Do you wanna be an accountant?

nicd1981

Let me start by introducing myself, My Name is Nicola and I'm a 33 year old single mum of 2 teenagers from Liverpool. I am currently employed as an Assistant Management Accountant of a Pharmaceutical company.

I have worked in Finance for around 10 years slowly working my way up by studying and gaining experience.

But i haven't always been in this rewarding career.

10 years ago I had nothing!

I was in a women s refuge after leaving my ex-partner with two children in tow, and had no qualifications,
I started applying for positions but without qualifications the positions where for minimum wage at £3.90 per hour.
I had 2 young children and rent and childcare to pay.
I knew I couldn't survive like this and wanted better for my children,

So I started temping, Reception work, Admin work, anything which required no qualifications!
I then began looking into college courses, anything I could fit around my kids to somehow drag myself out of the hole I felt I was in.

There was a course running in my Kirkby Unemployed Center for Sage Line 50, it ran 1 day a week for 6 months I began the course in the September and I loved it!
I gained an NVQ Level 2 in Sage Line 50 and decided there and then that this was what I wanted to do.


After completing my Level 2 in Sage Line 50, I found a 2 year contract working as an Accounts Clerk of a Window Manufacturer near where i lived. I would never have gained this employment without Sage Line 50 course.

This allowed me actual hands on experience in all areas of accounts.

I then started my next course 2 evenings a week at Knowsley Community College Associate of Accounting Technicians (AAT).

AAT is a route to becoming a Qualified Accountant without attending university and taking out a student loan.

Don't get me wrong the course is hard! You have to do a lot of home study and sit several exams per year. When you are working full time, and studying most evenings it is hard! Especially when you are a single mother you have the added guilt that you should be spending all that time on your children.

I qualified October 2012 and graduated in January 2013 with newly gained letters after my name! (MAAT)

After AAT I decided I wanted to take on my professional exams, this would allow me to become a Fully Qualified Chartered Management Accountant!

As I am fully qualified AAT ,I was exempt from all the certificate Level CIMA exams (5 exams in total) so I began Operational Level October 2013 and in May 2014 i passed my final Operational Level exam and gained more letters after my name (CimaDipMA)

Now I work for a Pharma company, and I am still studying for my Managerial Level CIMA exams!

I have 6 exams in total to undertake and 2 case studies before I will be a Fully Qualified Chartered Accountant. It'll take me a long time, and I’ll probably fail a few exams along the way! The exams are hard, and with the recent change in syllabus it is unknown territory.

But I’ll do it, and believe me if I can do it anyone can.

So good Luck! Thanks for reading my blog, any questions please comment and i will reply to all.

Hope this inspires young mums out there who are struggling and with the recent changes in Tax credits and benefits it’s impossible to live without a decent job these days.

I am currently working on my website www.wannabeanaccountant.co.uk whereby i am to discuss routes into accountancy and other Financial qualifications to Unemployed people who need advice and help with funding.

Thanks again

Nicola xx
My blog can be found here at:

http://wannabeanaccountant.blogspot.co.uk/

Please comment and share xx

nicd1981

Thank you for taking the time to read. If possible could you please write in the comments section of the blog a brief description of why you started accountancy and what hurdles you have over come to get where you are today. I would like to go into teaching and i am hoping this blog will inspire both current students and potential students.
Thanks again
Nicola

Betha

Hi Nicola, i am just about to take my first AAT Level 3 exam, i am also a single mother to a 23 month old girl.

I am struggling with the guilt of studying at night and working full time but hopeful that it will be worth it in the long run!!

thanks for the inspiration

my aim is to do AAT Level 3 then ATT then CTA

All the best xx

nicd1981

Hi Betha, Keep at it! I now have a thriving business with 31 clients and I still work full time but am considering reducing my hours ! AAT has really changed my life and broadened my horizons Yes I understand the guilt , I felt like that too but its been worth it in the end. Plus my children have ambition, which they may not of had if I hadn't of gone down this route.
Goodluck and let us know how you get on xx

Betha

Thank you.

Congratulations- I am a junior for a chartered accountants so hopefully will gain necessary experience!
take my personal email! you are an inspiration!! bethappleby@outlook.com
x

Yalda20

This is so inspiring many thanks for sharing

MrMustard

Really good read, thanks. Were you working as an accounts clerk until the end of AAT lv 4?

What jobs would you suggest applying to after finishing AAT and moving on from Accounts clerk/junior accounts assistant roles.

Thanks again