lack of motivation on financial performance

karoxx90

I have been on this subject for a while actually for about 3 months now and still not ready for exam, half of my class already did this exam but I dont feel motivated and its really hard for me to concentrate on this exam. I really dont know what to do Its my 3rd exam in level 4 and I rl dont wanne give up but its hard to stay motivated specially on writing tasks as I really struggle with them...

Is there any ways I can help myself and become more motivated and understand writing tasks more?

BenA

Sit the exam, even if you do not feel ready to sit it. I felt the same way about statements. The longer you put it off the less ready you feel when the exam date approaches. Sit the exam and get a feel for what it is like. I sat statements and it went far better than I felt it would and I put that off for around a year!!!!

If you want motivation, think about how much you have spent on getting to where you are and what you could potential earn once level 4 is done with. You're not the only person to hit that 'brick wall'. Just focus and just think how great it will feel once done!

Good Luck!!!

karoxx90

thank you, I agree with you, I achieved so much and I can't give up now when im nearly half way there.
Means alot

annemarie

Hi karoxx90,
Go for it, book the exam and just give it a go!

I am finding level 4 much harder than level 3 and am struggling at the moment with statements. I also take on average 2 to 3 months before I can take the exam. It is a long term plan AAT. Just doesn't help when AAT sends you newsletter with awards for students who passed all levels in 7 months! Don't even know how that is possible.

SandyHood

AnneMarie

I recommend that you keep going as you are. Ignore the awards for passing all levels in 7 months.
The AAT qualification is about a career in accounting.
You move up your career based on experience and passing exams.

If someone (probably someone who is very intelligent) started their AAT with littler or no accounting experience and then passed every single exam in 7 months what would your boss say if that person applied for a job?

In my experience it is very hard to get a job if you have passed the exams but haven't had the experience to go with it.

Employers want someone in a junior position to be studying level 2. With a combination of level 2 and a year as a junior under your belt, you might move onto slightly higher level work as you study for level 3 and then even higher level work alongside level 4.

I recently spoke to the manager of a specialist accountancy recruitment agency. If someone turns up looking for a job with the qualification and no experience he or she is hard to place in a job.
Employers are unwilling to offer junior jobs because the person appears over qualified. There is a fear the applicant will not stay in the job for long. Why invest in someone who will be looking over his/her shoulder waiting for the next job?
Employers are unwilling to offer the kind of jobs often linked to level 4 because there is no evidence of practical competence.

I am a committed supporter of AAT and really believe in the qualification. But if they are promoting 7 month qualification periods and discouraging people who are adopting a more steady approach, I think they have made an error.
Please don't be discouraged. Build your career by putting your work and your studies side by side.

Sandy

www.sandyhood.com

stevef

Part of my job is recruiting finance staff into the organisation when we have vacancies and I fully agree with Sandy. I do not pay attention to how long it has taken some one to qualify, in fact I would question if someone has qualified in seven months, do they really fully understand, or just learnt enough to pass.

What is important to me though is the balance between qualification level and experience as Sandy pointed out. I understand that gaining experience is difficult, but remember experience relevant to a post being applied for can be gained in other ways than by working in a similar but more junior post.

annemarie

Thanks Sandy and Steve for your replies. It is really good to hear the opinions of professionals who work within accountancy and have experience with recruitment.

You have both made me think about the combination of study and experience and made me realise that it really is time I look for another job to fill some of the gaps in my experience, which might be more important than when I finish the qualification. I have worked as a finance assistant for several years now and am the sole person in charge of the financial systems at work, but lack the exposure to a double entry bookkeeping system as the accounts software is rather basic and works as a bank control account only, the rest is done by the external accountant.

I have been looking for another job in the last month and have applied for some without success. The problem is that many of them ask for experience already, even at a junior level. Do you have any tips on how best to go about clinching the next job to further my career?

Annemarie

SandyHood

Do you have any tips on how best to go about clinching the next job to further my career?

Annemarie
You have recognised the key to your next job. You must already have some skills and ability your next employer is looking for. And your next employer must have some opportunities for you to broaden your experience.

My tip would be to look at your existing experience.

1. You have had to take charge of the financial systems for several years. I'm guessing this has meant posting entries for sales and purchases and preparing payment runs. I'll add I would also guess that you've prepared the VAT return and bank recs.
   
