new to AAT

System
System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 9 in AAT member discussion
Hi

I'm a bit confused and need advice. I've just been offered a job with a local council as a trainee accountant. They will fully sponsor me to train for the AAT. But it's a drop in wages from my current job (which is admin) by about £100 a month. I just want advice from other's who have been in a similar situation or other's who are studying AAT course....

It's a choice of stay where I am with more money but no long term prospects, or less money now but a long term career. :?:

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:new to AAT

    I say "Go for it!". Consider this:

    Recently, I worked out the total cost of my AAT as £1800. (College tuition, registration fees, exam entry fees, textbooks)

    Also, my current employer is granting me day-release, and it can be argued that one day per week for thirty-six weeks a year is like %15 of your working year when you are at college rather than work. For me thats kind of like having an additional £1800 per year. (Assuming you'd be doing the college stuff in your own time anyway, that is)

    Also, after tax and national insurance its only really around £70 less you'll be being paid each month.

    While I admit that I am both biased and in an exceptionally mercenery mood this afternoon, I say go for it- the long term gains make up for the short term pains!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:new to AAT

    You need to go for the job as it will be better prospects in the long run and that is what you need if you want to succeed in the accountacy business.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:new to AAT

    Thank you both for your advice

    Seeing how much the course actually costs helps and my employer will be giving 1/2 day per week to attend college.

    My new employers are offering me £15 1/2k and I'm currently on £17k. So after tax it probably won't be so much. I suppose I have to start seeing as a long term investment. Currently my job is going nowhere. I've been told it'll take about 3 years to complete the AAT course? Does anyone know if that is standard or is that probably the way it has been structured by the company?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:new to AAT

    I am currently at technician level and i have passed all my exams first time so far. If i pass the rest i will have completed the course in 2 1/2 years, That is if i can pass all exams first time.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:new to AAT

    The AAT is virtually three seperate qualifications that become progressively more difficult.

    NVQ Level 2 Accounting = AAT Foundation
    NVQ Level 3 Accounting = AAT Intermediate
    NVQ Level 4 Accounting = AAT Technician

    The standard way to do this is to do one each academic year over three consecutive years; so if you start in September 2006, you should finish in June 2009.

    Unless you have a compelling reason to want to go faster than this, three years is the most sensible (and certainly the most common) way to do it.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:new to AAT

    I know that there is a fastrack course being offered @ a local college, where u can complete foundation and intermediate within 18 weeks (each level that is). But then thinking about it that is only as a full time student. :oops: Just going too ahead of myself!

    Three years of studying.....Seems a long way from now. Thanks again :thumbup:
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:new to AAT
    MANJKAUR wrote:
    I know that there is a fastrack course being offered @ a local college, where u can complete foundation and intermediate within 18 weeks (each level that is). But then thinking about it that is only as a full time student. :oops: Just going too ahead of myself!

    Three years of studying.....Seems a long way from now. Thanks again :thumbup:

    At least studying while working full-time means that you can get real information and experience into the vocational elements - after all, the NVQ is *supposed* to be a vocational qualification, not a simulated/academic one!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:new to AAT

    3 years is about right though bearing in mind that you will need to submit a portfolio/evidence of experience.

    Take heart ... it took me 8 years to complete an honours degree with the Open University, I am now a CIMA student and plan to do a masters in social sciences at some point.

    Go for it.

    Sharon

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