- This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 2 years ago by
.
- Posts
Hi all.
I’m looking for some advice/encouragement.
I started as a trainee accountant in 2006. Done an HNC, got exempt from F1-F3 and started ACCA. Passed all my exams up to F9. I think I got my PER signed off, but I can’t specifically remember, but I’m not too worried about that just now.
My last exam was 2013. I ended up making the decision I didn’t want to stay in Accountancy, left my job in 2014 and joined the police in 2015, which is what I have been doing since. I got quite lucky after 3 years and got an interesting job that I’ve been doing for the last 4 years. A lot has happened in that time, both personally and at work. I got married and have 2 kids (4 and 2 years old). I am 34 years old. I’m now going through a stage that I don’t think I can stay in the police until retirement. I love being a police officer but don’t like working for the police. I’m now feeling that long term, staying in the police won’t be good for my mental health, or my work/life balance, and have been looking at my options. I have applied for 3 jobs outside the police which would be a bit of a mix of my accountancy and police experience. 2 unsuccessful and waiting to hear back from the last.
Up until a couple weeks ago, I’d always thought that I was time barred from ACCA, but found out about the new 7 year rule, which has gave me an opportunity to complete ACCA and ‘finish what I started’.
I will be going back to uniform policing soon and it will afford me a lot more days off going forward. Even if i start to enjoy work again, i still dont see me working for the police for the rest of my days. I’m thinking that I will reregister with ACCA.
I’ve went through about 100 pages from this forum and have seen a lot of posts from people studying at my age or older, or who have returned to ACCA after a long break, and it’s been very encouraging. I’m under no illusions the Strategic Professional exams are a whole new ball game and require a hell of a lot of work, especially after such a long time away. I’m thinking I’ll start at SBR and book an exam for March, and attempt an exam every 6 months thereafter, or 3 months after each attempt if it’s a resit.
I will be completely self studying, which will be tough doing that around work/kids/life, but will just need to knuckle down, so that once it’s done it’s done and it’s my exit plan when the time comes to look for a new job.
Anyway I know I am rambling. I guess I’m just looking for any advice/encouragement anyone can give me. The best way to self study? My plan would be to spend a month refreshing on F7 then start SBR. Probably mainly using OT materials but what other resources would people suggest? I know I need the exam kit. Would it be worth getting an exam kit from an approved provider also?
Thanks
John
A warm welcome John to OpenTuition and our forums! We have EVERYTHING you need here, apart from an Approved “kit” (revision question bank) – i.e. one published by BPP or Kaplan – either as a banner across the top of this page or as a link to the right you should see a 20% discount offer from BPP (this is a long-standing offer to our students).
As you have got to “part qualified” already, you can CERTAINLY pass the remainder with such a steady approach as you propose (rather than try to make it a sprint – which many students do – only to fall at the hurdles).
You do actually have an advantage of having sat exams 10 years ago – they were all “written” (i.e. “long” questions) – none of these “Objective Test Qs” (i.e. multiple choice questions that make up 100% of the knowledge exams and 40% of most of the applied skills exams). There are no MCQs at the strategic professional level.
Rather than start with a month on FR (F7) in general – sign up to ACCA’s student virtual learning centre (for free) https://studentvirtuallearn.accaglobal.com
Here you will find in the “get ready modules” for each of the SP exams, “self-check” quizzes on the assumed knowledge that is MOST ESSENTIAL to starting on SBR. These have been targeted by mapping applied skills and SP syllabuses, so you won’t waste time revising things you don’t need. When you have identified the topics you need to freshen up on FR here https://opentuition.com/acca/fr (you don’t need to bother with a kit – read the relevant notes/watch the lectures and attempt the end-of-chapter practice questions).
Use the relevant tutor forum for queries you want answering by a tutor https://opentuition.com/forum/ask-acca-tutor-forums or a student forum for a student’s response https://opentuition.com/forum/acca-forums – or this “general” forum for non-exam specific advice. I shall be very happy to help you.
Thanks for your reply and advice Kim. I will def look at the Virtual Learning Centre and take it from there then.
I’m about to go on a week’s holiday. Once I’m back I’m going to get the ball rolling with this so it’s set up and something to aim towards.
I started ACCA at a similar age, after a previous career and kids (I’m mum and took time out due to childcare costs). I’ve taken it slow but progressing in work along with parenting and general life so no rush. Two exams left. It’s hard to study while working, I give up my life for past papers in the last few weeks which is tough on the family and causes tension. My kids are older now but getting super organised and studying well in advance will reduce the pressure, especially if you have weekdays you can study in.
Make sure this is the right option. Why did you leave initially and do those reasons still exist? Is there a particular path you want to take? Can you use the police experience, perhaps accounting for your force (a colleague used to work in police finance) or financial crime related?
It’s harder to get the first job so it could be a step down initially. Smaller companies tend to be more open to less typical candidates, unlike recruitment consultants.
Good luck!
Thanks for your reply.
Back when I left, I didn’t feel accountancy was for me any longer, and wasn’t looking to the future in a family type of sense. No thoughts of marraige, no kids etc, and was looking for more from my working life. Now things have changed, married with 2 kids and really looking for that work/life balance. My whole view on what I’m looking for from my job has totally changed.
I’ve recently thought about looking to get in to the Financial Investigation side of things at work. Might as well get as much from the Police that can help me in the future while I am still there. I may end up enjoying work again, but I think in the meantime I will try and get through these exams so I have something to fall back on should I feel like this again. I do think I have it in me to take it slowly and get through the last 4 exams.
I think if I was to leave the police it would be a step down in wages, but I’m not too worried about that. It’s the other benefits that leaving to work in Accountancy would bring that I think would be worth a lot more than money to me.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.