want to train as an accountant

[trigga3]

Hi, Im 25 years old and looking to re-train as an accountant. I am currently unemployed so dont have a lot of money available. Does anyone have any advice on what would be the best/quickest/cost effective way of training in accountancy? thanks advance.

[factor-fiction]

Be prepared for a long hard slog. Have you looked on http://www.icaew.com/

[trigga3]

just looking now thanks, why a long hard slog :(

[buildersmate]

Since one needs technical work experience during the studying, I don't see how one can do it without being part of a training agreement between you and one of the accountancy organisations that offer these.
Its very competitive I'm afraid, getting one of these.
The link F30 gave you gives all you need to know to get you started on the path.

[factor-fiction]

I think it'll take about 3 years to do a full ACA qualification, and that's assuming you meet the entry requirements, but you could start with something like a bookkeeping course- that way you can decide whether it's something you'll enjoy

[johne1892]

A lot of companies I have worked with in the past have taken people on who are in the process of training. so don't think you have to be fully qualified before applying for jobs.

Take a loook at training on Accounts software also e.g.Sage as that will help also.

[buildersmate]

It seems to be Groundhog Day.
One cannot get fully qualified (for ACA) without doing the both the practical and mentoring bits and they come with being linked to an employer via a training agreement. QED
An alternative route may be via one of the plethora of 'lower' qualifications (book-keeping, for example) - which are nonetheless very good, but won't help get you any closer to ACA - you can't trade the lesser qualification to 'get you off' doing part of the ACA training modules.

[twix123]

Usually you'll need a first degree before studying for an ACA qualification with a firm of accountants. An ACCA or Certified Accounting Technician, through the ACCA, or an Association of Accounting Technicians qualification may be an easier and quicker route.

[Skyline D]

Depends what you mean by "an accountant". With the exception of some of buildersmate's last post and also twix all the answers have immediately gone into the route to being a qualified accountant. And if that's what you meant that's fine. It IS a long hard slog though. It's pretty unlikely that without either a contact already in an accounts firm, or a relevant degree that an accountancy firm will hire you. It's a competitive market out there and there are lots of accountancy graduates already looking!

You can look at CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA or training with a licensed industry training firm but you'll likely hit the same obstacle.

However, the term "accountant" is not prtected (unlike say "Solicitor". You cannot call yourself solicitor unless you are qualified as one, you can call yourself an accountant tomorrow if you like so long as you don't claim to be a Chartered Accountant or a Qualified Accountant). I know people who made a perfectly reasonable living as an "accountant" preparing accounts and tax returns without having an accountancy qualification to their name. Plenty of ex Inland Revenue employees do that kind of thing. If you understand preparation of accounts and know your way round a tax return then you can do that. Of course, attracting enough clients to make it worthwhile is the difficulty.

If you want to go down that route then the likely best starting point presuming you don't already know about accounts is something like an HND / HNC in accounting or the Accoutning Technician option already mentioned by twix.

[mrs_overall]

This clip will be helpful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5aN0VmvFn4