should my son choose A level accounts or AAT accounts

[bongoboy]

My son has stayed on in the 6th form and was supposed to study accounts A level this year but the school at the last minute did not run the course (so he is studying A level maths and english literature.)

The school is finally running the course this September coming, it is A level accounts, i noticed at a local college near us they are running the AAT level 2 and level 3, does anyone know which would be the best to study as my son would like to work as an accountant/ position in finance, what qualifications do employers prefer?

Any advice would be appreciated
thanks in advance

[Buenchico]

A-level or AAT qualifications are only directly relevant for relatively junior financial positions (although they can be 'staging posts' for further advancement). See the job profiles, here, for 'Accounting Technician'
https://nextstep.dire...28/Pages/default.aspx
and 'Accounts Clerk'
https://nextstep.dire...88/Pages/default.aspx

For 'proper' accountancy career paths, see 'Private Practice Accountant'
https://nextstep.dire...87/Pages/default.aspx
and 'Public Finance Accountant':
https://nextstep.dire...66/Pages/default.aspx

Also see the information on this website:
http://www.careers.ic...hool-students-leavers

Chris

[boxtops]

..in which case, your son could do either, a junior position is a good place to start (as Chris says).

[bongoboy]

Hi Chris

thanks for the links i will look at them all when i have typed this answer to you.
I have just been on employment site looking at the jobs available at the moment (he is staying on for another 2 years hopefully in the 6th form) just to get an idea of the requirements for the more junior positions, they mainly advertise wanting the AAT accounts rather than the A Level.
I am no wondering if he should go to the college and study the AAT's instead of the A Level at the 6th form, just want the best for him and its hard to advise when i don't know anything about accounting.

Thanks again Chris

[Buenchico]

It's not my area of expertise either, Bongoboy (although I did teach A-level Maths, and often got called upon for careers advice).

However my feeling is that employers would value qualifications from from an 'industry-related' body (such as AAT) ahead of those from a schools' examination body (such as AQA, etc).

Chris

[bongoboy]

boxtops
thanks very much for the reply, the job site i have just been looking on for my area want the AAT or working towards AAT even for the junior positions and alot want SAGE as well.

Buenchico, Chris
I am thinking the same as you after looking at the job site, i will have a chat with my son at a later date, he has the maths A Level exams starting next week and he's abit worried about them, so i don't want to add anymore worries about leaving the 6th form for the college just yet.

Thank you very much for answering and for the links

[sherrardk]

I would go for the college course - when I was teaching an 'ambitious' colleague 'fancied' teaching Accounting and made a hash of it. I think a college would have more relevant staff for teaching employment-related qualifications.

[twix123]

Sage Accounts is an Accounting package which I doubt would be taught at college but more probably at evening classes, although I learned to use it 'on the job'!

[bongoboy]

sherrardk
you are right about having the right staff at college, as the 6th form has no accounts teacher, the lesson in September will be taken by a teacher already at the school who doesn't specialize in accounts, thanks for your reply

twiz123
many thanks for your reply, he could always study the SAGE at a later date or maybe like you learn whilst working on the job

[Prudie]

If it helps all the junior finance staff where I work are sent to do AAT and then those that progress do CIMA. I'm not sure employers hold much weight to A levels these days.

[NiceCupOfTea]

I agree with the above. Do AAT, as once you get employed that's what employers end up paying for you to do anyway. Therefore, if you're already en route with AAT you've a better chance of a job as you've started it off your own back. Shows keen-ness.

[bongoboy]

nicecupoftea and prudie
i think the same, the college course studying AAT is the way to go

many thanks for all the replies

[Skyline D]

I don't really know enough about English qualifications (Im a Scottish CA) to advise properly but I'd guess the answer will depend what your son actually wants to do.

Since you don't make any mention of University or a degree I'm presumign there's no imminent intention to go for a qualified accounting position. If that was the intention then inevitably the A level route would be better because that's what you need to get into the degree course. That said, it's likely A level maths and english would be more use than accounts anyway.

If he just wants to work "in accounts", then I'd guess the AAT qualification, which is pretty well respected, would be the better route. It also offers a longer term route to full qualification if you have the capability or desire down the road to do it.

Sage is just an accounting software package which has more or less saturated the market in basic computer book-keeping because it'd reasonably simple to use and very very good at achieving what people want it to do (though some more complex things in it are more difficult). If he understands computers (he's doing A level maths, I'll take that as a given) and can master double entry book-keeping (which is somewhat a pre-requisite of a job in finance anyway) then he'll pick up Sage no bother once he gets the chance to use it.