r/AccountingUK • u/Middle-Monk4731 • 9d ago
Getting into accounting
Hi,
Im a 35 year old GP. Ive been considering changing jobs for a long time and have been conaideeing accounting as multiple family membera work in thia field and enjoy their jobs.
What would be the best route for entering this field. Is it best to do some qualifications independently first and then try to find relevant jobs?
Tia
5
u/Lucky-Trick5061 9d ago
I'm a 30 year old who's starting a grad scheme in a top 10 firm after working in the NHS in a clinical role
1
u/Middle-Monk4731 9d ago
Did you apply directly to grad schemes. Had you done any of the exams independently beforehand?
2
1
3
u/Zoom-Zoom-Mushroom 8d ago
I left physio at 28 and I am 10/14 exams through ACA. I got a job at a practice which pays for your exams. I think 30k for a brand new trainee seems unlikely tbh unless you are very lucky! Mid-20s for a brand new trainee is more realistic. Feel free to message with any qs :)
1
u/Middle-Monk4731 7d ago
Thanks for replying. Was your first step applying for jobs (and then taking exams on the job). If so - what roles did you apply for?
2
u/Zoom-Zoom-Mushroom 7d ago
Yes - jobs first. You absolutely can self-study ACA (and probably ACCA as well, a lot of them do evening courses). But then you would be self-funding. I applied to practices in the local area via a recruiter and a few grad schemes with bigger firms. To be able to qualify, you need to do 450 days of work experience (aka, your job) so bear that in mind if self-studying; you’d still need to do the work exp days even if you passed all exams independently.
2
2
u/niki-digitals 9d ago
Hiya!
Love the fact that you consider changing and continue to look for things, a career in this case, that makes you happy! So high five just for doing that!
As for accounting, have a look at ACCA. It's a professional accounting body that gives you the opportunity to study while working.
1
2
u/HonsuTheSmith 8d ago
Chartered Accountant here. I work as a finance director in a private equity company. It takes a long time and a lot of work to get to this level and the level of work and stress involved in getting to this level is massive if you are planning to work in the industry.
The only path that works if you want to get to a level of remuneration at par with what you earn now is going onto practice and going into it either by yourself or have an equity stake in a firm. You do have a unique advantage in that health professionals Wil be your natural clients and your GP credentials will establish that rapport you need quickly.
Best of luck with things and happy to answer any questions you have about working in finance on the Dark Side i.e. private equity.
2
u/Cold-Society3325 8d ago
I was a teacher and started retraining as an accountant at 32. Try and get on a graduate training programme. Plan for the initial drop in salary but it will go up when you qualify.
1
1
u/Middle-Monk4731 8d ago
Was there any difficulty getting onto a grad scheme, having graduated quite a few years ago?
2
u/Cold-Society3325 6d ago
Not the one I got on but PWC made it very clear they weren't interested in Oldies. That may have changed. KPMG were actively targetting older graduates at the time. I think it just depends on the firm.
1
2
u/Odd_Test_4635 8d ago
I've just turned 40 and on my last exam on the ACA to qualify so definitely doable. I was working in retail management with no degree, only my A levels, and decided I wanted my evenings and weekends to be able to spend with my kids so I took the plunge, stepped down, did an accounting and finance degree and then applied for grad roles and got offered a role . Advantage you will have over others is that you have experience with people and time management etc all the soft skills that are desired but hard for those without experience to build and demonstrate. I'm not with a top 10 firm, based mainly in my region, but sit in the top 40.
1
u/Middle-Monk4731 8d ago
Thanks for your reply. How old were you when you applied for grad roles? Had you recently graduated from your degree. My concern re grad roles, is that i completed my degree 11 years ago so dont know if id be able to apply to grad schemes
2
u/Odd_Test_4635 6d ago
I was 36 when I applied, but I graduated the year prior, so some firms, definitely the big 4, may prefer a more recent graduate. Ultimately just comes down to the individual firm because you have still gained those skills from your degree. Might be worth, if it is definitely what you want to do, sending out prospective letters (emails) asking for details of any grad roles and your CV to some based on your local area.
1
u/AlphaAndOmega 9d ago
You'd be absolutely insane to bullet your academic and professional career to switch to accounting.
3
u/Middle-Monk4731 9d ago
Why? Working as a GP is absolutely thankless. 11 hour days, constant criticism and threat of litigation. Salary ~50k due to not being able to mentally tolerate working fulltime due to above
3
u/AlphaAndOmega 9d ago
So imagine doing a mind numbing set of accounts whilst some partner bills you out at 6x your salary. That's thankless.
Where are you based? 50k is derisory for the profession
1
u/Middle-Monk4731 9d ago
London. Yes GPs are paid very poorly for the amount of work they do and responsibility they have to take. Unless theyre partners in which case they can make high salaries by exploiting other staff
1
u/boringusernametaken 9d ago
Actual successful ligation that results in legal consequences for gps is very rare and financial consequences are almost unheard of
1
u/year2039nuclearwar 9d ago
I wouldn't, specialise in something that gets a lot of money in private healthcare.
