Accounting for your Future - How to Achieve a Rewarding Career in the Acounting Profession

So, what is a rewarding career? A career with a high salary? A career which has a respected position in society? A career with mobility and excellent prospects? The accounting profession offers all of these opportunities, as well as a challenging and varied work environment. Accountancy is essentially the effective management and administration of the financial affairs, and accountants are a vital part of any organisation's operations.
As a qualified accountant, you have the opportunity to pursue a variety of finance careers in any of the world's financial centres and in any business sector. Accountants are employed in the public or private sector, industry or commerce, and across the whole spectrum of financial work; from audit and public practice; to management or financial accounting; in taxation related work: or in management consultancy and financial services. Accountants are often perceived as boring 'number crunchers', but the variety of career opportunities open to the qualified accountant highlights this as a misconception.

With accountancy you have the luxury of career mobility; the freedom to choose your own career path and the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills required to rise to the top in your chosen field. To benefit from career mobility you must acquire the skills that employers want. Employers want quality personnel, professional, flexible and adaptable employers. How do you acquire these skills?

To become qualified accountant in the UK and in other countries around the world the generally accepted route is to join a professional accountancy body and to pass the professional examinations. In addition to this, bodies also require their graduates to satisfy stipulated work experience to gain full membership and qualification.

Taking the UK as an example, the accountancy profession is unregulated except for certain areas, which are regulated by law. These three areas are; investment advice, insolvency work and company audit work. Individuals wishing to practise as an auditor in the UK are required by law to hold an audit qualification from a Recognised Qualifying Body (RQB) there are five RQB's: Association of International Accountants, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, Institute of Chartered Accountant in Ireland; Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

The majority of students pursuing a career in accountancy opt to study a degree prior to their professional examinations.

Most professional bodies operate a policy of exemptions designed to reduce repetition for students who have already attained a qualification of an acceptable standard. For students holding degrees, this means that they are often rewarded exemptions from the whole or part of the first level of a professional qualification, effectively reducing the time scale for qualification.

Generally speaking, the student determines how soon they can achieve the qualification. Progress is dependent upon whether you choose a part-time or a full-time study option. Most professional qualifications can be completed in a minimum of three years, however, students are encouraged to go at their own pace.

Bodies offer various flexible study options to students; many of who choose to study on a part-time basis whilst working full-time; fulfilling their work experience requirements at the same time. Although working whilst studying for a professional qualification can be both demanding and time consuming, it is often to the student's advantage, as they have the opportunity to implement what they learn in the classroom to a real work situation.

As mentioned previously, qualification as a professional accountant is achieved through a combination of study and work experience. The accountancy experience can usually be gained before, during or after study for the qualification. In the UK, the required experience is a minimum of three years, and to qualify as a company auditor, this must be approved and supervised practical training under a registered auditor.

Courses for the UK bodies are available internationally, and UK qualifications can be studied in most main business centres through distance learning programmes. The main bodies also offer their own range of study materials: study texts and revision kits, tailored specifically to their examinations. Study materials can be used in conjunction with a taught course or as self-study guides for those students unable to attend scheduled classes.

With the growing importance of e-business and the Internet, accountancy bodies are getting on-line and over the next few years there will be increasing opportunity to study interactively through the World Wide Web. The first tentative steps towards on-line learning have already been made with programmes such as the Association of International Accountant's cyber school.

The route to becoming a qualified accountant is regarded as one of the most difficult demanding commitment and determination. The rewards however, are exceptional. Achievement of a professional accountancy qualification will enable you to meet the challenges of a complex, modern, international business environment and will equip you with the tools to rise to the top in any financially based career

Going Back to your Future Top Jobs for History Graduates

'What's the use of that? What sort of job will it get you? Couldn't you do something more useful?' How often has someone said, or implied, something to that effect when you told them you intend to study history at university? What follows will give you the ammunition to answer them. For, not only do history graduates enter an extremely wide range of careers, many rise to the very top. As Ali G, just one of many such successful history graduates, might say, 'For real'.

