Financial & Accounting Study With AAT Books & Distance Learning
Why shouldn't we bite the bullet and retrain for a new career? Rather than trudging to the same old job that we've been frustrated with for ages, we could take charge of our lives and build a career that satisfies and rewards us.
Which Re-training Course Is Right For Me?
It can be a problem though working out where to begin. We've identified that a change of career is needed, but can we be sure that the one we have in mind will be any better than the one we're in now?
It could be that a financial career of one sort or another is right up your street. You'll be considered professionally competent by others, and be recompensed accordingly for your efforts.
Clearly there are many training routes a student can take - so you'll have to work out the job or career you'd ultimately like to be working in, and then do the appropriate studying to get you there. You could begin your career as a Book-Keeper or an Accounts Clerk for example. Then as you becomemore experienced and qualified that could lead on to becoming a Sales or Purchase Ledger Manager or Finance Manager. If you add this page to your Favourites, you can easily come back to it and refer to the different colleges and trainers who feature on this site. Make good use of them - by looking through a lot you can contrast and compare what each of them is offering. Be wary of courses that only offer college accreditations. You need to know when you look at the job ads that you've passed the right exams.
What Do I Need To Know?
If this training is going to be your introduction to the industry, there will be certain essentials that you'll need to get to grips with. This list is by no means exhaustive, but you can expect to learn manual and computer systems, payroll, credit control, double entry, business law, reconciliations and vat. More advanced courses for those with some experience will teach at a more complex level. Advanced courses can be quite specialised, but might include such things as Final Accounts, Ethics, Special Transactions, Methods of Stock Valuation and Accounting Packages.
Who Would Employ Me?
Anyone with credible qualifications in accounts/book-keeping can offer themselves to all sorts of commercial and public sector organisations. Because all companies need to keep accounts, you're not limited to one particular sector. You may prefer to be a member of a large team, or take responsibility for the entire finances of a small operation. Work is available in both the private and the public sector, and many senior managers and directors have worked their way up through their company's finance department. Yet again some people branch out on their own, and handle the tax and accounting work for a bunch of other businesses.
Is This The Right Work For Someone Like Me?
It stands to reason that you'll need to be capable at arithmetic. But if you also take pleasure in working thoroughly and steadily, and paying meticulous attention to the detail of the job you're doing then this work is probably for you. Working in accounts requires good logic and a diligent attitude.
And ultimately companies need loyalty from their accounts workers, so they expect you to be able to keep the work you do in confidence.
"Winners take time to relish their work, knowing that scaling the mountain is what makes the view from the top so exhilarating." - Denis Waitley.
Investigate Your Options
Various accounting and financial courses abound on the internet and throughout the country. Finding the best one to suit your needs takes comprehensive searching. Think of the research you do as an exploratory project - it takes time to compare what you'll get, and discover which ones will come the closest to what you're really looking for.
Some courses follow a strict timetable, where all students work through the programme together. Others leave you to work alone at home. It's really all down to your circumstances, and whether you prefer to work at home at your own pace, or in a class with several others all working through the syllabus together.
When you've narrowed your options down, ask to be sent an example of their training materials - that way you'll know what to expect.
Then chose your training and get going. The sooner you do, the sooner you'll be looking forward to getting up and going to work every morning. All the Best!
