My son is a chef and despite it being a passion is fed up of the 80 hour week and having no time for anything else, never mind sleep nor trying to put back the weight he has lost through having no time to eat (yes its that bad in Michelin star places!)
He did A level accounting several years ago, so was wondering about going down this route. Im a bookkeeper not an Accountant - I suggested he look at the AAT exams. His girlfriends Mum is an Accountant - she suggested the ACCA exams.
Just wondered what people's views are for someone with no experience? Also, is it best to get some of the course modules done before he starts applying for jobs or do firms still take people on on the basis they will start their training at the same time?
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
You don't say how old he is Joanne. If he's young enough he could get an apprenticeship which is really the best option all around as he gains experience and qualification.
ACCA is better but comes with more restrictions on self employment.
Be warned though, its not an easy market out there at the moment and there are a lot of unemployed accountants going for every job that comes up.
On the bright side many employers seem to prefer AAT and PQ's to ACCA qualifieds (they're generally cheaper).
Really when they say PQ they will be looking for you to gave passed at least the first nine (the skills level).
If he wants one he can even get a BSc after the first nine as he will have done the equivalent of a degree.
The last five are at MBA level. He may want to get some money coming in again from a secure job before attempting those.
If he goes into corproate he may dream of the good old days when he only had to do 80 hours a week.... And actually got paid for the hours that he did rather than having professional working days (basically work 16 hours a day, get paid for 7.5) and needing to always be the first into the office and the last to leave.
Practice is generally less hours but lower money. Once he picks a side its not easy to swap over as both sides think that the other has a far easier life.
Personally I've seen both sides of the fence and don't think that either are easy options. Certainly I don't think either is the life that those new to it think that it will be.
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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.
He is 25! Too old for apprenticeship and actually fed up of living off minimum wage and sheer exhaustion - at least Accountants can sit down!! Oh if only he got paid for the hours he did!! He was on a fixed wage (which if you work it out paid for 45 hours max). He never did less than 80 and was then expected to wash his whites/aprons in precious few hours between zombie working and sleep. He did it for his career/CV but in the end the weight loss just got too much - he was a stick to start with so had no chance, it was making him ill. Fortunately he isnt afraid of hard work but just wants a wee bit more of a life, even if its only an extra couple of hours a week.
I (stupidly) put the idea of Accountancy in his head. Or maybe insurance - you never see a poor insurance broker, haha.
Seriously though - thanks for the enclosed. I think he should come and work for me and see if he likes this end of it all before he makes any other decisions then at least he will also have some time to research it properly, or have the time to decide what else he wants to do in life!
Hope youre well
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Or maybe insurance - you never see a poor insurance broker, haha.
