Accountancy - But Not Doing Real Accountancy, Move Job?

Before I state my issue here is my educational / work experience background.

Bachelor of Business Studies Degree with specialism in Finance.

3 Years experience in Fund Administration moving from Graduate to Senior Associate to Team Leader to Supervisor.

Currently 2 years experience in Corporate Finance for large Irish company. (Previously state owned but privatised since I joined)

Currently pursuing ACCA examinations. At stage F6 Taxation.

Having recently met up with some friends who graduated the same time as me (5 years ago) it became apparent to me that their careers seems to progressing a lot faster than mine, mainly in terms of salary.

I just want to know if I should move on from my current position or not. I now work in Corporate Finance. My job mainly involves preparing cost and revenue budgets and forecasts, monthly cost accruals, cost v revenue variance analysis and then there are daily and weekly statistic collections.

Is this work relevant for me pursuing the ACCAs? I am not preparing Profit and Loss accounts or Balance Sheets.

Also the company does not contribute anything towards me studying ACCA's both in terms of money and time off. I even have to take Annual Leave for exam days.

The company was state owned until recently so all of the employees are on grades. In my 2 years with the company I am still on the same grade and the same salary (35k) apart from small annual increments.

So I would like to know should I leave for a company that will support me more for a career in accountancy.

One pro that I have for my current company is that Im out the door every day at 5pm which is a big deal to me as I have a small child.

From my experience you need 2 things to pass the ACCA’s, firstly an employer who cares (and backs this up with study leave and other support) and secondly huge self-motivation, if you have both of these then passing the exams is a relatively pain free process, however if you get no study leave or exam leave etc its very hard to be able to find time to juggle everything and the exams will be far harder to pass.
If I was you I would look for a new job & target companies which give good exam leave, the fact you’re currently studying plus you’ve experience behind you should make you quite attractive to potential employers.

Worry about salary when you qualified, right now you should be looking for a package which gives lots of study leave and fees paid etc

Hi Kelly

It really depends on where you want to end up -its hard to provide any sound advice without your career aspirations.

What is your main goal - Just a high salary from a 9-5 job? or do you have other aspirations?

I agree with Bamboozle on having the support of company but not necessarily at the cost of salary, unless that role is providing you with additional relevant experience for where you want to end up. Plenty of financial companies support study leave, paid exams etc yet would be paying salaries where you are now.

N.B. You would be on a lot higher salary now had you stayed in fund accounting - why did you leave, Presumably the hours?

Paddy