Advice Please!

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 18 in AAT student discussion
Can you please give me some advice? I am recently qualified AAT and want to carry on and do a professional accounting qualification.

My present job is as a Finance Assistant for a charity that supports people with learning disabilities. It is a lovely job, nice manager and excellent employee benefits (TOIL system, pension). The only thing is that they will not allow me to go any further and I have also not had a pay rise for completing the AAT qualification.

I have mentioned the above to them and was told that they don't need anybody more qualified for the job that I do and the reason that I didn't get a pay rise was because I started the course before I was employed with them. (I started working for the company when I was on my final year with the AAT.) I work in a team of 4 now - My manager who is currently studying CIMA, my other two work colleagues are working less hours than me, are paid the same hourly rate of £7.74 and neither have an accounting qualification although one of them has been asked to attend the AAT course but is not able to at present.

What do are peoples views on the above? Is this normal?

There is an ACCA course running in my local university - it is being run on two evenings a week? Should I go ahead with it on my own and wait for a job to come along? I would only be able to afford to do maybe 1-2 exams each year!

Any advice will be much appreciated!

Thank you

M

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice Please!

    I certainly don't think it is normal practice to give someone a payrise just because they have completed AAT. I was never given this impression in either this or my previous job (and I never got a single rise upon completing any of the 3 stages). It is something the company decides.
    It sounds like your employers are being perfectly reasonable in their explanation (though, they shouldn't need to explain why you're not getting a payrise!).
    You should either do what you suggest at the bottom or find a new job first that will support your ACCA study.
    Good luck!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice Please!

    I have been employed within accounts over the last 4-5 years and have always had a pay rise in my previous employment for completing each level on the AAT course. Everyone on my course had the same experience also. My course tutor also expected each of us to receive a pay rise! I find it very unusual that you have not received one!

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice Please!

    It can sometimes be the case that (like your employers have said) the role you undertake does not necessarily justify an accounting qualification like AAT.

    In this respect I would imagine that as you've got AAT and are looking to further your studies then you may have outgrown your role. Some companies do give payrises upon completion of various stages or all of AAT. I worked for a company that wouldn't pay for any study support despite my role being predominantly accounts orientated - they didn't see an opening for any studying.

    I would say that if you want your qualifications to take your career further then you may have to seek an alternative position.

    In terms of ACCA studying I would suggest starting it at your local university as this will enhance your CV. 1-2 exams per year isn't a problem but there are companies that will pay for your study support.

    Kind regards
    Steve
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice Please!

    I agree with purplegirl Miriam, giving someone a pay rise really is something for individual companies to decide. I was unfortunate enough to work for one company for 18 months and didn't even get a cost of living rise in that time, never mind for passing my AAT exams. I was only offered a rise when I handed my notice in!

    I would say if you really want to study further and there is the opportunity to do it locally in the evening then go for it. It will be you who will benefit in the long run. If your present company does not want you to progress they shouldn't be too surprised when you hand in your notice because you have found a job that does allow you to.

    Jan
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice Please!

    Would there be any point in starting the ACCA course even if I am not getting any experience in what I am studying??

    Don't you have to be working in a certain job role to do the course effectively???

    :?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice Please!

    The ACCA is quite a step up from AAT as the ACCA assume a lot of knowledge (i.e. from a degree, work experience, AAT or equivalent). You don't necessarily have to be working in a certain role to do the course effectively but working within an accounting environment does help you apply what you learn in the course.

    For example, the audit paper at intermediate level is a compulsory paper and a lot of people don't work in audit.

    Kind regards
    Steve
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Advice Please!


    Three things stood out to me when I first read this;

    1) You're working in the charity sector rather than the private sector and although I work in the latter, can I assume there are stricter criteria than normal that have to be met in yours before salary increases can be justified?

    2) You started the AAT for personal development - as many of us have also done - rather than being sponsored by your current company with a view to progressing within that firm with a specific role in mind. While many might admire your personal drive, they won't necessarily reward you if your newly acquired skills aren't relevant to their own requirements of you.
    Miriam wrote:
    My manager who is currently studying CIMA
    3) Most crucially, your manager is training for CIMA and thus presumably far in advance of where you are now. I know this will sound incredibly harsh - but unfortunately I can't think of a better way to phrase it - but why would they sponsor a mere (M)AAT when they're already endorsing a part-qualified chartered/certified in the wings?

    Only you can decide if you wish to go further since it doesn't sound like you will where you are now but you'll have to make important self sacrifices to get there.

    Best regards,

    Robert
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice Please!

    Robert,

    Thank you for your reply

    In my company (charity) a board of directors will decide who receives a pay rise. Usually people are only offered if they are planning on leaving or in most cases completing a qualification.

    I did start the AAT off my own back, and then got employment within a company who was more than willing to sponsor the AAT. They did not have to pay for any of the course though because I was sponsored by my College development unit (funded by ELWA)who paid for all my tuition fees, text books etc. I eventually came to work in my present company who had also advertised for someone studying AAT - I took the position because I wanted to gain a more wider experience in an accounting role.

    My manager is training for CIMA - Although I would not say he is very far in advance from where I am now! Previous Managers of mine - only AAT qualified have done the role better. Although my Manager is studying CIMA he has less work based accounting experience than myself.

    Did you mention that you worked in the public sector? How would you suggest that someone would venture into this area? This is where I would like to eventually be working!

    Kind Regards

    M :-)

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