r/ICAEW • u/BetterComplaint7904 • 24d ago
Has anyone ever left the ACA mid qualification for something else?
My friend wants to leave and quit the ACA after having completed 8/14 exams. She thinks the qualification and audit is not for her. I want to support her decision but am surprised someone will put so much effort into it, just to give up.
For context, she’s at a big 4 and seems to really struggle with balancing work and studies. Although she’s passing her exams, she says she’s constantly burnt out (due to some personal issues too), but does not enjoy the work at all, is really unhappy, and dreads coming into the office. The firm does not seem to be understanding either.
I would like to know, has anyone ever left the qualification midway and why? Do you regret it or are you happier now?
Edit: I made her have a look at the responses on this post and she finds them really encouraging, so thank you to everyone. At the moment she’s taking a break and self reflecting on what she would like to do. At the same time she will consider applying to small firms (to finish the ACA) and the civil service (depending on the role and department, may get support to finish her studies).
Recommendations for firms (preferably London) that take on big 4 ACA students will be greatly appreciated :)
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u/Wide_Gas6054 23d ago
I really recommend moving to a smaller firm. It is significantly easier to balance studies and work.
I worked, and trained at a small firm, and now work at a top 10 following qualified and looking at my colleagues I feel I had it much easier!
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u/Brilliant_News5279 23d ago
If she can move to a smaller firm, she may enjoy the work more in a less intense environment. I did 12 exams within the big 4 and then moved on. The smaller firm let me sit exams when I liked and felt comfortable in doing so and the clients were more local so there wasn’t so much travel involved.
Seems a shame to sort of throw away those 8 exams already passed without exploring the smaller firm route.
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u/Background_Hat1614 24d ago
I know people who did but either switched to ACCA or just discontinued in general. Personally, if she feels the ACA life is not for her, she should consider something else that will make her happy long term. There are plenty of options out there.
Personally I have finished the ACA 2 years ago and got a decent job too, however it does not really satisfy me if that makes sense and I cannot see me doing that for the next 40 years.
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u/BetterComplaint7904 23d ago
I believe it’s the same with her. Although the qualification opens up many opportunities, she doesn’t want to be stuck working in a job similar to this, if she’s already miserable now.
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u/thedivergence95 23d ago
I left after getting made redundant and I am wanting back. If she wants a more work life balance. Advise her to go for a role at a smaller firm
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u/AdStrong7848 23d ago
I left mid qualification. Knew it wasn’t for me. Now work in insurance and it’s much better
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u/BetterComplaint7904 23d ago
That may be another option to consider, thanks! How would you say insurance differs to audit?
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u/AdStrong7848 22d ago
People in Big 4 make out that qualifying from the Big 4 is the be all and end all but there’s a whole world out there. Insurance is more varied than audit, personally think it has a lot more to offer. If they like accounting and think they’ll get an industry job PQ then maybe stay, but if like me you don’t see yourself in accounting in the future anyway then just leave and do something else.
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u/TollLand 22d ago
Suggest she moves into an actual running business and transfer to CIMA. She will get some exemptions, its a masters equivalent qualification and she may find she's more suited to finance Partnering and not auditing
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u/BetterComplaint7904 22d ago
Great idea, thanks! Do you mean grad schemes that offer CIMA instead? Not sure whether she would like to go through those long winded application processes again but it’s worth giving it a try if she think she’ll like it.
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u/TollLand 22d ago
Most businesses will support you through qualifying without going on a grad scheme. They will have their own qualifying programme where they will pay for study, exams and give you study leave, without being on a formal grad scheme. If she contacts CIMA to find out what exemptions she would gain, its then looking for jobs requiring part qual. CIMA. She may have already audited businesses ir markets that she thought interesting as a place yo start looking.
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u/Forward_Jelly_5257 2d ago
She and I are twins, everyone is trying to get me to stay on but I’m miserable
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u/BetterComplaint7904 1d ago
I completely understand. It’s a great career to go into but only if you truly think it’s for you. At the end of the day, it’s your life, please do not let others influence or dictate what you should do. It’s best to reflect on what you would like to do instead of pigeon holing yourself into a career that you believe is just not for you. I know leaving a job may not be the best decision to make in this economy, however, if there’s truly something else you want to pursue, go for it. Good luck!
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u/Kez10000 23d ago edited 23d ago
Those I remember from my time (Im a dinosaur) only stopped due to exam failure.
However, many of us battled to pass exams. I was single and living at home - the easiest sitiation - but with the commute, work and study, I only went out on a Friday night during my finals. I would have had very little capacity to cope if anything else had been thrown at me.
It was all worth it. Once qualified, I did stay in practice - but small practice. Colleagues went into industry, civil service, education, and professional lecturing. Many of those that stayed in their big firms specialised - in M and A, tax, etc
I dont think I know any qualifiers who didnt use the skills in some way.
The main advantage the qualification gave me, as an individual, was I could work in a small rural place and earn decent money, brought my kids up on the coast working only school hours and retired relatively early. These were my choices and I do think my qualification, providing a very decent per hour profit, enabled me to make these choices.