Can I call myself an Accounting Technician after level 4?

rhian

Hi all, I hope someone can help me as I'm a bit confused!

I've completed level 3 but yet to start 4. I've decided that accounting is not for me and I'm just not enjoying it. I will instead be applying to be a teacher in September '13 which I think I am much more suited for!

So basically I have a year to "waste" if you like. My parents think I should complete the whole AAT course seeing as I only have one level left and it'd be a shame to quit now- even if I don't want a career in accountancy. I completely see where they're coming from, but I just want to know- would this level 4 qualification even mean anything without work experience? Would I automatically be "MAAT" and be able to call myself an accounting technician? Or is it just as useful as the Level 3 diploma I currently hold?

If I did need work experience- how much?

Thank you!!

aaron0121

Hi Rhian,

To become an MAAT member you would need to have completed the level 4 qualification and also have at
least 12 months experience in accounts. tbh I think you could call yourself an accounting technician after you've
completed level 4 as it's the technician level.
Are you going to be doing a degree in teaching at uni or do you already have a teaching qualification?

SashaDella

What are you going to teach? If you have a year off you could try get some teaching experience in the meantime!

It would be worth completing the AAT as then you have it under your belt and if you change your mind again you have something to fall back on. But you also have to do whats best for you!

Take some time out

rhian

Thank you!! I have been working as a trainee accountant for 2 days a week (3 days a week in college) since September last year, and from next month that will go up to 5 days a week (when I should be doing level 4 in my own time). I just don't know if it's worth the effort of all the level 4 exams and the project if I really don't enjoy it and I won't be using it in the end. And also the extra cost. My parents just worry it won't look good on my CV if I "drop out" after level 3.

I'm applying for uni courses to be a maths teacher. I have a mathematics degree and I really miss doing that kind of thing!

rhian

I've put my name down for a few volunteering spots- I've heard nothing yet but I suppose since the term hasn't started it's going to be a bit quiet! Hopefully I get something

I completely understand what you mean. I guess only I can really decide what to do on this one!

uknitty

Whereabouts in the UK are you based ?

reader

rhian wrote: »

Hi all, I hope someone can help me as I'm a bit confused!

I've completed level 3 but yet to start 4. I've decided that accounting is not for me and I'm just not enjoying it. I will instead be applying to be a teacher in September '13 which I think I am much more suited for!

So basically I have a year to "waste" if you like. My parents think I should complete the whole AAT course seeing as I only have one level left and it'd be a shame to quit now- even if I don't want a career in accountancy. I completely see where they're coming from, but I just want to know- would this level 4 qualification even mean anything without work experience? Would I automatically be "MAAT" and be able to call myself an accounting technician? Or is it just as useful as the Level 3 diploma I currently hold?

If I did need work experience- how much?

Thank you!!

If teaching is what you want to do then you shouldn't worry about doing AAT Level 4.

You should probably concentrate on your PGCE/UCAS application and preparing for your PGCE interview, i.e. learning about pedagogy, different learning styles, different teaching methods, differentiation (not the maths kind!), brushing up on your subject knowledge, learning about behaviour management techniques, current debates in (maths) education, getting work experience, etc. These things will be infinitely more important to you than doing AAT Level 4.

I think your parents fears are completely unfounded, most people in the non-accountancy world would not have heard of AAT and therefore would not have a clue that 'only' doing Level 3 meant dropping out. To be honest, you haven't dropped out, you have just changed career.

Good luck whatever you decide

You might find the following website useful: www.tes.co.uk

rhian

uknitty- I am based in North Wales but will be applying for PGCE courses throughout Wales

reader wrote: »

.....

Woah thank you so much for all of this- I've already put together a file of different maths rules and examples etc which I can practise and brush up on over the next year- I just didn't realise there was so much more I could do!

As for the AAT- I think you definitely have a point. I'd heard of ACA and ACCA before I started accounting but it took quite a bit of research to find AAT (maybe this was just my ignorance, mind!)


Thank you very much to everyone, you've helped a lot

reader

rhian wrote: »

Woah thank you so much for all of this- I've already put together a file of different maths rules and examples etc which I can practise and brush up on over the next year- I just didn't realise there was so much more I could do!

Impressive- if you keep doing this for a year on top of all the necessary reading re: pedagogy, learning styles, teaching methods, education news, etc you'll fly through your PGCE (a lot of people struggle during their PGCE- it's a very intense 10 months, i.e. Sept 2013 to June 2014).

rhian

reader wrote: »

Impressive- if you keep doing this for a year on top of all the necessary reading re: pedagogy, learning styles, teaching methods, education news, etc you'll fly through your PGCE (a lot of people struggle during their PGCE- it's a very intense 10 months, i.e. Sept 2013 to June 2014).

Thank you for the confidence- I'm so excited to get into it!

uknitty

I'm in North Wales too - in Wrexham

Where are you thinking of doing your PGCE ? Are you going to carry on working in accounts for the next 12 months until you start uni ? If so have you considered completing level 4 via distance learning so that it frees up your college days maybe to do some tutoring or similar ?

garfield

Hi
It's up to you whether you do Level 4 or not, but I don't think many employers would see it as 'dropping out.' I have one exam to do to complete Level 4, but my cv just says 'AAT Intermediate' as I took of all the blurb about being nearly completed as I've dragged my feet a bit (two new jobs and a wedding distracted me :001_smile:) At interviews, few employers even for accounting roles commented on it. I also went to college with a few people who never continued after Level 3, as they felt that was as much as they needed for the roles they were in.