quite good actually, as we're in something of a friendly arms race, which helps us both along.I think I'm leaning towards CIMA as well, it's nice to see everyones opinions and advice. The team I'm in at the moment only has one other person studying (ACCA) and when I've tried to ask about it the conversation hasn't got very far..
My sister finished CIMA a while before I started AAT. I wish I'd gone straight to college after finishing school instead of arsing about, could have been further along by now..
I've got level 4 to worry about next, at the moment the college don't offer it from the local campus and there's no way I'm driving to their next closest that does run it. Might look into distance learning and try to get through it a bit quicker.
Starting VAT tonight
I've got level 4 to worry about next, at the moment the college don't offer it from the local campus and there's no way I'm driving to their next closest that does run it. Might look into distance learning and try to get through it a bit quicker.
Starting VAT tonight
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but this is some of the best information I've found on the web regarding the CIMA vs ACCA debate, with both cases being represented fairly.
I'm currently working in the financial services industry and just finished my final AAT exam. I'd like to become a chartered accountant, but I'm really struggling to decide which professionl qualification would suit working in this industry. I'm in a fairly entry level position at the moment, working as an Accounts Assistant, but would like to be working as a Finance Analyst within the next few years and from there-on I'm not decided yet.
Reading through all the previous posts, it seems that the general opinion is CIMA's are cost accountants most likely to be working in the manufacturing industry and ACCA' are better suited to financial services. But there actually seems to be quite a few major financial institutions that are pro CIMA, eg. JP Morgan, who are training partners.
This is a life changing decision, what should I do ACCA or CIMA?
Thanks
I'm currently working in the financial services industry and just finished my final AAT exam. I'd like to become a chartered accountant, but I'm really struggling to decide which professionl qualification would suit working in this industry. I'm in a fairly entry level position at the moment, working as an Accounts Assistant, but would like to be working as a Finance Analyst within the next few years and from there-on I'm not decided yet.
Reading through all the previous posts, it seems that the general opinion is CIMA's are cost accountants most likely to be working in the manufacturing industry and ACCA' are better suited to financial services. But there actually seems to be quite a few major financial institutions that are pro CIMA, eg. JP Morgan, who are training partners.
This is a life changing decision, what should I do ACCA or CIMA?
Thanks
Giantset said:
What should I do ACCA or CIMA?
I've said all along, if you're unsure of your next move then move onto the ACCA qualification -- it's broader & would give you more options than CIMA.I work with other part-quals who moved from AAT-->ACCA and the AAT syllabus (from my limited understanding of it) just seems much more relevant to an ACCA progression.
Other thing to investigate is the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) qualification, I'm thinking that's my next move.
If you're not sure which part of finance you'd like to go into, do ACCA.
If you're not sure you want to do finance all of your life, do CIMA.
As 2SB said, it's more about being qualified than it is the qualification itself, though of course places do favour one over the other based on the nature of the business.
If you're not sure you want to do finance all of your life, do CIMA.
As 2SB said, it's more about being qualified than it is the qualification itself, though of course places do favour one over the other based on the nature of the business.
Pulse said:
If you're not sure you want to do finance all of your life, do CIMA.
I'd disagree with that really. I think it depends on the person, not the quali. I'm a lapsed accountant, and to most non bean counters which qual you have is meaningless.I've used the bean counting thing as a stepping stone to better & broader things, and never looked back.
By the way, never used your letters on your business cards or letters, it's so schoolboyish
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