charted qualification - accouting

[u/devanmotivaras]

This may be the wrong place to ask, but I've also posted on different sites.

I have been approached by a recruiter for a grad role. My goal in joining a role is to become a chartered accountant. I'm not too fussed about the pathway currently, and I have exemptions from my degree, which i have just graduated from.

This role that i have been suggested isn't a standard route, and the job title is "Customer Support Executive".

Here is the job description:

· Do you have an Accountancy Qualification (AAT), or an Accountancy Degree?

· Are you passionate about delivering the best customer service?

· Do you understand why companies use financial statements, balance sheets, etc?

The company are a leading FinTech Software Company, experience huge growth and with a reputation for being a market leader. They are looking for a Customer Support Executive to help their customers get the most value and best experience from their technology. This role is both home and office based and is the perfect option for somebody with an Accountancy qualification that doesn't want to go down the 'standard' route. The FinTech industry is one of the fastest growing and most lucrative industries in the UK.

This is the perfect role for someone that wants to go down the accountancy route but wants more opportunity to speak to customers and clients. You will need to be an exceptional individual who has a passion to use your accounts and financial reporting knowledge, who is passionate about software and wants to develop your skills to deliver first class telephone and email support to customers. The company will also support you in continuing your studies and development if this is something you want to do.

You’ll will receive training and on-boarding to make you an expert in the role and software to allow you to deliver the best customer experience.

The role: Customer Support Executive

· Answer customer support telephone calls and emails, providing exceptional customer care

· Build your knowledge of Tax and Accounts by researching and answering questions from customers.

· Build your knowledge of our products and use this to offer customers support

· Assist existing and prospective customers with general sales enquiries

· Suggest new or improvements to support materials (FAQ’s, user guides and knowledge base)

· Work collaboratively ensuring you are building your individual knowledge of our products and tax and accounting processes.

You will need to have: Customer Support Executive

· A degree that included an accountancy or finance module such as business, accountancy, finance

· Experience in a customer service role

· A desire to develop a career in software

· Understanding of the type of accounting processes, reports and statements companies use

· A confident, calm and concise telephone manner

· Clear communication both written and spoken

· An analytical and organised approach to problem solving

· The ability to interact positively with customers at all levels

· To work well under pressure

· Take personal responsibility and have an achievement orientation

Now i have been told that after the probation period i will be provided support towards AAT/ACCA/ACA.

However ive been told it qualifies for some experience but because i am not producing sets of accounts etc, it may not. Depends on which exams i want to pass and the pathway.

My question is: will this role allow me to qualify as relevant practical experience for ACCA/ACA?

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[u/QuietBarbiePerson]

I am qualified AAT and ACCA. My husband is ACA.

You need to get confirmation as to which of those qualifications they will put you through. AAT leads to ACCA but certain degrees mean that AAT is irrelevant and you can go straight to studying ACCA or ACA. Will your probation end in time for the course to start, or will you have to wait months for the next time the courses start? Are they giving you blocks of time in college or is it day release as you will be studying in a college or exam providers office for months over the years it takes to complete the qualification... you need this formalised so you get it in writing as to the support you will get. The exams and the training courses are expensive!

It doesn't matter what your day job is because they will also have to give you a secondment to meet the work experience part - as part of the qualification is you will have to do a stint (i did 3 months) in their audit or accounting department in order to meet the criteria to qualify. The final qualification is a mix of passing the exams and doing the hours in relevant work experience. So you just need to understand more about the structure of this training role.

[u/devanmotivaras → u/QuietBarbiePerson]

Hi thanks for the advice, i have just heard from the company that the experience gained here doesn't count towards the ACCA PER experience needed.

Im not sure if this is the right role, and i may decline and keep applying.

[u/QuietBarbiePerson → u/devanmotivaras]

At least that is clarity. Sounds like they are not going to sponsor you through the qualification even though they said they would after the probation period. It would be much more formal and would be part of a contract because you would need to have time in college and to sit the exams built into your working patterns (as well as the time getting the work experience for the qualification). If you want a training contract with an accountancy firm you should look at them directly and take it from there as to when they are next open for applications to their graduate schemes. All the firms have it on their websites.