AITI exams & ACCA Qualified

  • Thread starter TheSpecial1
  • Start date
T

TheSpecial1

Guest
Hi,

I know this subject has been talked about before (& has probably been discussed at length, apologises I am new to this) but I am looking to get information on the AITI exams. I am an ACCA qualified accountant & I am considering taking on the tax exams.

Firstly, has anyone out there sat both the ACCA exams & the AITI exams? If so what was/is your assessment of the AITI exams Vs. the ACCA exams, as regards, difficulty, lectures, getting through them, etc. (I know this is a very subjective question, but any opinions would be welcome!)

Secondly, I would like to pursue the AITI exams in a tax department in a large practice, (preferably big 4). Have any ACCA qualified accountants made the jump from small practice to Big 4 to pursue the tax exams & if so, did you have to go back to 'Trainee' status? (in terms of level of entry & salary).

Any opinions on the above would be appreciated!

Thanks.
 
You should have a look at the Taxation forum on Boards.ie if you haven't already; there's a stickied thread specifically for questions and discussion about the AITI exams etc in there, so you'll have a bigger pool of people with a relevant insight than what you're likely to get on here.

I haven't done the AITI exams, but am considering it at the moment, and the general impression is that while Part 2 is manageable if you've already done the professional accountancy exams, Part 3 is another step up in scope and difficulty.

I'd say you'll find it very difficult to get hired into the tax department of any of the Big 4 as an experienced hire with the accounting exams but no tax qualifications; except by applying as a trainee, in which case they'd probably be thinking "this person must have no ambition if they're willing to go back to being a trainee after completing their ACCA exams" - I found myself in a similar position a few years ago and it's a bit of a catch 22 unfortunately...
 
An ACCA qualified ex-colleague did the Institute tax exams. I just remember her saying they were worse than the ACCA finals, a few repeats etc, a whole book on VAT alone. Needless to say, I didn't attempt them. Another guy did tax first and got through ACCA relatively unscathed.
 
Thanks mandelbrot & Steiner,

Well definately not a lack of ambition, but I see what you mean! Just think if I was to do the AITI exams, the experience of working in a Big 4 firm along with their support package would be valuable. Its the experience & the opportunity for progression that interests me, in relation to the Big 4.

I'll try the Boards.ie forum.

Thanks again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top