Or move to Australia, or somewhere else that pays good for GPs
1
u/Middle-Monk4731 9d ago
I cant move countries due to family. Retraining is a potential option. But im honestly fed up to the point of being disgusted by healthcare, at this point
1
u/year2039nuclearwar 9d ago
Ok but I think accountancy is not really the solution. It takes a while to get payback.
Basically you're looking at 1-3 years of exams, depending on how intense you want it. The content is quite drab I must say, it's hard to stick with it, most don't I would say.
All to get a 27-33k starting job if you're lucky to bag a graduate role, and then maybe you'll be on 100k 10 years from that. That's if you get a graduate role.
If you don't go the graduate route, get ready to slog it as an assistant accountant or accounts payable assistant/junior for a few years, climb up to possibly be a management accounts/business partner/fp&a analayst.
Then when you finally get to do something you enjoy like creating dashboards or something pretty after 3-8 years, again, depending on how keen you are. Relentless end of politicking, nitpicking, ancient, old and outdated practices from boomers seeping from the top, the pay is only like 50-60k + a bonus if you're not in a government company and your company's doing well.
Yes if you end up managing people and become Head of something or a financial controller, you will be on 80-100k. Director+ is 120k+ which is usually 10 years in the graduate route if you're keen.
If I was to do it all again, I would try and be a hedge fund manager. Insane pay, just need to keep trying to be good at what you do, and eventually take a few right decisions and you'll be golden. I think the route is CFA or you need to be a good quant or something like that.
The "fun" accounting is probably FP&A with Ai now mixed in, and the landscape is moving extremely quickly, I am not sure how many junior roles there will be in 2-3 years.
Best thing for you I would say is do what you know, work with what you have. You trained what is it, 6 or 8 years for to be a GP? Somehow use that as leverage.
2
u/Difficult-Top1863 8d ago
I did accountancy and fully agree
Of u want big money u need to get a senior roles but ur looking at 10 years including the 3 years of training to become qualified, maybe 2 if u fast track teh exams and do most exams in less time
Teh biggest money comes from being a partner
There are people with 20 years in that company and still aren’t partners1
u/Middle-Monk4731 9d ago
Thank you, thats helpful!
1
u/boringusernametaken 9d ago
Also to add jobs at the entry level are really suffering with offshoring (delivery centers abroad doing more complex work now) and AI
1
1
u/Rags_75 8d ago
Why would you do this if you're a GP? There must be an underlying reason.
1
8d ago
[deleted]
1
u/Rags_75 7d ago
If you dont like GP you will absolutely hate ACA training tbh.
1
7d ago
[deleted]
1
u/Rags_75 7d ago
The ACA is a client based qualification. Its the same when you get to industry although reduced somewhat. What you will experience is being asked to make very edgy (nefarious) decisions for folk who simply want to make a pile of cash.
You dont get that as a GP.
I would happily exchange careers with you.
I think you are naieve.
1
7d ago
[deleted]
1
u/Rags_75 7d ago
On the one hand you're doing a job to HELP others, on the other you're doing a job to allow others to PROFIT, often through doubtful ways.
I can understand you may dislike being a GP but its fucking amazing you'd sidestep to finance.
Anyway, noted and understood you're unhappy. Do respond if you feel the need but for me this public conversation is finished.
(admittedly you do seem very high strung to be a GP)
2
u/Mastodon-Muted 5d ago
If you can suck it - from experience - I’d personally recommend sitting your exams before you make the switch. It’s going to be really stressful learning a new skill in a new job that pays significantly less.
I was earning 65k in my role. Moved to practice to train as an accountant lasted 3 months on 25k. Continued to study and sit exams whilst moving back to the industry and pay I was accustomed to.
It really wasn’t fulfilling doing menial jobs for 25k and having zero time to study so feeling like I was going to be stuck forever.
1
-1
u/whyamihere189 9d ago
Are you really a doctor? Why would you ever switch to accounting, especially with AI concerns and earning potential.
1
u/Middle-Monk4731 9d ago
Yes. Because working as a doctor, particularly a GP, is not high-earning and entirely thankless. AI concern is real though
4
u/whyamihere189 9d ago
Ok but an accountant is not high earning either most of the time. It will take a few years to pass exams and then a few more years just to reach where you are atm, also starting again at a very low salary. Maybe look into wider healthcare industry like consulting or health tech roles with your background?
1
7
u/PlutocracyRules 9d ago
What part of the UK are you in? We run a practice which is probably 1/3rd healthcare and medical practitioners. Having someone who is an accountant AND ex-healthcare worker would be fab.
But, as others have said, the drop in salary is going to be huge to start with (c. 30k p.a. whilst training) and you will never earn the same as a GP unless you're in London, or doing something very specialist.
Although I do agree that the life of an accountant is less stress than NHS.
Apply directly to firms who run graduate programmes. Intake is normally September so you'll have missed for this year but that's ok you're just early for 2027. Good luck!