Who is the better accountant?

xxSaffronxx · February 2008

Hi

I have a scenario of 2 different accountants with different backgrounds and i wondered if anyone could tell me which one companies would go for to employ

1) AAT finalist with 5 years management accounts experience

2) CIMA Foundation studier with a degree and 1 years management accounts experience

Me & my friend seem to be constantly in competition with each other over who is the best / most knowledgeable / most employable accountant.

While personally I think that both of these people are equally as qualified and experienced & should be on a similar salary and job title

Thanks in advance for everyone's views!

speegs · February 2008

Yes, but you have to remember that CIMA's only have to get 50% to pass their exams. AAT actually have to be competent. AATs are far better.

:001_tt2:

SandyHood · February 2008

I would probably look at what each candidate can do rather than basing my judgement on their qualifications on paper.

I know several firms which I visit. When I need to ask questions before I can help, very often those accountants who are less qualified on paper are more reliable with their answers than the ones with all the paper qualifications.

phunkyphantom22 · February 2008

I'm an AAT finalist with 5 years experience and a guy I know (friend of a friend who took over my old job) has passed the middle level of CIMA and will be moving on to the final level soon - he has 1 year experience in a credit control type role.

When I was training him to take over my job before I left, I had to explain accruals and prepayments and how to calculate them - he then had the cheek to say to my boyfriend when I introduced them that he was above me and more qualified?! I don't think so....... :-)

sebastianforbes · February 2008

this is always going to be a tough one for me.

this year i should complete my aat with absolutely zero experience in finance !

after that, i will go onto acca (hopefully complete it) and still have zero experience in finance !!!

one thing i do know... experience will not get me through the door and pay me a decent wage. on the other hand, what is theory worth if you don't have the experience of being able to use it correctly ?

as i can't have both, i'll take knowledge first, experience second. i reckon it's the easiest way to do it.

phunkyphantom22 · February 2008

They go hand in hand really - which is why you need to have the year's experience to become a full AAT member and 3 years relevant experience to become full CIMA/ACCA.

If you have one or the other, you'll probably find you can get through the door but will not get paid as much or be as senior as someone with more experience.

xxSaffronxx · February 2008

When I was training him to take over my job before I left, I had to explain accruals and prepayments and how to calculate them - he then had the cheek to say to my boyfriend when I introduced them that he was above me and more qualified?! I don't think so....... :-)[/QUOTE]

Oh dear phantom - i completely agree with you there! That would of got my goat too! lol

Thanks guys i feel better about it now!

jorja1986 · February 2008

Experience.

Just because you talk the talk doesn't mean you can walk the walk.

SueChibeba · February 2008

In Response To sebastians email

Hello,

You said you were hoping to finish your AAT this year with no experience in finance, correct me if i'm wrong but to gain the full qualification in AAT you need to have experience.

Thanks

Sue

Jan · February 2008

sebastian can finish AAT without the experience, but he will not be able to gain full membership and hence use the initials MAAT until he has 2 years experience - so you are half right :001_smile:

fruitcake · February 2008

hopefully not or i too have wasted almost the last 3 years at college . . . also qualified

but with no practical experience. . . the trouble i'm having now is that when i apply

for 'lower ranking' accounting positions i get told i am over qualified. . . come on gives us

a break !

:001_rolleyes:

djDougs · February 2008

thats easy, no1.

this is because it does not matter how many exams, names, bla bla bla
you have, ITS the experience that counts.

when i came to this job, i was ready to walk out the door

ie, at courses, heres a bank rec, its got 1 page, heres the 8 cheques and lodgements :thumbdown:

in real life, heres 400 pages of banks, no cheque stubs, and a Tesco bag of invoices

Manu · February 2008

Well, I would love to know... I had just taken my final exams as my boss left... (which I now know I have past!!!) and his replacement is someone who is ACCA part qualified and has no experience in the type of role he is doing...

I am now going to apply for ACCA exemptions... but I was not considered at the time for the job because I did not have the paper qualifications...

Now I am stuck in a lower position having a lot of extra work and teaching my boss the job!!!! ????? How annoying is that?

My answer is AAT qualified with 5 years experience is worth more... also because you get exemptions from some CIMA exams, therefore you are technically CIMA part qualified. Experience teach you more than books!

Good luck with your debate anyway.
Manu

Who is the better accountant?

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