Perhaps one of the essential parts of a successful firm is hiring an accountant. This work is always required, despite the developed software and technologies to maintain expenses and revenues. One of the interesting facts about accounting is that this job is possible with a decent educational level. For example, you can meet some high school accountants or others operating in firms without higher degrees, while other professions require long-term educational fulfillment or an Accounting Degree. If you want a shortcut destination towards accounting jobs and careers, look at the best schools for future accountants.
Become an Accountant Without an Accounting Degree:
Without a degree, some job seekers have thrived to enter the accounting job market thanks to their skills and vocational training. Any applicant without an accounting degree should know that this profession is not easy or straightforward. However, becoming an accountant is not tricky. In the UK, you have to carry an apprenticeship to get a similar degree in accounting.
While in other countries, applicants must be undergraduate from finance and accounting universities and have achieved training in financial positions. To become a successful accountant, an amount of effort, patience, work, and experience is required.
To become an accountant without a university degree requires choosing the appropriate type of accounting apprenticeship. In the UK, there are usually three types of accounting apprenticeships:
- Intermediate (Level2): This apprenticeship program for potential cashiers, finance assistants, or clerks and sales assistants. This apprenticeship is equivalent to a GCSE level.
- Advanced (Level3): This apprenticeship is for accountant assistants and technicians. It is similar to an A-Level applicant.
- Higher (Level 4-7): this apprenticeship is equivalent to a college degree and opens the career path in accountancy such as chartered account jobs and accountant manager jobs in United Kingdom.
Become an Accountant With a Degree:
This section is for people who are seeking the best schools for an accounting degree. The educational fulfillment of an undergraduate accountant requires three stages:
- Completing High School: Students graduating from the high school stage and then moving to college should average in specific disciplines such as Math, English, and Science. Undergraduates should have obtained the A level in the UK that would define their access to finance and accounting institutes.
- Certificate/Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting: in this stage, the student should have achieved a three-year or four-year educational program. Students have the choice to select a specific discipline that will interfere in their future careers. For example, there are college specialties, such as financial accounting, tax accounting, internal auditing, and management accounting. The student also can either start internship straight after the Bachelor’s degree or apply for a master’s degree.
- Master’s Degree: this is an original stage after the Bachelor’s degree, in which the student belongs to an advanced level of accounting. This degree is extended to two years, after which the graduate has completed a thesis or a final year project related to finance, accounting and commerce. The same degree can be applicable to teaching careers in accounting institutes.
The Accounting Internship:
This is an important stage for both applicants be it, college graduates or apprentices.
This is vocational training that lasts between 6 months to one year. The accountant job title requires practical experience in different financial institutions such as Banks, insurance firms, and corporate firms. The internship destination is not based on a personal choice. Undergraduates and apprentices are sent to the specific institution based on;
- Their type of apprenticeship
- Their discipline
- Their grades and educational fulfillment
This internship will help applicants learn about accounting practically. Usually, it is a non-paid application, in which emerging accountants have to work hard to acquire expertise and professional recommendations to apply later in an official job.
Becoming an Accountant:
An accounting job in UK is based on the applicants’ obtained certificates and courses. An accountant should have one of the following certificates (CPA) (CMA):
- A (CPA) Certificate: This term is an abbreviation of the following title: Certified Public accountant, which means a certified chartered accountant. The Institute of Chartered Accountants provides this Certificate. It is similar to a university degree in this field. The holder of this Certificate can have access to many sectors such as bank accountants, financial managers, finance officers in the public sector, and private institutions.
- A (CMA) Certificate: this is an abbreviation for Certified Management Accountant, certified administrative accountant, from the Institute of Certified Accountants. The holder of this Certificate is eligible for management accounting, which is higher than the administrative and clerk positions.
Concerning the qualities and skills required in a successful accountant, there are many job offers insisting on having these conditions:
-Computer skills: being familiar with treating monetized arrangements and financial reports.
-Accounting skills: include the knowledge related to the studied disciplines such as being familiar with the field accountancy laws such as income tax, sales tax, and laws.
-Communicative skills: it is essential for an accountant to master English, as this job is applicable to international firms.
This was the establishing process of an account, including the roots of this career. If you are interested in accountancy, you can access the field through an apprenticeship or a college degree. Don’t forget to build a professional resume/ Cv that includes your Certificate, training, or internship to embark on in the accountancy field.