You've certainly come to the right place for unbiased and plentiful advice... Appologies in advance for any destruction of preconceptions you might harbour about the mental state of people in this profession.
Also you will notice that any thread that ends up talking about the same thing as the original question is generally considered a wasted thread.
You don't seem too old for AAT. You'll be around 47 by the time that you reach MAAT and if you're thinking of setting up solo which I assume is your path do you think that clients prefer twenty somethings or people a little older than themselves who they perceive as having more knowledge than they do.
Do you want to give the site a bit more info about yourself? This obviously isn't your first career. What field do you originate from? Worry not, you won't be judged on it. We've got all professions here from bankers to mechanics, and also all professional bodies from ICB to ICAEW... And where else in the world would you find those two debating a technical point!
looking forwards to chatting,
kind regards,
Shaun.
-- Edited by Shamus on Wednesday 13th of February 2013 09:06:15 AM
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Hi Shaun, Peasie, must admit that your avatars settle my nerves somewhat as I was worried that accountancy might be a little too straight laced to accept my slightly off piste personality traits, (ex BMXer, obsessive cyclist, general weirdo).
Started off adult life with a dizzying array of temp and short term roles including turkey plucker, abbatoir worker, lab technician and safe mover. Moved to London in early twenties and fell into Local Government as a community charge then council tax recovery officer ending as a baliff administrator. Had raced BMX since mid teens with some success (British age group champ twice), and entered the BMX/cycle industry for 11 years culminating in running a small but very succesful import/distribution company. Being well and truely shafted by parent company led to redundancy, short term contract in cycle industry then a couple of hiccups before changing track and working in my current role in small payroll/umbrella company.
Looking to expand my accounting knowledge to rise higher in the ranks possibly going further than AAT depending on opportunies and aptitude. Hoping that adding formal knowledge to my business experience will make me more attrative to employers in all areas.
I designed and developed community charge for IBM and was on site at Westminster city council to implement both that and the follow up National Non Domestic Rates (that would have been 1989 through 1991. Long time ago but I vaguely recollect that I was at the Wilton Road and Rochester Row sites).
If this is for a permie role also take a look at the ACCA foundations in Accountancy qualification which can be done from the books without a training provider.
AAT and ACCA FIA are about the same level (both will get you exemption from the first three papers of the ACCA professional qualification).
All the best,
Shaun.
p.s. Turkey Plucker... Now that's one that you need to be careful how you say or you'll end up with the RSPCA on your doorstep!
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
