Profession is failing to attract graduates
16 Sep 2009, Accountancy Age, AccountancyAge
http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/1753673/profession-failing-attract-graduates
Not enough is being done to attract new graduates to the profession, or to study the subject, according to a survey of accountants.
Of the 477 accountants questioned in the UK, 44% are worried about what the profession is doing to attract new blood.
The most popular solutions offered by those surveyed included changing the perception of the profession, improving training programmes, greater university involvement and a better breadth of benefits.
The “Future of Accountancy” survey by careersinaudit also found that a quarter of those asked thought the application process could be improved.
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Visitor comments
Graduates
As an ACCA student I can relate to this article completely. There are many colleges/universities that offer Accounting Courses even with the best Lectures around, but the Profession itself is not doing much to retain us.
ACCA keeps hiking up their fees, Companies wont employ students (especially International ones) or they want someone who already has Audit experience and it is very hard to get practical hands-on training these days - even if you offer to do it free!
So come on and help us out a bit by offering training courses, reduce fees or give us something that will keep us motivated and interested.
We are the next generation of Accountants who will be taking on this ecomony when your retired!
Posted by: Student , 24 Sep 2009 | 00:00
My advice to graduates
As an ACCA passed finalist, I will advise new graduates not to go into the profession if they do not have a training contract to avoid the looming frustration should they decide to write the exams without experience. I have finished all my ACCA exams, 14 of them, and I can assure you that such an achievement means absolutely nothing to recruiters if you have no experience, in fact, graduates with experience but without any professional exam passes will be favoured above you, the passed finalist.
The ACCA, in my opinion, should do more to advertise the qualification in the UK so that employers can value it more, the sheer number of its passed finalists in no relevant employment, or underemployed, is doing damage to the qualification.
I know I speak on behalf of all passed finalist in my situation.
Posted by: Whale. , 26 Sep 2009 | 00:00
AAT - a wealth of talent
I am on the last year of my AAT qualification and trying to find a trainee route to employment.
I've been dismayed by how few employers will recruit AAT graduates. What is the bias toward those with a degree? AAT takes commitment and hard work and proves a flare for accountancy - much more than a non-accountancy degree would IMO! Why cannot the AAT qualification (which is an equivalent qualification) be considered on application for trainee recruitment; are we so prejudiced and set in our ways??
Another side of this is for those switching careers. Alot of the Accountancy firms want to see UCAS points for entry onto recruitment schemes. WHY??
I am 30; I have A & A/S levels in Maths, Further Maths and Physics; a Certificate of Higher Ed in Mathematical Physics and am part qualified at AAT yet I am struggling to enter onto a recruitment scheme! To top that I have obtained all my qualifications whilst single-handedly raising my daughter - I know I could excel if just given the opportunity!
Posted by: Julie Woods , 04 May 2010 | 00:00