Unsure which course to do - IAB, ICB or AAT?

Advice needed about how to get back in to accounting.

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Hi there, 

 

I graduated from the University of Bristol in 2010 with a 2.1 BSc in Accounting and Finance. Following my degree I became a maths teacher, but now want to make the move back in the the accounting industry. 

I am undecided wether I want to become a book keeper or accountant. Either way, I feel like I would need to brush up on the skills I learnt whilst at University. I am thinking about taking an online course, but don't know which one to do. I have seen ICB, IAB and AAT courses, all with different levels possible. 

 

Due to having a degree in this area I don't want to spend too much additional money retraining but also want to feel like I am up to speed ready so that I am in a great position to get a job.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Anni

Replies (6)

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By NeilRH
04th Apr 2017 14:53

Hi

If I were to suggest/recommend any of the three, it would be AAT. There is room to up-scale your skills through the levels, it's more recognised and would get you exemptions from any of the senior accounting qualifications.

However, your degree would get exemptions anyway and since you are looking for a refresh/brush-up you could just buy the course texts and working through them, a degree in accounting will more than cover the AAT (although AAT is probably more technical/practical). If you are looking to enter the working world of being an accountant, you might want to consider one of the senior accounting qualifications.

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By [email protected]
04th Apr 2017 16:07

Thanks for your reply - it sounds like a good option to just work through course text, as opposed to paying to do another course. And then perhaps doing a senior accounting qualification, after I have swatted up again!

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boxfile
By spilly
04th Apr 2017 15:51

AAT is well below your capabilities and you may well become bored with the basic level of the coursework. I'd only done A-level accounts and was really frustrated by it, so moved over to ACCA after completing what was then their Level 2 (of 3 then).
A part-qualified accountant will have a better oversight of accounts than a general bookkeeper, so I suggest that you may be better off starting off on an accountancy qualification, even if you don't complete it.
My BF dropped out of ACCA at Module 7, but has always found jobs that pay more than my accountant ones! Annoying for me, but perhaps helpful for you?

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Replying to spilly:
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By [email protected]
04th Apr 2017 16:05

Thanks so much for your response! I am just worried that I don't remember too much from my degree, so just want something to help me brush up on/revise the knowledge I used to have.

What did your BF end up doing after dropping ACCA?

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By Cheshire
04th Apr 2017 23:22

of the three I would say AAT. Get a training provider who might allow you to start at level 4, do the few bits on the AAT site to brush up your skills, could have it done in a few months. Then look at ACCA, but bear in mind their regulation 8 restricts what you can do quite severly passed TB, but why not aim higher. Bookkeeping alone can provide a great living but only if you can provide niche or add on services, but never as much as the Chatered boys.

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paddle steamer
By DJKL
04th Apr 2017 23:37

One point, did you gain any experience during/post degree, or is your accounting knowledge only textbook based?

If the latter some experience would be really useful, I do not want to be rude but I know that I was, post university, strong on theory and out of my depth re actual books and records.

The catch with university is that the nuts and bolts tends (well in my day) to get skated over, all the questions start with either a cash abstract or trial balance , but the actual job, at the small firm level anyway, often involves sifting through base records just to get to that stage.

Also getting a familiarity with software would be really useful.

MTD (we talk of little else on here) is certainly going to open up opportunities for employment, as a graduate (so you have a brain) adding a little practical experience would enhance your worth to say smaller firms.

Given your teaching background that might also be a real strength, we are going to need to teach/train clients, so coupling it with practical accounting experience could very much be a strong selling point.

Anyway good luck.

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