Within a few months of leaving university, all but 6% of history graduates have some form of employment, broadly in line with the average across all degree subjects. These are often temporary jobs that do not require a degree qualification. The main areas of employment six months after graduation are, in descending order:

Clerical and secretarial Commercial,
Retail assistants,
Business and finance,
Marketing/sales PR and advertising,
Clerks and cashiers,
Nursing,
IT,
Armed forces/public profession services,
Industrial public sector,
Catering, waiting and bar staff,
Other professional and technical,
Creative/design/ports professionals,
Health and childcare,
Teaching,
Engineering.

However, a history degree is a sound basis for further career development and 30% of its graduates pursue a postgraduate qualification (well ahead of the average of 19% across all subjects) in vocational subjects such as law, accountancy, journalism, librarianship, teaching and IT.

By three years after graduation most history graduates are in more settled employment, in jobs that require their degree and in which they are using skills acquired in the course of their studies. Those who took a postgraduate qualification will be joining the professions for which they have trained. Only 2% will still be unemployed. Hence, although a history degree is not job specific, its graduates have the skills that enable them to pursue a multiplicity of careers demanding a wide range of talents, and they do so extremely successfully in an open and competitive jobs market. This success can be illustrated with examples of those who have achieved fame in their chosen careers.

Key positions in the media have been colonised by historians. They have a penchant for sports journalism - practitioners include the BBC TV correspondents, Jonathan Legard, Martin Tyler and John Inverdale and the Radio 5 Live presenters Alan Green and Simon Mayo, previously a Radio 1 DJ. In addition, there are several history graduates in the entertainment media, such as Louis Theroux and Jonathan Ross, and the children's TV presenters Simon Thomas and Timmy Mallett. There are also many academic historians who front or appear in programmes that popularise history, such as The History Hunters and Time Team. Among the best known are Michael Wood, David Starkey and Simon Schama. Keeping a watchful eye on much of this activity is Suzanne Warner, Deputy Chair of the Broadcasting Standards Commission.

"Although a history degree is not job specific, its graduates have the skills that enable them to pursue a multiplicity of careers demanding a wide range of talents, and they do so extremely successfully in an open and competitive jobs market."

Many historians have attained distinction in politics and at least four historians have become bishops (Blackburn, Guildford, London and Norwich). There are also a significant number of lawyers whose first degree is in history, including several barristers.

Some occupations have a more organic connection to a history education. Many history graduates become teachers, and some go on to become headteachers. The number of historians who have become university vice-chancellors is considerably larger than would be produced by a proportionate distribution across all disciplines. While it would be absurd to claim that the managerial skills required for these positions were inculcated through first-degree education, nevertheless the capacity of historians to attain such high positions in statistically significant ways says something about their all-round abilities.

A history degree has also been a natural passport to service in the museums, libraries and arts. Three names are especially well-known here: Sir Roy Strong, former Director of the Victoria and Albert; John Tusa, formerly of the BBC but now Managing Director at the Barbican Centre; and Sarah Tyacke, Keeper at the Public Records Office.

Many history graduates have attained distinction in the arts, notably as writers. Good writing is a quality highly prized by historians. I am not concerned with the many authors of academic history, nor with its popularisers, though Andrew Morton, the biographer of royalty, should perhaps be mentioned if only to show that it is possible to make a good living in this way. Rather, the focus here is on creative writing where there are some 'big names' - the novelists Penelope Lively, Salman Rushdie and the late Anthony Powell, the playwright Howard Barker and the poet Wendy Cope. There are, predictably, fewer historians in the creative field of music. Nevertheless, and covering the range from classical to popular, we have the tenor Ian Bostridge, and Neil Tennant, lead singer of the Pet Shop Boys and perhaps the most famous of history's 'popstars'.

This facility to reach the top through the application of diverse skills is reaffirmed by the success of historians in business and finance. They have in significant numbers become company directors, chief executives and managing directors, e-commerce millionaires, chief accountants, directors of strategic development, heads of personnel and of human resources, fund managers, management consultants, chief financial officers, presidents and vice-presidents, directors of sales and marketing, company secretaries and so forth. Many work for large and long-established companies; others are managing directors or partners in companies that they established. A few examples will have to suffice.

