Is Chartered Accountancy For You?

Chartered accountants are leading the way in many of the world’s largest companies as advisers and influencers of modern day business.  With the ACA - one of the top business qualifications - career opportunities are endless.

Is chartered accountancy for you?

Does your career choice include…

• Running a multinational business?
• Managing a charity or not-for-profit organisation?
• Creating new opportunities at work?
• Working internationally?
• Setting up your own business?
• Working for a global brand?

A career in chartered accountancy can offer you all of this! It’s one of the most exciting and dynamic careers around, putting you right at the heart of business, working across all sectors and functions as a key business adviser. From launching new businesses to understanding the core of established organisations, chartered accountants are well placed to provide the broadest kind of strategic business advice.

The ACA qualification

You’ll soon become aware that there are a range of professional qualifications to choose from, but you’ll want a qualification that is designed to fully equip you with the adaptable skills, expertise and experience that is needed to advise and support clients in different businesses. The ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) qualification is the obvious choice. Not only does it provide the broadest possible business knowledge, but you will learn while earning a competitive salary and gain both theoretical and practical experience at the same time.

Who can do it?

Organisations are interested in attracting the best talent around and providing the best opportunities for individuals. That means organisations don’t just employ graduates to do the ACA, there are a variety of opportunities available for school leavers, if you decide that university isn’t for you.

The only real difference, if you choose to start training straight from school, is that you’ll take the first step on an exciting career ladder sooner than people who have chosen to go to university, providing lots of opportunity and responsibility at an early age and stage in your career - without incurring large debts from university. You don’t need to have a degree to do the ACA, but you may decide you want to enjoy the university experience before entering ACA training.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements include 3 GCSEs (many recruiters will expect at least an A or B grade in Maths and English) and 2 A level passes in any subject. Most employers will be looking for a minimum of 240 – 280 UCAS tariff score.

From school

You may be surprised to learn that you don’t even need Maths A level to be a chartered accountant, although it does help if you are confident with numbers and self-assured in your ability to analyse, discuss, argue and present a case.

AAT - ACA Fast Track

The AAT-ACA Fast Track is a progression route designed in partnership with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) to encourage high calibre AAT students to study for the ACA after completing AAT. The route allows AAT students to build on both the knowledge and work experience gained as part of the AAT qualification. If you want to use the skills and experience developed during your AAT, then the Fast Track programme can take you from the AAT to the ACA in just 2 years by giving you credit for your AAT training.

From University

A Level Maths or an accountancy related degree is not a requirement to be eligible to train for the ACA. If you decide to go to university, opt for a degree in a subject you are interested in and are likely to do well in. Most employers will expect a First or 2:1 in any degree discipline, as well as good A level results (240-280 tariff score).

The Training Contract

To qualify as an ACA, you must complete a training contract with an ICAEW authorised training organisation (which will last between 3 and 5 years depending on the route chosen to enter training), pass the Institute examinations, and complete the work experience requirements.

Next Step

If you expect to achieve the required A level results, and have the dedication and professional outlook needed to succeed as a chartered accountant, then the next step is to apply for your ACA training contract. You need to apply direct to the authorised training organisations you are interested in working for – not to the ICAEW. By using the latest edition of Training Vacancies, which can be found on our website at www.icaew.co.uk/careers, you can find details of hundreds of ACA training vacancies.

Opportunities

The role of a chartered accountant is more varied than you might think.  Assurance, corporate recovery, tax and insolvency are just some of the areas that you could train in, but where your career takes you is up to you. The ACA qualification gives you the tools to go anywhere in business. Take a look at the profile of a trainee ACA, to see more about the variety of opportunities available with the ACA qualification.

Profile: William Tran

Trainee ACA PricewaterhouseCoopers, Manchester, Age: 24,

“I decided to train for the ACA qualification as it’s considered to be the premier accountancy qualification in the UK. I believe the ACA provides the best training and exposure to the commercial world and opens up a whole host of opportunities after qualifying.”

“The work is varied from one week to the next, so my role will differ according to the project I have been assigned to. With the variety of projects I work on, I particularly enjoy talking to the clients, understanding their businesses and adding value at the same time with the work that we do.”

What next?

Whether you choose to go to university or enter training straight after your A levels, to get all the facts about the ACA and discover the opportunities available in chartered accountancy:

Visit our website at: www.icaew.co.uk/careers
Email us at getsmaart@icaew.co.uk
Call us on +44 (0)1908 248040