Do you think the AAT is worth it?

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Hey Bobby,
I'm also large fish in personal tank and am half way through studying for ATT in November. They're changing the syllabus in May so I'm on a tight deadline & have to pass or I lose all exemptions and will have to take all 5 exams including ethics paper. When are you thinking of taking the exams? It'd be good to have a study buddy!

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Attn. 5-times

My partner has been looking over my shoulder readng this thread, apparently your 'big four' joke has been lost!?

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Bobby,

I do not dismiss the "small fish", but I am not a small fish in a massive pond, as you put it. At 22 years of age I am on excess of 27k. How many people can say that.

I also have a private bank of around 20 clients for which I prepare accounts up to trial balance.

Gaining the tax qualifications doesn't necessarily mean that you wont be able to do anything new with it, but it gives you creditials. If you were giving tax advice without your CTA, I dont think that your clients will take you seriously and hence lose any potential business.

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

I can't wait for the day I can say I have a foundation degree!

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Hi

Have to agree with Bobby and lost in Translation on the "small fish" issue.

Regardless of what responsibility you have in a job and regardless of pay, anyone who works for a business will always be just a part of something bigger than themselves with someone else setting procedures and having overall say on how things are done and ultimately you have to prove yourselves to them before you can begin to make any headway.

The accountancy magazines always have 'Look at what this member did in a company...' type articles detailing what the person has done and whom they work for. But my response is, if they are such good business people why are they still employed by someone else rather than actually making business?

Id rather year a good salary in my own business than earn a really good one working for someone else while they get all the benefit.

Bring on the entrepreneurs!!!

Neil

PS can I also point out that an AAT qualified can do more than an ACCA who doesnt have the ACCA practising certificate.

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

waterfalls, it sounds like you are one motivated individual and that you are doing really fantastically which is great. I only meant that the "big Four" is not the be all and end all of accounting, And as for not having CTA.....I have more than enough not only to keep my busy but to keep up my lifestyle so I'll suck it and see. It may be that I will go on but at the moment I can't justify the extra expense as it will do little to increase my income.

At the moment I'm striving for the work life balance. I've just had my second daughter and the whole point of going it alone for me is so that I can be flexible to spend good time with both of them. I've done the city thing and whilst I had a great time, I'm having a better one now.

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Well said. Seems some ppl need to find a better balance than being motivated purely by work and money. There are much better things to experience in life. And as for the comments above about (quote) "But my response is, if they are such good business people why are they still employed by someone else rather than actually making business?" My response to that is this. Some people enjoy being part of a company, maybe even being one of many equal "fish" but maybe they earn enough to fund the things that are important to them outside the walls of this forum for example. Maybe, dare I say, things even more important than work!

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Paul22 wrote:

...employed by someone else ..My response to that is this. Some people enjoy being part of a company

And thats fine if they want to do it. But most people earning money do it by working for an organisation and as a result measure their success by how much they earn and/or how far the progress within a organisation/s. My point was to demonstrate that people constantly measure themselves and other people in terms of the acheivements of those around them (the other fish in the tank) rather than breaking out and making their own unique acheivements and standing out from the crowd.

As for more important things than work, thats exactly why I will start my own business in the next 4 years, to take as much control as I can over my life.

Neil

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Paul22 wrote:

Well said. Seems some ppl need to find a better balance than being motivated purely by work and money. There are much better things to experience in life. And as for the comments above about (quote) "But my response is, if they are such good business people why are they still employed by someone else rather than actually making business?" My response to that is this. Some people enjoy being part of a company, maybe even being one of many equal "fish" but maybe they earn enough to fund the things that are important to them outside the walls of this forum for example. Maybe, dare I say, things even more important than work!

Im motivated by money...


you give me a nice FAT paycheque and Im all yours
Im only doing AAT so I can be promoted to Management Accountant (which, fingers crossed, is on the cards come August :thumbup: ) and Ive only done AAT to go onto CIMA (which again, thumbs up n all that....)

I want a better life, more money, not have to worry about stuff and the only way to do that is to "claw" my way up this corporate ladder, when, with no qualifications, you hit that GLASS CEILING....

I will gladly admit it, money motivates me. I dont want a boat and a holiday home (although it would be nice) i just want to be appreciated for what I know I can achieve.

is that soooo bad??