• Gerald Corbett is chairman of Woolworths.
  
  
• Anthony Hudson is a former chairman of ICI.
  
  
• Sir Bob Reid, deputy governor of the Bank of Scotland.
  
  
• Lord Sainsbury is president of the family supermarket business.
  
  
• Professor Sir Roland Smith has held many directorships and consultancies,
  including director of the Bank of England, and is currently Chancellor of UMIST and chairman of Manchester United plc.
  
  
• Anita Roddick, the Body Shop entrepreneur;
  
  
• Isabel Maxwell, daughter of the late newspaper baron.
  
  

This is just a small sample. It may surprise you to learn that historians do, in fact, provide more directors of Britain's leading companies in proportion to the number of graduates than any other subject, outperforming law, science and engineering.

Historians have always made a virtue of the importance of reaching objective judgements based upon wide reading and an understanding of a multiplicity of oft-conflicting sources, together with the ability to write clear, literate, synoptic, analytical prose that represents a balanced assessment of the evidence but which does not fight shy of drawing conclusions. A history training therefore imparts vital transferable skills, extremely useful in many jobs.

A history degree undoubtedly provides an opening to a wide range of careers and its graduates have risen to the very top of many professions and to key positions in civil society. A truly remarkable number have gone on to become the movers-and-shakers of modern-day Britain. Many important jobs are within the grasp of historians. With a history degree you can aspire to be prime minister, press baron and media mogul, overlord of the BBC, famous lawyer, archbishop of Canterbury, top diplomat, Oxbridge vice-chancellor, England footballer (Steve Coppell) or chairman of the richest football club in the world, famous comedian or celebrated pop musician, best-selling novelist, trade union boss, business millionaire, and perhaps even, one day, monarch of the realm, for Prince Charles too is a history graduate. For real!

Focus your Future

The profession of ophthalmic dispensing is over 250 years old. As in the past the supply of spectacles and other visual aids is important to a modern society. Of prime concern to every qualified Dispensing Optician is the visual comfort of the patient.

A prescription issued by an ophthalmic medical practitioner or ophthalmic optician (optometrist) following an eye examination states the measure of the degree of error in the patient’s sight. The Dispensing Optician’s skill and expertise lies in the interpretation of this prescription. From it he is able to supply an accurate aid to the patient’s vision, either spectacles, contact lenses or other appliances.

The work of the Dispensing Optician involves prescription analysis advice on lens types, advice on styling of frames, and taking frame and facial measurements and measurements in relation to lenses. Before any finished spectacles are deemed acceptable for a patient, they must be checked to ensure they correspond to the prescription and final ordered specifications and are suitable for the conditions in which they will be used. After the patient has received the new spectacles and been instructed how to get best results from them, the Dispensing Optician is always available to offer advice and affect adjustments and repairs if necessary.

The supply and fitting of contact lenses involve different processes to fitting spectacles, and after completion of the standard course, advanced courses are run for those wishing to specialise in the subject.

Dispensing Optics offer immense job satisfaction to persons who enjoy dealing with the public. Salaries can be expected to be on par with other professions.

Qualifications needed

Five General Certificates of Secondary Education passes (grades A,B or C) equivalent, which must include English Literature or English Language, Mathematics or Physics and a science based subject, plus two other subjects.

For applicants who can provide evidence that they have a minimum of ten years’ optical experience the entry standard may be waived.

Whilst the above is basic entry standard most colleges/university’s will require higher entry qualifications.

You are strongly advised to contact the college/university of your choice to establish their entry qualifications.

Both the General Certificate of Education at O’Level (grades A, B or C) and Certificate of Secondary Education (grade 1 only) are accepted in lieu of a full pass.

Types of Training

There are two ways to train as a Dispensing Optician in the U.K.

