Career Change

Career Change

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Hi

I wonder if anyone can help me with some advice please?

I am 41 years old and I have worked in or around finance for the last 20 years, P/L, S/L, Payroll etc.

3 years ago, I decided to change career and train to become an accountant. I am now in my last year of AAT, studying Technician level. I currently study 10 hours per week outside of the study I do at evening class.

My problem is, I need to get into a practice or company as a Trainee. I can get interviews OK, I just seem to fail at everyone.

I can get an have been offered positions as Credit Controller and the last but one interview I went to, they offered me the postion of Team Leader in P/L, though this is not what I need.

Can anyone advise how I can get the experience I desperately need in order to qualify.

In addition to the above, I have been the bookkeeper for my daughters PTA for the last 3 years and also for my daughters Swimming club, but according to the ACCA, this is not enough.

Any help or advice would be most welcome.

Thank you
Jon Pitt

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By Ken Howard
22nd Oct 2007 09:40

Broad experience in small practice
If you were seriously thinking about a career in accountancy practice, you need to be applying for jobs in local smaller practices. Large firms, both in industry and practice are probably better for remuneration packages, but you will always be constrained by the more limited roles unless you intend to move around a lot. In a smaller practice, your pay will be a lot poorer, especially at first whilst you are a "trainee", but you'd get a far better grounding in a much wider range of activities, and if you are any good, you'd progress through the firm a lot quicker for potentially better long term gains (perhaps as manager, partner etc). At least with a few years practice experience, not only would you get the ACCA qualification but you'd probably also get a practising certificate to start your own firm.

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By David_Lewis
07th Nov 2007 12:53

Matureaccountants.com
There is a web site called matureaccountants.com, it might be worth contacting the person that runs it.

You clearly have experience in aspects of finance and matureaccountants helps place people in those fields as well as full accounting roles. If it is ageism that you are experiencing, may be worth a try.

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