What are the different types of entry level accounting jobs?

Posted by wannabe PM | on Wed, 08/02/2012 - 18:45 493 4 comments | report

I’m looking to get my foot in the accountancy sector. I’ll be graduating this year; most likely with a 2:1 and have not yet been able to secure an ACA training contract. The plan is if I can’t get one to try and get some work experience in any accounting type role for 6 months – 12months instead; then apply again next year.

Can anyone recommend the type of job that would be best suited for what I need, for example?

Accounts assistant

Payroll

Etc

Thanks for the help

Comments

Have you applied for an ACCA training contract? 1 thanks

Euan MacLennan | Thu, 09/02/2012 - 11:51 | Permalink

Although we are a Chartered Accountants practice, we got pissed off years ago with the ICAEW's over severe exam programme and became an ACCA training firm instead. An ACCA qualification will allow you to do everything that an ACA qualification does.

Thank you for the reply Euan.

wannabe | Fri, 10/02/2012 - 15:09 | Permalink

Thank you for the reply Euan. I wanted to go for an ACA contract because it would be easier to open my own practise; but as that seems difficult I will start applying for ACCA contracts as well.

How would you feel as an employer, if a candidate started putting themselves through the exams whilst looking for a contract? Would that be seen as a positive step towards gaining employment. Or because of the work experience needed to become qualified, there is no real gain in doing so?

Thanks for your help

Work in a practice

Euan MacLennan | Fri, 10/02/2012 - 15:58 | Permalink

I am not sure if it is what you were intending, but working anywhere other than in a practice is not going to impress an employer in practice. The work experience you need to set up your own practice is working in someone else's practice.

I am slightly puzzled by your insistence on applying for a training contract. When we take on an unqualified employee, we employ them as a trainee accountant or accounts assistant (it doesn't matter what title you give the job) and encourage them to train for ACCA. We do not offer training contracts per se. It is probably just terminology, but it is better to apply for a job by offering to work for the employer rather than by demanding training from him.

Yeah, I think it's

wannabe | Fri, 10/02/2012 - 19:21 | Permalink

Yeah, I think it's terminology, all I meant was a company/practise willing to put me through the ACCA exams; instead of putting myself through it.

Your reply has been very helpful though. It seems I should be focusing on practices that are willing to take on trainee accountants, hopefully willing to pay for exam etc. But if need be I'd be more than happy to pay for them if the company offered me good experience only.

Still, it comes back to the issue of experience though, as most of the trainee account jobs require 6 months + office/accounts experience. So, I should try and get some basic experience and keep applying; hopefully someone will take me on.

Thanks for the help Euan