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

I've read this thread with great interest and I have got to agree with everything that has been said (which is unusaul for me as I like a good debate/discussion). I dont think there is any right or wrong moves as long as you get a good balance between work and life. Of course its nice to be successful be it working for yourself or in a large company.

I too have a small baby - hes 15 weeks old and I am currently on maternity leave. I am very proud of myself for having carried on with my AAT through pregnancy and post-natal as I could have given up with the new level of commitment I had just acquired. Now that I have finished (fingers crossed for exam results) I am at a crossroads with what to do next.

But after careful consideration of my options I have decided to take another 6 months off and appreciate my little bubba. Maybe returning to CIMA. If not, no matter what people say about AAT I will always be glad I did it. Even if I take a career change and decide to become a firefighter lol! :P

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

LauraY83 wrote:

I've read this thread with great interest and I have got to agree with everything that has been said (which is unusaul for me as I like a good debate/discussion). I dont think there is any right or wrong moves as long as you get a good balance between work and life. Of course its nice to be successful be it working for yourself or in a large company.

I too have a small baby - hes 15 weeks old and I am currently on maternity leave. I am very proud of myself for having carried on with my AAT through pregnancy and post-natal as I could have given up with the new level of commitment I had just acquired. Now that I have finished (fingers crossed for exam results) I am at a crossroads with what to do next.

But after careful consideration of my options I have decided to take another 6 months off and appreciate my little bubba. Maybe returning to CIMA. If not, no matter what people say about AAT I will always be glad I did it. Even if I take a career change and decide to become a firefighter lol! :P

oo if you become a firefighter take some pics of the gorgeous guys and post them here please

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Hi all,
Just back from pub (having celebrated completion of exams). Read all your stuff. What about this for a poser. Is it better for one person to work from home or be employed? If you do everything from creating your clients' cash books (if they lose the plot one year) to doing their VAT and payroll and then sorting out their Capital Gains & Income Tax. You simply cannot charge what you are worth across the board but at the same time how much would it cost you to commute if you took a job in the city? Which is most cost effective/ beneficial financially?
Personally I have costed it & I think its a tough call either way.

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

LauraY83 wrote:

I too have a small baby - hes 15 weeks old and I am currently on maternity leave. I am very proud of myself for having carried on with my AAT through pregnancy and post-natal as I could have given up with the new level of commitment

Well done! my youngest is 12 weeks so I know exactly how you feel. Juggling the feeds was a nightmare round exams but my hubby was really supportive or I wouldn't have made it!

Good luck for august.

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Just to jump on the bandwagon I think that the exams are hard enough as it is, so well done to all the other mums (had my little girl last september).
Personally, I'm pleased as punch that I got though the last year so don't let anyone steal your thunder!!
I haven't decided what to do yet but I firmly belive that everybody has different circumstances and that striking the right balance based on what's right for you (and your family) is the main thing. Money isn't everything......work less buy less.

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Be proud it was a long haul

but you might as well carry on now

its gets easier they say

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Well, I had a career with "the Big four" (but four in another field) and did the earning loads of money thing. Left at 30 to start a family. Decided to do AAT and re-train as the field I was in has moved on somewhat over the last 15 years - probably leaving me far behind I'm hoping to go onto ACCA next September; having taken three exams last week I'm leaving room in case of retakes (fingers crossed they're not required). Will peruse the job market, but really not intending to go back to work until youngest leaves school, gives me 3 more years to get more qualifications.
So AAT has been a great help in getting me in the swing of accounting, from mainframes and IT.

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Having had a different background than most, I think it is safe to say that no matter what happens you can be pretty sure of having a job with an AAT qualification.
I've been homeless twice in my life through one reason and another and now I run my own business.
That's what I call success, no matter how much money I bring home, as long as i can pay the rent, i am a very happy bunny!

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Upon starting AAT, not so long ago, I thought it would be the bees knees to qualify and get some letters after my name. Like the original poster, towards the end of studying for AAT, I started to feel that I hadn't done enough and so embarked on studying for CIMA. Now that I am coming to the end of that, I still don't think what I have done enough!! Thats just me, I guess.

In my case, the money is much better with CIMA, and I am taken more seriously as an accountant, but it involves quite a bit of stress and you need an understanding family (who will allow you to lock yourself in an office for days on end).

If you have drive, want a good career and found AAT fairly straight-forward - go for it.

System

The Magic has worn off

To further the discussion, I have this morning received my AAT Intermediate certificate. Having found both the FRA and ECR exams easy, I thought I had made some major errors, but in fact passed. Nothing on the course so far has been of more than the slightest challenge. I find it hard to believe something that easy to earn can be worth having.

