Do you think the AAT is worth it?

System
System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
edited 10:25AM in AAT student discussion
I sat my last paper yesterday (PCR) so once I get my results through I will be AAT qualified - woohoo! I am confident that I have passed this as it was a fairly simple paper.

I dont know whether or not to carry on and study CIMA.

What do you guys intend on doing?

A few people have told me that having AAT isnt that great an achievement and that I should carry on in order to make a good career. I feel slightly disheartened by these comments as I feel I've worked quite hard into this qualification.

What are your thoughts?
Β«1

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Laura.

    Completing AAT is a great achievement - you have worked hard for it and should be proud of yourself.

    CIMA and ACCA are another step up - but, again, you can do it.

    Scott :-)
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    I think AAT is very good qualification.It will help you get a decent postition within a business and then if you want to be very succesful then you should carry on your studies within your new role.

    To be honest the job i am in, my coleague is on his finals for CIMA and his boss the FD is only AAT qualified. AAT can prove enough if you have the experience. hope this helps
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Hi,

    I think that its complete and utter rubbish how anyone can say that completing AAT is not a great achievement!

    I dont know what the job situation is like elsewhere in the UK but in Cumbria you can get some great jobs on the back of AAT and from what I can gather, the status of the qualifiction goes from strength to strength in all sectors, like I say though, my experiences are limited to Cumbria.

    I think that if you want to continue with your studies, you might as well go for it while youre still in the learning mindframe and get it all over and done with. Its like anything, the longer you leave it the harder it gets.

    Anyway, I've waffled on long enough its just that I too have had the odd comment of 'oh..so you wont be a Chartered Accountant then?' or 'oh..its a NVQ is it?' ....IDIOTS!

    Best of luck anyhow!!!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    AAT NVQ Level 4 is well above A-level Accounting, its equivalent to 1 year of a degree.

    If it wasn't "that great" an achievement, companies would not waste money on training up their staff!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    By definition, AAT is a practical qualification - in every sense.
    I've been working in accountancy since I left school and am only qualifying now - 25 years later!
    The experience on my CV has gained me progression based on practical experience and the AAT will be the rubber stamp.
    I already have a career, the AAT won't change things - just enhance it. 8)
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?
    Baggybooks wrote:
    By definition, AAT is a practical qualification - in every sense.
    I've been working in accountancy since I left school and am only qualifying now - 25 years later!
    The experience on my CV has gained me progression based on practical experience and the AAT will be the rubber stamp.
    I already have a career, the AAT won't change things - just enhance it. 8)

    I agree.

    I changed careers from a PA to accounts 3 years ago and was pushed into AAT by my manager. It was the best thing I ever did, and upon finishing my final paper yesterday, will be officially certified in something!!

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Hi

    A previous FD of mineas only qualified to AAT level. When he left the new FD who was CIMA qualified had less experience(about 5 years less) and started on aalary of £15k less!

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    You can only do so much as an AAT member. I would strongly recommend going on to chartered accountancy if you want to be in the higher earnings bracket of £40k plus.

    Don't get me wrong, the AAT is not a bad qualification but I don't feel that it hold enough weight in the wider accountancy field. I feel that it is a qualification for starters and you really need to go on to Chartered for a more senior position. I am only 22 years old and will definitely be going on to do CIMA and then specialise in tax by completing my CTA. I already work for one of the "big four" and the rest of team will be doing the same.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Thats pathetic. Which part of the country is this in?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    what is 'big four'
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    the big four = Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea & Man u
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    NO 5TIMES - people who know their field, would know that the big four are "Ernst and Young", "PriceWaterhouse Coopers", "KPMG" and "Deloitte". These are the best four accountancy firms in the world.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    so how the hell you supposed to get in with them?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    You go to there website and apply online. It is extremly tough to get in, since more than 12,000 people apply for about 12 positions available. You have to fill in a lenghty application form, which if you pass this stage, you have to go through a half hour phone interview. If successful, you then go onto an assessment day where you sit a maths, english and visual test. You also present to the interview panel. If successful here you have a final iterview with a Partner and then if you impress them you get the job. All in all, takes a recruitment process of 3 to 4 months.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Hi

    Waterwells were you asking part part of the country I was in?

