So It Was Just Another Dirty Con Trick...
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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?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.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
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!
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
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.