• To take a three year distance learning course run by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the student being employed by a qualified optician for the duration of the course. Practical experience is gained from the employment whilst theoretical knowledge is acquired through the distance learning course, which includes compulsory block release attendance for two-week periods at one of the colleges. Again the pre-registration year is counted as part of the course.
• To attend a two year full-time course at a technical college. This is followed by one year’s work, the ‘pre-registration’ year, under the supervision of a qualified optician.

Completion of the appropriate course, pre-registration year and successful results in the Association’s examinations lead to the issue of a Fellowship Diploma and registration with the General Optical Council.

After successful completion of the basic course, advanced courses in Contact Lens Dispensing, Spectacle Lens Design and ‘The Management and Practice of Low Visual Acuity’ may be taken. Further details of these are available from :

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians, 6 Hurlingham Business Park, Sulivan Road, London SW6 3DU.

Fashion Your Future

What could be better than studying Fashion in one of the top Fashion Cities of the world? London is again seen as the place where Fashion is at the cutting edge, where ideas start and events happen. Well-established Fashion Designers are visiting London for inspiration, and it can be seen at the Clubs and out on the street as well as in the stores.

There are so many levels and quality of fashion to be seen, from the Haute Couture boutiques in Knightsbridge to the market stalls in Camden. For the prospective student of fashion it can be a daunting task to choose the right course, as there are many fashion careers to follow, from Fashion Designer to Fashion Management and everything in between. If you cannot decide on a particular aspect of Fashion, taking a Foundation Course will give you a taste of several options - textile printing, embroidery, photography, illustration - and may strengthen your ideas. The full-time Fashion programmes vary in content and structure with the emphasis may be more on the creative, aesthetic side of Designing or perhaps the more prosaic side of fashion business.

College courses are often taught on a modular basis, allowing you to change your options within certain guidelines as you progress with your studies, and as long as you gain the required study points you will obtain your Qualification in time. Entry requirements for a full-time fashion course can vary, and you do not always have to have studied the traditional Art subjects. However, a good standard of general education is always required, and if you are not sure how your exams compare with the UK equivalent, you can ask the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) for advice. They will be able to provide you with a statement showing the comparable UK level.

If you are not sure if your level of English is adequate for the course, you can test yourself by visiting a British Council Office which runs the International Language Testing Scheme (IELTS). Many colleges require the English test certificate to show that you have at least reached the O.5 intermediate level of language and comprehension. You can now test yourself if you have access to the Internet by using: http://www.britcoun.org

The Internet is bringing another dimension to Fashion Studies. Not only can you surf the Net for the latest Fashion Shows and fashion related articles, you can also call up detailed business statistics which can help with a project or essay and get general advice on renewing your visa. The Internet is international and can be accessed anywhere.

Studying in London will also give you, a broader experience of life in the subject you are following, with its London’s rich heritage of Museums and Art Galleries to provide you with many design ideas, and ever changing Exhibitions and Fashion Shows to inspire you. London is a cosmopolitan city, with its multitude of restaurants catering to all showing just how diverse London is. I am often asked if London is a dangerous city, and have to reply that it is no more dangerous than any other large city. There are many tourists as well as long stay students from all nationalities, and it will not take long before you find a group to fit in with and have some fun.

The advantages of studying fashion in London are many. Looking at fashion in a different context, by comparing the life and culture that influences fashion design, is a valuable addition to your studies, and by the time you have completed your course, you will be much better equipped to deal with the international market that is Fashion.

Your Future in Design

The Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) is Europe’s largest professional body representing design and designers and gives the following guidance to would-be design students.

Before you start reading this article, take a look around you. The window, the desk, the chair, this publication: everything has been ‘designed’ because someone made a decision, conscious or otherwise, on the way it would look.

Design is, however, about more than appearance. Good design is equally concerned with function: a well-designed chair not only looks good, but is also comfortable; a well-designed teapot is elegant, but also pours well; a well-designed car is something to covet, but is also economical on fuel, doesn’t pollute, doesn’t rust and doesn’t need servicing every week.

