To complete a degree in accoutancy or not.
Discussion
Hello all
I’m not normally in this forum but I need some advice on behalf of my girlfriend.
She has been accepted into year 3 of and accountancy course at university. She was planning to do year 3 and 4 to get her degree while working part time at a practice gaining experience. She has been working at a practice for the last 10 weeks but they have given her very little support there and has been told that she will not be kept on during term time.
She has been unable to find part time work in the field so is currently facing going to university and getting a part time job not related to her degree.
She wants to specialise in tax and has been told a few times that she should not go to university and just get a job in the industry because she would still be able to sit the ICAS exams. We are based in Aberdeen an accountancy job in the oil industry would be relatively easy for her to get.
The only question I have about it is if she doesn’t complete her degree will she find she hits a glass ceiling later on in her career without it?
If any of you have any advice you can give on this subject it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
I’m not normally in this forum but I need some advice on behalf of my girlfriend.
She has been accepted into year 3 of and accountancy course at university. She was planning to do year 3 and 4 to get her degree while working part time at a practice gaining experience. She has been working at a practice for the last 10 weeks but they have given her very little support there and has been told that she will not be kept on during term time.
She has been unable to find part time work in the field so is currently facing going to university and getting a part time job not related to her degree.
She wants to specialise in tax and has been told a few times that she should not go to university and just get a job in the industry because she would still be able to sit the ICAS exams. We are based in Aberdeen an accountancy job in the oil industry would be relatively easy for her to get.
The only question I have about it is if she doesn’t complete her degree will she find she hits a glass ceiling later on in her career without it?
If any of you have any advice you can give on this subject it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
xrv said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
By the way, she's got the rest of her life to work, college is more about the crack!
but, usually better if you don't have a boyfriend/girlfriend
...sorry about that
I should point out she's not 18. but, usually better if you don't have a boyfriend/girlfriend...sorry about that
I'm good, but I'm not that good. Unfortunatly.
Eric Mc said:
Does she want to be a qualified accountant? If so, I'd be looking into the fastest route to getting the professional exams out of the way. Doing an accountancy degree first may actually not be the fastest route.
I can guarantee it won't be the fastest route. But it might be the most fun. Get her to look into what she needs to do to qualify, a degree almost certainly won't harm as rules and expectations can change during a career, so a promotion may end up dependant on a degree or membership of the right professional body may end up dependant on a degree.
Nursing has gone this way, all it takes is for someone in one of the chartered organisations to get a bee in their bonnet about improving the profession's standing and suddenly it is an all graduate profession from now on, and the wizzkid who joined a year or two later flies up the ladder as they have the degree.
Nursing has gone this way, all it takes is for someone in one of the chartered organisations to get a bee in their bonnet about improving the profession's standing and suddenly it is an all graduate profession from now on, and the wizzkid who joined a year or two later flies up the ladder as they have the degree.
I'd recommend doing a degree if she can afford to not work full time, certain circumstances where not having a degree on the CV could hurt your chances. She doesn't know what she might be doing in 20 years say.
Degree in accountancy gives you exemptions from the professional exams and in theory means joining with or without a degree should mean you qualify at roughly the same time.
However if you are based in Aberdeen ***DO NOT*** do accountancy at Aberdeen uni as they have just lost their exemptions from ACCA and presumably ICAS aswell. Not something they will be advertising at the application stage I expect.
Degree in accountancy gives you exemptions from the professional exams and in theory means joining with or without a degree should mean you qualify at roughly the same time.
However if you are based in Aberdeen ***DO NOT*** do accountancy at Aberdeen uni as they have just lost their exemptions from ACCA and presumably ICAS aswell. Not something they will be advertising at the application stage I expect.
I sense a move away from this approach in the various professions. Some of the larger accountancy firms have re-opened pathways to professional qualification which bypass the University Degree system. It is a return to the articled clerk system - the method under which I qualified 32 years ago.
It may be less fun - but the massive bonuses are that
a) you are much more likely to qualify sooner
b) you will have a far better and more mature atitude to the profession at an earlier age
c) you will avoid student debt
It may be less fun - but the massive bonuses are that
a) you are much more likely to qualify sooner
b) you will have a far better and more mature atitude to the profession at an earlier age
c) you will avoid student debt
I agree with Eric, do the proffesional exams, 3 years for a degree for a few exemptions is not worth it.
As to the point of a degree helping latter, a degree in a diffrent subject may, but an accountancy degree is below the proffesionl exam and neither will it help in another proffession.
I did mine without a degree never had a problem.
As to the point of a degree helping latter, a degree in a diffrent subject may, but an accountancy degree is below the proffesionl exam and neither will it help in another proffession.
I did mine without a degree never had a problem.
Do the professional qualifications, because quite frankly a degree in accountancy tends to mark you out as being dull.
