First of all, I’d like to say ‘hello!’. Just joined this forum today because I need some advice, and would really appreciate it if you could let me know your thoughts

I graduated with a degree in accounting back in 2007. Prior to that, I studied accounting at school and for my A levels. I really enjoyed it at A level and managed to bag myself an ‘A’, but then when I got to university, I completely lost interest. However, somehow, I managed to leave university with a 2.1, although I spent most of it not actually doing much work!

Since then, I’ve worked as a purchase ledger clerk, and for the last two years I’ve been a purchase ledger administrator; that’s my official job title anyway, but I actually do sales ledger, bank reconciliations, cash postings, rent postings, VAT returns, etc as well. I mostly enjoy what I do and I’ve been thinking about taking “the next step”: becoming qualified in some shape or form and/or looking for an accounts assistant job or asking for more responsibility in my current job.

I don’t really want to become - for example - a financial accountant, because I think that’s taking me further away from the part of accountancy I actually enjoy i.e. bookkeeping, so I’m not keen on completing ACCA or similar. I used to want to do this but times have changed and so do people

My question is this: is there anyone on this forum who’s done a degree and then decided to complete AAT (or knows someone who does or just has an opinion on it anyway)? Is it worth it? Would you definitely recommend it? Or should I just concentrate on gaining more experience rather than an additional qualification?

Thanks!

why would you do all that in accountancy and become a ledger clerk, which is the most boring and under paid part of accountancy

you dont want to become an accounts assistant its more or less what you are doing at the moment

and being a chartered accounts assistant means nothing

you need to get on a grad scheme or on a school leaver scheme ideally at a big firm look up to 20 accounts firms and apply to them all

no offence, but i didn’t ask for your opinion on my choice of career and path, i asked for your opinion on AAT and whether it’s worth me doing. you haven’t said anything constructive.

I don’t NEED to get on a grad scheme, that’s not what i want to do, otherwise that’s what I would have said in my original post! i thought i wanted to do that many years ago, which is why i did a degree in the first place. and although it’s not particularly any of your business, i became a purchase ledger clerk because i stayed in my university town for a year after i graduated, and there weren’t many accountancy jobs going there. i joined a company that i thought i’d be able to progress with quickly, but that’s a whole other story/post. and i actually enjoyed being a PL clerk thanks!

i no longer want to go the chartered accountancy route because it doesn’t interest me enough. as i said, i enjoy what i’m doing at the moment; i don’t want to CLIMB the career ladder, i want to move sideways

I am obviously not ambitious (enough). At the moment, the highest I’d want to go is probably as a manager for a purchase or sales ledger function, or provide bookkeeping services to small companies someday…. This is why I’m considering AAT and I should probably have mentioned it in my first post.

I am obviously not ambitious (enough). At the moment, the highest I’d want to go is probably as a manager for a purchase or sales ledger function, or provide bookkeeping services to small companies someday…. This is why I’m considering AAT and I should probably have mentioned it in my first post.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  I think too many people have the idea that accounting = Big 4 and that anyone else isn’t really trying.

I did it the other way around.  I did a degree in accounting after finishing the AAT.  In a few years, I’m half-thinking of doing a PhD in accounting and going into the academic research side.

For your current position, AAT doesn’t seem unreasonable.  You’d probably breeze through the qualification though.  Were you looking at the self-employed member-in-practice status?  Because that would certainly make it worthwhile.

It wouldn’t hurt to pick the AAT up, and is unlikely to take that much from you.  (no offence intended to AAT studiers, I only meant that once you already have a degree in accounting, there’s relatively little left to add for AAT)  It might help your current supervisors be willing to give you some more responsibilities.  What kind of other responsibilities were you thinking of?

Accounts Assistant can cover a wide range of things.  Including what you’re doing at the moment, I would say.  Have a look at roles advertised as Assistant Accountant, which is usually slightly higher.  As much as the phrase “chartered accounts assistant” is meaningless, there are plenty of opportunities for ACCA or CIMA qualified accountants in commercial companies.  Don’t discount doing one or other of those a little later.

