Accountancy

[Skithepowder]

Is it possible to become an accountant without gaining a degree first... going straight from A levels (AAB in Maths, Biology and Chemistry) with an AS level A in Physics and General Studies A Level (B). If so is it training on the job, do you have to study for an accounting qualification while training on the job or what? Or is it not possible? Is it only possible to go so far up the career ladder without a degree in this field?

Cheers

[Octavius]

Probably, but to obtain chartered status you may need a degree in an appropriate subject.  I could be wrong as vocational qualifications have expanded entry in recent times.  I think in this respect it is quite likely that an employer would want you to attend a course (day release etc) in order to gain relevant qualifications which may lead to a degree or chartered status.

There is a whole section on careers and options here for you to research: http://www4.icaew.co.uk/careers/index.htm

[Mrs_Pegasus]

I have posted in the Money & Finance section!

[c00ky83]

If you have AAB and an A at AS (btw, GS don't count...) you ought to get to uni!  Study anything you want, accountants aren't fussy.  You've clearly got the required numeracy, so once you have your degree you can apply for whatever training you fancy.  But get to uni - don't waste your A-levels!

[Skithepowder]

I don't know whether the cost of going to uni is worth it, Barclays estimate that the average student debt for students leaving in 2010 will be �33,000 (I'd be leaving in 09 if I apply this year, so pretty close). And if you can acheive the same status and qualifications in the field without a degree and be earning while you're doing it saving such a huge amount in debt might well be worth it.

[jonners1]

I used to recruit for one of the big 4 accountancy firms and can confirm that we did take people straight from school (in audit the area I worked in) who had the requisite A-levels onto I think it was the accounting technician scheme, once they did that it was possible for them to start the chartered accountancy qualification. I think if you did this route then you could be up to two years more advanced when you passed your chartered exams than someone who had been to university and done it the fastest way then. You will have to ensure that you have a good business knowledge and of what an audit and accountancy is as that is what will be expected by the firmsie you are regarded the same as if you had been to university. The only problem with doing this is that you may find the 'sexy' city jobs closed to you on qualification unlike your contemporaries who went to university as they tend just to look for 2.1s from a top 6 university and chartered qualification. if you get one of these jobs �30k will seem relatively insignificant and it is where the money is with the accountancy qualification. 

[tubeway]

You can do it withot A levels even - seee my post in the money and finance section

[kags]

You need first to be clear what sort of accountant you want to be.

http://tinyurl.com/8l988

 If you want to be a Chartered Accountant you will struggle to get into a big firm without a degree, purely because of the strength of the competition.

[Octavius]

The downside of that is though, that you will slighty miss out on the full-time student life.  I had it and totally enjoyed every minute!

[Octavius]

Click on the link in my post above and it has all the info you need including entry routes and reqmts.  Click on 'The Facts'

[c00ky83]

Any careers advisor would say what I said.  I was lucky to study before Mr Blair got his way (just finished), so I can't comprehend your potential debt, but if you have those grades in the bag already it'd be a shame if you didn't get a degree.  Also with a degree you'd have something to fall back on, and three extra years to think about your career.

Best of luck either way!

[tmrt84]

you could take AAT (association of accounting technicians) and then go onto one of the other qualifications- which is what i am doing.

AAT is an NVQ which you would do in your workplace, once you have completed you would be an Accounting Technician and would gain exemptions from all of the higher accounting bodies. It is a level 4 NVQ which is the equivalent of about half a degree (I think), and it is flexible. If you find it easy you could complete within 18 months or if not you could do it over 3 or 4 years.

Another bonus is that your employer will usually pay for you to do the course, or if you are under 25 it can be funded by the learning and skills council

If you went straight on to do CIMA, ACCA or similar you would probably find it difficult to find a suitable job, if you have no experience of accountancy. I find it is an excellent alternative to a degree

check out this website www.aat.co.uk

[Wickers]

I work for BDO Stoy Hayward who are one of the top mid-tier firms and we have loads of school leavers coming into the firm straight after doing A levels. The normal ACA qualification takes 3 years, however coming straight from school it takes 5 years.

I went to Uni and it was amazing, but one massive benefit of going straight into a firm is that you'll be earning a fair wage while your mates are getting into massive student debt. By the time you're 23 you'll have qualified and will probably be on about �40k which'll be more than most that age!

One other point is that if you do go to Uni, don't bother doing an accountancy degree. Do something you're really interested in becasue firms don't care what subject you did and it doesn't exempt you from many exams when you start training. My friends who did accounting said that they learnt the same in the first few months of training as they did in the whole 3 years at uni!!!

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Piglizard]

Hi there

You don't need a degree to become a chartered accountant. If you do the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) course first you could become ACA within 4 years, which is less time than if you'd gone to uni!