I know that sounds flippant, but it's true. Most successful accountants and CFOs I have met have an unrelated (usually numerical) degree and then professional qualifications. Most of those I have met with Accountancy degrees tend to be stuck in the less interesting "bean counter" roles for life.
Of course if that's what she wants then it might be a good idea.
I know that sounds flippant, but it's true. Most successful accountants and CFOs I have met have an unrelated (usually numerical) degree and then professional qualifications. Most of those I have met with Accountancy degrees tend to be stuck in the less interesting "bean counter" roles for life.
Of course if that's what she wants then it might be a good idea.
She should finish her degree and get a 2.1 or better. Fundamentally your degree can be in anything. Mine, for example, is in History.
Work experience does not have to be directly in accountancy to secure a training contract although the more she can get the better she will do. Candidates are judged on their potential and academic records.
She should then apply to firms and ask for a training contract for an ICAEW qualification (the ACA). She shouldne able to firm firms who will allow her to train in a tax department whilst gaining this. The Scottish qualification (iCAS I believe) is also good. The ACCA is fine, but not as well regarded and firms do not have to provide the same level of training support. Generally it is easier to get an ACCA training contract as they are cheaper for firms to provide. CIMA and CIPFA are other qualifications which are decent but will not lead to tax
Once a qualified accountant she would then look to complete her tax exams and gain a CTA. She might find a firm who let her do this straight from UNi which is great but she will not have as broad a skill set.
If she was 18 and offered a school leaver position with a top firm on an ACA this is a very viable alternative to university. However this does not appear to be the case.
Glass ceilings of all natures exist. If you have an ACA you will generally find no degree related glass ceiling unless you encounter a bigot.
Whilst all opinions are personal I would add that I am a chartered accountant and I work in graduate recruitment as part of my role. It is incredibly confusing with so may acronyms but at the same time I believe it's a profession with really great prospects and entry routes for young people.
I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to PM me if you want more detail or clarification.
Work experience does not have to be directly in accountancy to secure a training contract although the more she can get the better she will do. Candidates are judged on their potential and academic records.
She should then apply to firms and ask for a training contract for an ICAEW qualification (the ACA). She shouldne able to firm firms who will allow her to train in a tax department whilst gaining this. The Scottish qualification (iCAS I believe) is also good. The ACCA is fine, but not as well regarded and firms do not have to provide the same level of training support. Generally it is easier to get an ACCA training contract as they are cheaper for firms to provide. CIMA and CIPFA are other qualifications which are decent but will not lead to tax
Once a qualified accountant she would then look to complete her tax exams and gain a CTA. She might find a firm who let her do this straight from UNi which is great but she will not have as broad a skill set.
If she was 18 and offered a school leaver position with a top firm on an ACA this is a very viable alternative to university. However this does not appear to be the case.
Glass ceilings of all natures exist. If you have an ACA you will generally find no degree related glass ceiling unless you encounter a bigot.
Whilst all opinions are personal I would add that I am a chartered accountant and I work in graduate recruitment as part of my role. It is incredibly confusing with so may acronyms but at the same time I believe it's a profession with really great prospects and entry routes for young people.
I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to PM me if you want more detail or clarification.
Countdown said:
It isn't a "few" exemptions. A standard accountancy degree will usually exempt you from Stage 1 and most of Stage 2.
Some Accountancy degrees have been designed in close conjunction with one of the CCAB and offer 9 exemptions eg Acc&Fin @ Manchester Met
Actually, in many cases the firm insist on traineesvsitting exams that students might be exempt for even if thry can take it. The reason being that they want everybody trained to the same standard.Some Accountancy degrees have been designed in close conjunction with one of the CCAB and offer 9 exemptions eg Acc&Fin @ Manchester Met
Sorry, third post but I would add one last point.
I have no idea what jobs exist in Aberdeen or who the best employers are. It might be worth identifying an ideal employer, calling them and asking what they expect. An oil company might have really great graduate positions within their accountancy teams which are available to graduates. She then might know she needs to get a 2.1 and then apply through the website.
I could not comment on the number of local practices in that area of the world who might offer qualifications as in my post above. I would expect however that ICAEW would not be common and you would find the ICAS qualification totally prevalent.
I have no idea what jobs exist in Aberdeen or who the best employers are. It might be worth identifying an ideal employer, calling them and asking what they expect. An oil company might have really great graduate positions within their accountancy teams which are available to graduates. She then might know she needs to get a 2.1 and then apply through the website.
I could not comment on the number of local practices in that area of the world who might offer qualifications as in my post above. I would expect however that ICAEW would not be common and you would find the ICAS qualification totally prevalent.
So a 3 year degree (or is it 4 in Scotleand) exempts you from part 1 and some of part 2, two years at best, if thats not a few exemptions I don't know what is.
Having said that I dont want to argue, most people on here appear to be recomending the route they took, I didn't do a first degree and have never found a need one.
Having said that I dont want to argue, most people on here appear to be recomending the route they took, I didn't do a first degree and have never found a need one.
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