Career Question-Need answers

Hi
I have a predicament that hopefu[SIZE=-1]l[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ly somebody can he[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lp me with.
I have been working in warehousing for a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]long time and am current[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ly a purchasing manager/stores manager in a sma[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l company. i have thought about doing a supp[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ly chain management course but i wou[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ld a[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lso [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]like to work for myse[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lf someday.
I just finished an IPASS payro[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l course and passed the exams. A friend is doing the ITI tax course (3 years) and when i saw the exam i found that i cou[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ld a[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lmost answer most of the question in year one exams from studying the payro[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l course so i was thinking of doing the iti tax course[/SIZE][SIZE=-1].
I was a[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lso considering doing an accountancy qua[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lification but i am unsure which course (iati, acca, cpa, cima etc etc) wou[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ld be the most benefica[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l in achieving my goa[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l of working for myse[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lf.
Whatever i choose it wi[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l mean dedicating at [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]least the next 3-4 years of my [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]life to a course so does anybody have any advice.
If it he[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lps i a[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lso have a mortgage and bi[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]l[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ls every month tota[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ling around 1200.

Any advice appreciated

Gary
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I suppose it all depends on what field you think it would be easiest for you to start 'working for yourself'. If your current expertise is warehousing etc, I think you are doing the right thing in planning to extricate from the manufacturing/production/warehousing area.
If you can, try to focus on areas that interest you. Tax specialists are always in demand, but I am not sure that you will be able to set up on your own in the short term if you pursue, same would apply to accountancy. I do know that good payroll people arevery hard to come by, so with your experience here and your obvious committment to continuous self improvement, you would be an attractive candidate for many companies.
I would suggest that you first move out of warehousing/manufacturing, leverage the experience you have gained in payroll etc, and then start deciding what route you take to finally fulfill your aim of working for yourself.

A word of caution: working for yourself as an idea sounds great, particularly if booming sectors of the economy are suited to your skill, but it can be very, very stressful if things are not going well, or to establish yourself in the first inctance. Very stressful. Particularly when you know you need to seriously make a sale/do a deal/impress that client/ etc or your family could be screwed for the next few years......

Re Which Career:

1. Ask yourself if money were no object which would you do?
Which do you enjoy more? Which do you get a kick out of?
Which will challenge you? Which has greater development for you?
This answer is important because you will be working in that career area for the next 10-30 years, you need to be happy doing your day job.
These answers only YOU know.


2. IF and I say IF your agenda is eventually to end up self employed/have your own business, then looking at each objectively, here's what I think.

As a warehouse operative, stores and purchasing, there is a very low chance of being self employed/own business.
As a supply chain specialist, yes there are consultants out there but I wouldn't say there are more than 50 of them in the country.
Yes there are a good number of permanent jobs in companies for supply chain but as a self employed consultant, not a huge amount.
As a payroll specialist, there are many jobs working part time/use a self employed person that run the payroll for companies. However most payroll people work full time as payroll has become more and more computerised and easier to run with the likes of sage micropay etc, so it doesn't lend itself to being a highly demanded specialist consultancy service. I run my own small companies payroll, it ain't complicated.

As an accountant or even a tax specialist, you have a good chance to becoming self employed/own business. (IF as said in the other post that is something you really want).
The reason being is that EVERY company that exists needs accountancy services. Annual accounts, VAT, payroll, etc all need to be done.
There will always be jobs / self employment work for accounants/tax specialists. If you are training in an accountancy firm directly, the money can be low, however once trained the money is very good.



My advice is that if you are interested in the accountancy/tax route, I would take that option.
As regards which course, find somebody who is an accountant or call up an accountants firm just to talk to somebody who knows which course might suit better.

At the end of the day, this is my oppinion, it all boils down to what you want.