In order to give myself the boost of knowing where this is supposedly leading, I have been looking at the recruitment sections of various accountancy practices websites. There I found that most vacancies require a minimum of 280 UCAS points. My mediocre A-level results are just plain not good enough (Biology C, Chemistry B, Maths to get me onto a training scheme. And thats not even taking into account the sheer number that insist on a 2:1 or better degree. (I failed and dropped out halfway through)

I have to ask- why are we bothering? Are we working towards something that is respected? I suspect not. I have been applying for better positions for a number of months now, and have found no-one willing to support AAT study. I can only conclude this is because it is not considered a worthwhile use of an employees time and an employers money.

Equally, the claimed progression to chartered accountancy or higher education seems to have little basis in reality. The majority of admissions tutors I have contacted will give no exemtions to AAT members, nor can I find accountancy practices willing to train them to chartered status.

I have enrolled in college to start the Technician level in a few weeks. Does anyone feel that this has done their career any good? I can only feel that I am wasting another year of my life in a dead end job with the hope of earning a meaningless qualification.

(It is the only one I have been able to find which offers even minimal study support- day release in term time and fees paid, but study leave and exam days come out of holiday allowance)

I know that you'll all more than be biased in favour of it, but what if anything do you feel that completing the AAT has done/ will do for you?

Graham

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Hi

Well following on from GJP104/Graham's post I'd like to say I have had the complete opposite experience.

My current employer, immediately previous employer and my employer prior to that all recognised AAT qualifications. My current employer and immediately previous employer actually specified the qualification, the employer before that wanted someone who had part AAT and provided full financial support and additional time off for exams etc. All were prepared to offer the same when I progressed to CIMA. I know there is more competition for practice vacancies, which can put the requirements up, but I know people who are chartered accountants who began training in practice on the AAT qualification. In addition, my current employers are both qualified chartered accountants from a practice background and they recognise the AAT. As for the higher education progression, I cant speak form first hand experience but there a several universities that offer exemption from the first year of relevant degrees to those who have AAT technician.

As for whether or not the qualification is easy, it’s still something more than having nothing and at the bare minimum is evidence of knowing the routine and basic theory. When I started AAT I was working in a general office admin role. Three and a half years later my salary has easily doubled (not including bonus and study support), I work on a good range of accounting and finance topics and I’ve made strides towards CIMA. If I were to loose my job today, I would have no concerns about finding another position that would specify the AAT, offer me the same level of work and further study support.

If the magic really has worn off, then perhaps accounting isnt for you.

Neil

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

I'm in full agreement with you Neil.

I got my current (well paid with full study support) position on the strength of having the AAT qualification.

Scott.

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

I also agree with Neil.

My past employers have recognised and supported AAT study and specified it in their job ads as a minimum requirement. I also would not have got my sub-contract work had I not have had AAT and to top it I would not be offering my services as an MIP.

If the qualification was so worthless, then employers nationwide would not support it and other financial institutions (ie banks) would not recognise accounts produced by those who hold the qualification.

To be honest I think if you are questioning the validity of the AAT as a qualification then maybe it isn't for you and you need to think about what you want to gain from your qualification and career.

Michelle

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

For a totally seperate reason, I was looking at the GrantThornton website earlier, and they have current vacancies for take school leaver trainees for the AAT. I guess the AAT cant be worth that much then, since the 5th largest accountancy firm in the UK provides AAT training!!!

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

Forgive my scepticism but I don't think that its as simple as you make it sound. For one thing, employers may desire the AAT qualification, but they also often specify GCSE Maths and English at grade C. This is hardly worth shouting about.

While I acknowledge that there are vacancies which specify the AAT qualification, they almost invariably also insist on practice experience. I have found that my lack of experience in practice bars me from working in practice. This is compounded when I apply for (non-graduate) trainee vacancies and get told I am "overqualified" (read "too old").

I never expected accounts to be constant excitement, but I did think that there would be more too it than just mindless drudgery for just over the minimum wage.

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

mate how old r u exactly ?? u cant be that old if u can still remember ure A level scores etc

System

Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

I think you may just have gotten the wrotten end of the stick on finding suitable employment (which is no ones fault) and you were placing too much reliance on a qualifcation being a "key to the city" and/or you're venting your frustration on the only thing within easy reach.