WHAT NEXT ........????

System

Hi all <BR>I just was after peoples opinion or advice . Just about to start Intermediate level aat after completing and passing foundation . After having a look through the text books there is loads of stuff that I just dont do in my present job . My present job is as a finance assistant in a finance department , but i am doing more finance admin things than finace work . The job isnt going any where , and I have been doing it 4 14 months now , I have applied for loads of jobs through agencies etc etc and get told the same answer - not enough experience .<BR>There is a job that i was going to apply for but it would mean taking a grand pay cut and it is with a company that is quite small but it does sound from the advertisement that i would get more experince than just staying in my present job . I am doing aat through home study and the hardest part i find is when you arnt putting into practice through your job what you are studying . So I dont no if its best to stay where i am , only good point is the job security but im very board here or take a chance and go somewhere else

System

WHAT NEXT ........????

My job is all based around foundation studies too. <BR><BR>Im doing Intermediate via home study and none of it relates to work. At first at thought it was going to be difficult but its not as you feel you are learning something new. <BR><BR>One thing i have learnt is different companies do things differently to AAT, not that its wrong, just different. For Example Wages control Journal at work I do it completely different to the way AAT teach. I then followed my work way in my Simulation and had a call from college to explain what i had done so I passed. But if that been an exam I cant imagine the examiner calling me to ask.<BR><BR>Sometimes working for a company can help and sometimes it cant. I think stick to what you know and what you are comfortable with now, learn, study what you need to and get the knowledge. Then move jobs if you want!<BR><BR>I didnt think my job was going anywhere further than foundation and all of a sudden I had a meeting with my boss who has told me he wants me to get more involved in the monthly accounts. The fact I have done FRA already is helping me better in my work, then i think it would have if I had worked in accounts before FRA - Bet that doesnt make sense!<BR><BR>Learn the knowledge and then learn the Job.... I think by moving you might take too much on, new job and studying.<BR><BR>Good luck with your intermediate studies!<BR><BR>Amanda

System

WHAT NEXT ........????

I agree with Amanda taking on a new job too might be too much for you. I work for a relatively small company which means that I do all the accounts assistant work. Doing FRA has made me take more on because I have pushed for it - finance managers are often more than happy to let you have more work. However I also have problems fitting my work into the portfolio as it is always much more complicated in real work situations e.g. our fixed asset register is 36 pages of exel spreadsheet plus because its a small company I don't always get the time to devote to relating my learning to work.<BR>I just put in what I can and explain whats different and leave simulations and extra questions to cover what I can't. If you produce all worked based stuff as I did for FRA it can take ages - a big chunk out of studying time when I could have learned the basics and applied them later.<BR><BR>I think AAT gives you a great background to understanding basics and with every job there will always be different methods of doing things. What ever you chose you will still learn more than enough through the course and I'm sure you'll get a job where you can use it to the full in the future.<BR><BR>Torix

System

WHAT NEXT ........????

I was in a similar situation, I worked in the audit team at a council but was basically an admin assistant - no finance whatsoever. I worked there for about a year - completing foundation level.<BR><BR>The council was good flexi hours, great pay and a good pension plan but I gradually became really fed up. I applied for a job at a small firm of accountants and started in the October - just as I started Intermediate. Getting a new job really helped me in my studies as I was actually doing proper accountancy work.<BR><BR>I am really glad I changed jobs. Though I know its a struggle to find work without experience. Any chance you could do something voluntarily to gain some experience?<BR><BR>Could you speak to your employer and see if you can shadow other staff for a while or change department??<BR><BR>Good luck