Things that work well have been designed to work well.

When you consider design as a career option, you may initially think of high fashion, restaurant interiors or magazine graphics. Fine. But think again!

Design affects every aspect of our lives. Products from cars to cups and from beds to binoculars, all have to be designed, as do shops, homes, schools, hospitals, factories and offices.

Packaging design includes the shape of the container as well as the box it comes in; fashion includes trainers and t-shirts, shoes, hats, knitwear and workwear as well as the creations featured in Vogue; and graphics includes newspapers, books, advertisements, film titles and a hundred-and-one other things.

Design is challenging and stimulating. It is an integral part of any successful business and is one of the UK’s biggest export earners. It is hard work, but enormously varied and rewarding. After all, what could be more exciting than to see an idea progress from concept to completion?

Sir Terence Conran once told a group of young people:

“Young designers hold the key to the future. Design gives you the opportunity to shape every aspect of our lives in the 21st century.”

If you want to help shape the future, consider one of the following options:

• CERAMICS: design for one-off and mass production.
• FASHION: men’s, women’s and children’s wear, knitwear, shoes, hats, workwear.
• FURNITURE: design for one-off and mass production.
• GRAPHICS: includes design for print (such as newspapers, magazines, brochures), typography, corporate identity, advertising, packaging, multi-media, TV and film graphics, and illustration.
• INTERIORS: includes design for retail, domestic, commercial and industrial environments.
• JEWELLERY: design for fashion jewellery and for precious stones and metals.
• PRODUCT: includes everything from cars and aeroplanes to vacuum cleaners and wheelbarrows.
• TEXTILES: design for printed, woven and knitted textiles for fashion, domestic and industrial use.

So how can you help to shape the future?
There are a number of routes to becoming a designer:

Non-advanced:

These courses will develop an awareness of disciplines, knowledge and skills and will usually help you decide on your particular area of speciality. S/GCSEs in relevant subjects can lead to a foundation course. You can take a foundation course or Intermediate S/GNVQ in art and design with no formal qualifications. For students over 16 there are pre-foundation courses.

College Foundation Studies in Art and Design: one year for students over 17. Qualifications needed:

• SCOTVEC/BTEC Diploma Foundation Studies in Art and Design, (5 GCSEs) + 2 A Levels: one year for students normally over 18.
• SCOTVEC/BTEC National Diploma General Art and Design/GNVQ General Art and Design: two years for students over 16. Qualifications needed: four GCSEs (grades A to C) or GNVQs. A good level of English language is required.
• SCOTVEC/BTEC National Diploma/National Certificate (ND/NC): ‘Specialist’ design subjects for students aged 16 and over. Qualifications needed: as above.

Advanced:

• SCOTVEC/BTEC Higher National Diploma/Higher National Certificate (HND/HNC): for students over 18. This usually lasts two years and can be a continuation of a specialised subject at ND level. An HND student can apply for entry direct into the second or third year of a degree course. Refer to individual college for entry requirements.
• DEGREE COURSES: usually three years. A portfolio of work and evidence of competence in English language and mathematics are essential. Qualifications needed: a minimum of four or five GCSEs Grade C or above, plus a Foundation/SCOTVEC/BTEC ND Course, or two A Levels (S/GNVQ Advanced Level equivalent) or equivalent.

In Scotland all degree courses in Art and Design are 4 years in length. The first year (general course) is diagnostic and acts in a similar way to the English/Welsh foundation course. Students require either 2 A Levels or 3 highers, one of which must be English, and two standard grades or their equivalent. Application is via the Scottish Colleges central admission system run by the four Scottish Colleges of Art and Design.

Finally, if you need any further advice or information on a career in design, contact:

THE CHARTERED SOCIETY OF DESIGNERS
Europe’s largest professional body for designers.
Telephone: 0171-831 9777
or write to:
THE CHARTERED SOCIETY OF DESIGNERS
32-38, Saffron Hill,
London, EC1N 8FH.

They will be pleased to help you with careers information, placements and advice.