2. You have also had to liaise with the external accountant in terms of getting things organised/prepared.
   
3. And you have a company-wide view of the financial aspects of the whole company.
   

This is worth offering to a prospective new employer. There may be people applying for jobs with more specialist knowledge, but as someone who can see where purchase ledger fits in within a company's overall accounting system this could be a definite plus.

Try and jot down all the types of work you do this week. Then when you get to the end of the week, turn this into a summary of what you are doing on a regular basis. This is handy for a CV or application form. It lets your prospective employer know what skills they'll get if they employ you.

It is very handy, especially when your skills appeal to a prospective employer. They are interested in employing you. So you can spell out what opportunities you want in return for the skills they'll get. I think you know already but other readers might need a reminder. A job is more than doing tasks for a company in return for the money they pay you.

Good luck. And add posts on the forum about how your interviews go. Your experience will help others.

And

Not to give you a negative impact on you but I am currently waiting for my result of FPFM and I am doing it for the 5th time and I still did not give up and this is my last exam for AAT, always try and have confidence in yourself and give it a try when you are fully understood the concepts @ Sandy Hood I wish to ask if it is normal if there is a specific unit that gives a hard time for AAT students such as FPFM and I am starting to think that I am the only one that fail this unit and everyone says its an easy unit thanks

SandyHood

Dear And

I wish you all the best for your impending FPFM result.
Your advice is excellent, fully understand the concepts. This will give you confidence. Then test your knowledge to make sure you really understand them rather than merely think you do.
I hope no one is saying any level 4 unit is easy. This is a valuable qualification and having passed it is a valuable badge to show prospective employers. If the exams were easy then people might pass without knowing what to do.
It is possible that you really believe something is true when in fact it isn't.
Many years ago I held a revision class where a group of students all had an incorrect fact stuck in their minds. They were convinced they were right. Fortunately they let me explain the concept and left the class with the correct understanding. No doubt they subsequently passed their exam.

If you have found you needed to attempt the FPFM exam 5 times I hope you have gone back to basics and built your knowledge and understanding from scratch for your latest attempt. It is tempting to go in again and again based on the same knowledge. FPFM isn't especially tough. It requires an understanding of costing which can be difficult to acquire if you work in an accountancy practice. But if you do, try to give yourself costing exposure.
I don't have any AAT classes nowadays. Instead, I have ICAEW ACCA and CIMA students. I often have a visit to a local manufacturer for the students. It can really help to bring costing alive. You don't need a tutor to arrange one for you, contact a local firm yourself.
Go and see what variances are in real life, what they mean and how they become part of the reporting process.
Ask how short term decisions are made when particular inputs are in short supply
See if they will tell you the ratios they use to judge performance in the monthly management reports

It's a lot more interesting than reading text books. That includes https://www.amazon.co.uk/Management-Cost-Accounting-Dummies-Holtzman/dp/1118650492?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

My very best wishes for your success in your latest exam

And

I did not pass again

BenA

Keep your head up And. Ask your trianing provider for your breakdown and just really concentrate on them areas.

And

thank you I really appreciate your help the only thing that it is keeping me going is that it is my final exam!

BenA

What material are you using (BPP, Kaplan etc). Do you also have all the material they offer (text, question bank and passcards)? I used BPP and thought their books were really good and their questions bank book is fantastic.

And

I am using BBP Kaplan Osborne and First Intuition, I truly agree with you because the BBP question bank is really great I found it really helpful but when I come to exams the exam is really different and a bit challenging

SandyHood

The AAT exams aim to assess how well you understand the standards within each unit. The practice questions you look at are a good way to check you actually understand what you have studied. Being given questions in a real exam that are little more than the practice questions with different numbers isn't a true test.

The practice questions BPP and others have produced are very good, but don't expect them to be the same as you will encounter in your exam. That isn't their purpose.

Marshy77

Stuck in the same boat here, 2nd attempt in 2 weeks time and struggling again to get to grips with some of the information, especially the variances. Think I've got it and then do the green lights or a revision paper and totally mess it up. Been getting my head down and revising but it doesn't seem to be sticking!! Recently changed jobs so I have my training etc with that but can't seem to crack this unit.