I had to think for about 10 minutes before I realised they can’t actually give me additional work unless I move departments! It feels like there should be more because my workload is actually pretty low, despite how diverse my tasks actually are. I want to assist the accountants in my team more but that would be more of an ‘assistant accountant’ role and I’m not sure my manager would go for that. But I will try to speak to him about it; no harm
in trying!

Otherwise the best option would probably be for me to change jobs and study AAT I think.

Thanks for your advice, it’s helped a lot! and it’s given me a bit more to think about

I took the same path as you and even had same grades

But I really wouldn’t bother doing AAT with that background because you will simply find it too easy and lose interest. After my degree I did ACCA and even starting at half way through found it was just covering the same things again.

A degree in accounting would allow for numerous exceptions for the ACCA, I would have thought at the very least the first 3 papers, which is also the equivalent to the AAT exceptions

Could you just not apply for AAT membership with your degree to gain exceptions?

I would only have to do level 3 of AAT (so could hopefully complete it within a year), and I checked the exemption database on ACCA’s website and I would be exempt from the first 4 papers, and could also apply for exemptions from 3 more.

I am leaning more towards attempting ACCA now but i think part of me isn’t keen on it because I know it’s hard work and I’ve gotten lazier since my degree (if that’s possible).

I took the same path as you and even had same grades

But I really wouldn’t bother doing AAT with that background because you will simply find it too easy and lose interest. After my degree I did ACCA and even starting at half way through found it was just covering the same things again.

I would also be worried that the AAT qualification itself could be too easy for BoredLondonGirl now.  However, I noticed where she mentioned working as a self-employed bookkeeper.  In that case, the addition of full membership of the AAT as a professional body could be very useful.  (see here for details)

A degree in accounting would allow for numerous exceptions for the ACCA, I would have thought at the very least the first 3 papers, which is also the equivalent to the AAT exceptions

Almost certainly.  Mine would have been eight: all the fundamental papers except Taxation.  Even there I think I’d covered most of the material.

I would only have to do level 3 of AAT (so could hopefully complete it within a year), and I checked the exemption database on ACCA’s website and I would be exempt from the first 4 papers, and could also apply for exemptions from 3 more.

Do you mean the third (Technician) level?  Because the Intermdiate level is the second level, but NVQ level 3.  I think you still have to complete both Inermediate and Technician levels for full membership.  Although it has been revised since I did the AAT.

yes by level 3 I meant technician level. If I would have to do the intermediate stage as well, AAT would definitely be off the cards! I’ve covered that material too many times

the last time I checked, I was told I could start at the final stage (but then at the time I didn’t actually ask about full membership!) but that was sometime ago and I’m struggling to find mention of it on their website. I’ll have to call up and ask.

thanks again for your responses

I called them and they said I would only have to complete the technician level, even if I want to go for full membership. Phew! So so relieved.

boredlondongurl - September 07 2010 03:30 PM

no offence, but i didn’t ask for your opinion on my choice of career and path, i asked for your opinion on AAT and whether it’s worth me doing. you haven’t said anything constructive.

I don’t NEED to get on a grad scheme, that’s not what i want to do, otherwise that’s what I would have said in my original post! i thought i wanted to do that many years ago, which is why i did a degree in the first place. and although it’s not particularly any of your business, i became a purchase ledger clerk because i stayed in my university town for a year after i graduated, and there weren’t many accountancy jobs going there. i joined a company that i thought i’d be able to progress with quickly, but that’s a whole other story/post. and i actually enjoyed being a PL clerk thanks!

i no longer want to go the chartered accountancy route because it doesn’t interest me enough. as i said, i enjoy what i’m doing at the moment; i don’t want to CLIMB the career ladder, i want to move sideways

why do you want to move sideways

i really dont think you know what your talking about here

boredlondongurl - September 08 2010 12:36 PM

I called them and they said I would only have to complete the technician level, even if I want to go for full membership. Phew! So so relieved.

I really enjoyed AAT, and the forum folks are great. If you’d like a look at the last technician papers to decide let me know.