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Read PQ Mag's "What your worth" - it ain't that much. But we need to get out there and show people what an asset an AAT Qual can be. Round here you're lucky if you get £18 - £20K and that's only if you'll travel a fair distance to work and you have accounting experience.
    When I started Intermediate 2 years ago I had exemptions from half of ACCA Level II(from a degree I did 20 years ago)but there was no college near me that ran a reasonably priced (or even unreasonably priced) ACCA day release course.
    So, since I still wanted a formal completed qualification, I plumped for a local AAT course. Well it was jolly hard work, I don't need to tell you. This last year has been really hard and if I have now passed the last 3 exams (PCR, PEV & PTC) I won't be shy about telling people what an excellent qualification this is.
    If I had any gripes at all it would be that PCR seems to be taught as a series of independent mathmatical techniques & costing methods with no overall "big picture" to see how it might all fit together.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Hi Neil,

    yeah, because that sounded like a pretty big drop.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Where about it this, lostintransaltion?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Wirral, West of Cheshire & South of Anfield stadium
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Hi Waterwells.

    I'm in Gloucestershire and it went along these lines:

    SME, turnover of £5.5M

    Old FD = 22/23 years experience, AAT qualified 6 years prior to leaving, salary on leaving was £55k

    New FD = 15 years (max) accounts experience, CIMA qualified 10 years prior to starting the job, came in on £40k, went up to £45 in first year.

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    well Neil. All I can say is that the new FD got done. He should esily be on £55k plus, with his experience and qualifications.

    I know of a part qualified ACCA FD who is earning 55k, so this guy certainly should be. But then again I live and work in London, and guess the salary is a few grand more higher.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Well as far as we were all concerned, he wasnt worth what he was getting anyway :lol:
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?
    NeilH wrote:
    Well as far as we were all concerned, he wasnt worth what he was getting anyway :lol:

    you know, I find that all the time....! :wink:
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    yeah well good on you.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Just got out PQ Mag's salary checker. For AAT Qual it says:
    COMMERCE -
    North West £14.5 - £18.5K
    Scotland 16 - 20K
    Yorks 15 - 19K
    West Mids 14.5 - 21K
    South Wales 13.5 - 20K
    South West 16 - 22K
    PRACTICE
    North West 13- 20
    Scotland 13.5 - 18.5
    Yorks 12.5 - 16.5
    West Mids 14.5 - 21
    South Wales 13.5 - 20
    South West 16 - 22
    Doesn't seem to bear any relation to what you guys are talking about but I suppose they work on the basis that AAT Quals are not usually FDs.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?
    WATERFALLS wrote:
    Don't get me wrong, the AAT is not a bad qualification but I don't feel that it hold enough weight in the wider accountancy field. I feel that it is a qualification for starters and you really need to go on to Chartered for a more senior position. I am only 22 years old and will definitely be going on to do CIMA and then specialise in tax by completing my CTA. I already work for one of the "big four" and the rest of team will be doing the same.

    This makes the mistake of assuming all finance workers are in the accountancy field. There is significant crossover with project management and other business disciplines, for which AAT is a useful practical course of education, but whose members want a wider-ranging profession than "just" being chartered accountants.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    The way I see it is, if you dont think its worth it then dont do it! Personally I think it is, hence my reasoning for doing so in the 1st place
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    That's interesting. Which other fields?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?
    WATERFALLS wrote:
    NO 5TIMES - people who know their field, would know that the big four are "Ernst and Young", "PriceWaterhouse Coopers", "KPMG" and "Deloitte". These are the best four accountancy firms in the world.

    YOu may well be one of the "big four" and I myself have worked for 2 of them. However I'm willing to bet that you are a fairly small fish in a massive pond. I've now become self employed and completing the AAT has given me the confidence and abilities to do that. I am now a very big fish in my own personal tank. No doubt you work for a great company but dont dismiss the small fry. I myself am doing ATT next. I might consider going on to be chartered but at the moment the extra expense is not worth my while. I won't be able to do anything that I cant already.

    I think the AAT is a great qualification and can set you up for a fantastic career, whether you choose to continute your education or not !
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Do you think the AAT is worth it?

    Thats more like it. An inspiring comment. I would interested to talk to you more Bobby, and find out just how this qual could help me make a good living in the future

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