Accounting - any advice?

[MrsTMT]

Hi,

I have been working in banking for nearly 15 years now in back office/settlements. Have been thinking for a while about learning something else and
I have always been interested in accounting. (I love working with numbers and figures) We work fairly closely with our finance dept and that side definitely interests me. Just not sure how and where to start? Open university? Accounting courses online?

I suppose at first I would like to learn the basics to see if I understand it all..!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Sunnydaze1982]

Hello

AAT is a really great way of getting a board overview of accounting. It takes 3 years though and can be done through most colleges, I'm not sure if they offer distance learning. To become fully qualified you would need to complete further studies ie CIMA or ACCA. I went down the AAT route followed by CIMA (almost completed, I took a break to have my children!), by doing AAT you would be exempt for come CIMA or ACCA papers.

The other alternative would be to go straight into CIMA or ACCA (there are others), I think because of you memetic background this would be a consideration.

It's a long slog to become qualified which has pushed me to my limits but I'm glad I've gone into accountancy. Good luck!

[Sunnydaze1982]

Memetric??? I meant numerical!

[TalkinPeace]

agree about AAT

[Scoobyblue]

I would go straight for becoming a chartered or CIMA accountant. Three years of exams and on the job training. You don't need an accountancy degree as the first year is a conversion to accountancy course and the other two years are the exams for the professional qualification. If you are numerical and have experience of banking, you should be able to do it.