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• # 85619
• Mon 01 Oct 2012 07:32 PM

I have several years varied accounts/accounting experience (albeit not for about 5 years) and am part qualified ACCA. I can not find a job for love nor money primarily due to my age (just over 40); once you get to 40 and have not been in a given career for a few years you are pretty much snookered. The agencies are pathetic.

I was going to set up now as I know I can do it (apart from payroll and some rust), but I see from the forums that with hard work I can get the first 2 levels done quite quickly and then get my licence. This seems to be the best and cost effective way to go for me, and I think would benefit me in the long term rather than starting a business now.

I have Frank Wood's Business Accounting 1, both Peter Marshall's books and the first Kaplan book. Any advice on my best course of action would be welcome. Is home study a good option, given the chances of me getting a job are pretty remote, and money is a serious issue (ie £65 a week). Is this the best way, rather than setting up now and waiting for 2 years before starting the exams?

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• # 85620
• Mon 01 Oct 2012 08:16 PM

Hi 

Firstly a very big welcome to the ICB forum.  I am sorry to hear you are finding times a bit tough.  Your post has raised a few points .  Lots of people change careers at 40 very successfully.  

I hope you don,t mind me saying and I mean well.  You sound a bit fed up.   Here are just a few ideas to help .  

Firstly local papers and shop windows are good source for small bookkeeping jobs . STV jobs in Scotland.  Not sure about the TV ones in England  There are loads of really small firms looking for people for say 2.5 hours a week , half day , 3 times a week.   Maybe getting one of these employments is the way to go. It also will give you an idea if you would like to run your own business an a chance to learn new skills.   They are not advertised in agencies as they are not interested because the hours are too small.  One of my friends is employed by 4 businesses in the week. 

Home learning is a great way to learn but I think you may benefit by studying with people.  I think it is great studying with people and it boosts your confidence and networking skills.  

Why not ring the ICB in the morning to see if there is a training provider near you. They are always there to help and will also guide you towards the best route for you to take.  They are a really friendly bunch.


Lastly I had a mentor years ago , you became a Chartered Accountant at 44 having never worked in Finance.  They now run a practice with 2 Partners in Isle of Man.   Remember you are young  40 is only a number in your head . You are as young as you feel and I believe employers pick up on this. 

Also the do it website is a great way to volunteer you financial services get experience and meet new and potential contacts on the way.  It is always better to be doing something in Finance while you are waiting.

All the best Sarah 



Edited at 01 Oct 2012 08:38 PM GMT

• Sarah Douglas C.FICB

  HouseTree Business Ltd 

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• # 85621
• Mon 01 Oct 2012 08:16 PM

posted twice
 

Edited at 01 Oct 2012 08:17 PM GMT

• Sarah Douglas C.FICB

  HouseTree Business Ltd 

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• # 85652
• Tue 02 Oct 2012 10:29 PM

Thank you for the reply Sarah. I am a bit fed up, having experience I can not use properly (thanks to the agencies and their ageist attitudes), and a PhD I can do nothing with (lack of support from the university and changing conditions in the near East). Oh well. I will certainly have a walk around town (Lincoln) and see what I can find, there are 2 newsagents that have boards, so that seems a good start.

I did phone the ICB up this morning, and was pretty pleased with the outcome. Originally I expected to have to take a couple of years to get the licence (I had not scrutinised the forum and the site and wrongly assumed you needed stage 3...), which was a major reason to set up now, but I was told I could get stage 2 within 6 months. Since I am likely to be unemployed for this time, I think I can complete stage 2 quicker, assuming that 6 months indicates that you are working full time. 

I can just about manage financially if I teach myself, stage 1 and manual stage 2 are both 90% refreshing my memory. I may do a course in the computerised part and certainly the same for payroll stage 3. The long term benefits by going this route with the full support and resiurces the ICB offers is well worth the short term financial hardship. 

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