Accounts Assistant studying ACCA exams

[JADF]

I am about to offer somebody the role of Accounts Assistant. I know I am going to offer them x salary and x benefits but they also would like a "study" package. The candidate would like to complete around 3 papers per year and is keen to find out what level of support we can provide. Does anyone know if there is a "standard" level of support that a company should give? Should we pay like 25/50% of all fees? Also, what about time off for studying? 2 days per paper (inc exam)?

Many thanks in advance.

J

Edited by JADF on Tuesday 14th June 13:51

[fizz47]

My company pay 100% of exam fees and courses.

Per paper they recieve 2.5 days study leave not including the day of the exam so it's really 3.5 days when you include exam day.

[sanguinary]

Generally in the past I've paid all fees and exams for the first attempt. Employee has had to buy their books though.

If they fail they have to fund themselves forthe re sits. I would then deduct this from their payroll to make sure that they simply don't drop out.

[Office_Monkey]

Not ACCA, but my co. pays for the study course (includes books at BPP) and a revision course. 3 days leave (including exam day), and a 2 year 'lock-in' period after I qualify.

If you're a small firm then you may wish to negotiate by paying less towards study but increasing pay with each exam passed? Oh, and 6 exams a year seems to be the norm, but 2 at each sitting should be easily manageable (so 4 in a year).

[cailean]

All seems reasonable. First sitting should be paid for, resits not. Also a week off per subject. It does depend on your size and how much you want to motivate the employee to put in extra when needed.

[Lostprophet]

Normally all courses paid, 2 days per exam and the exam day.

Remember when they pass their exams they will move on....

[Countdown]

It varies from employer to employer. Scale of support varies as follows

None
Study leave/Exam Leave/Revision Leave (unpaid)
Study leave/Exam Leave/Revision Leave (paid)
Course Fees/Exam Fees/Revision Fees (paid)
Professionals subscriptions paid

Graduate Trainee Scheme with one of the Big Four would probably provide the best overall package (with passes linked to promotion/pay rises). At the other end of the scale you would have employers who feel they pay you £x for x amount of work, and that's it!!

It depends how keen you are to retain this person/how easily replaceable he is. I'd also suggest some kind of tie-in clause where he works for you for a period of time after completing his exams, rather than buggering off at the first opportunity

[Countdown]

Just to add, during my time in the NHS I got

50% of time off for study (I had to make the rest up via flexi)
Half a day for exam leave plus half a day for revision (per paper)
First attempt esam fees paid in full
£40 allowance for books

I had to repay if I left within two years of qualification. It was a tapered amount, ranging from 100% immediately after qualifying, reducing by 4.5% per month.

HTH

[JADF]

Cheers all.

In the end I offered:

Salary
Bonus
Pension contribution
Wpa (healthcare)
25 days holiday
9 days off paid (per year) for course/exams
All course related fees paid

Think it's like £33k, which I think is more than fair for a fairly basic role.

Cheers.

Edited: 50% of final years course cost will be owed to company if you leave within 18 month of qualifying.

J

Edited by JADF on Thursday 16th June 20:39

Edited by JADF on Thursday 16th June 22:08

[cailean]

sounds very reasonable

[JADF]

... and it all fell apart at the last hurdle.

I am now going down the Temp to Perm route, still with an agency. Anyone know what markup on salary I should be paying?

Thanks in advance.

J

Edited by JADF on Thursday 30th June 23:22

[Countdown]

JADF

If you're going with an Agency surely they will give you a list of candidates with the hourly rate chargeable for each candidate ?? i.e.

Tim Nice-but-Dim £6.60ph plus a packet of KP dry roasted peanuts

Rupert Willington-Smyffe £50 ph plus 2 hours per day with your secretary?

[Office_Monkey]

Is it a large co or a small practice?

[JADF]

Countdown said:

JADF

If you're going with an Agency surely they will give you a list of candidates with the hourly rate chargeable for each candidate ?? i.e.

Tim Nice-but-Dim £6.60ph plus a packet of KP dry roasted peanuts

Rupert Willington-Smyffe £50 ph plus 2 hours per day with your secretary?

Indeed. I have been offered £25K perm candidates at £20.00 per hour if they are to temp. I understand that there will be a margin (agency admin etc), but I am not sure at what rate is acceptable. It's a small business, just over 30 people.

Many thanks.

J

Edited by JADF on Thursday 23 June 17:27

[Countdown]

"Seems" reasonable. At the moment we're paying £14ph for a Purchase ledger Clerk (which I thought was on the high side). Previously I've employed "Trainee" level accountants at £15ph, I'm not sure if that's the level you're appointing at.

Btw are you using Adecco by any chance?

[Office_Monkey]

Is quite reasonable to me, not sure why you're struggling tbh. Have you tried AAT students as well, may give you a larger pool to select from?

[JADF]

Countdown said:

"Seems" reasonable. At the moment we're paying £14ph for a Purchase ledger Clerk (which I thought was on the high side). Previously I've employed "Trainee" level accountants at £15ph, I'm not sure if that's the level you're appointing at.

Btw are you using Adecco by any chance?

Not using Adecco. Large recruitment agency in City of London. So, the £20 ph is probably not too bad.

We are looking at candidates that have more practical experience than specific qualifications. One thing I have found is that most candidates only have limited hands-on experience. Most have either just worked on Purchase or Sales Ledger. I want someone that's worked for a small company and has an understanding of the whole of accounts and how things work. Maybe I am asking too much ...

I am interviewing 5 candidates on Tuesday so I am sure we'll offer someone the job.

Cheers guys.
J

[Tyson1980]

JADF said:

I am about to offer somebody the role of Accounts Assistant. I know I am going to offer them x salary and x benefits but they also would like a "study" package. The candidate would like to complete around 3 papers per year and is keen to find out what level of support we can provide. Does anyone know if there is a "standard" level of support that a company should give? Should we pay like 25/50% of all fees? Also, what about time off for studying? 2 days per paper (inc exam)?

Many thanks in advance.

J

Edited by JADF on Tuesday 14th June 13:51

My company paid 100% of all fees, all food i ate and paid for all my mileage too...

If you invest in them, they will stick around...

[jatinder]

JADF said:

Cheers all.

In the end I offered:

Salary
Bonus
Pension contribution
Wpa (healthcare)
25 days holiday
9 days off paid (per year) for course/exams
All course related fees paid

Think it's like £33k, which I think is more than fair for a fairly basic role.

Cheers.

Edited: 50% of final years course cost will be owed to company if you leave within 18 month of qualifying.

J

Edited by JADF on Thursday 16th June 20:39

Edited by JADF on Thursday 16th June 22:08

I don't get anything near that!
I get 3 days study leave (When my contracting role ever becomes permanent).
I had to use 3 days holiday for that instead, I don't even get any part of my ACCA paid for, it all comes out my own measley wage, mind you I do work for a charity.

That's a very good package.