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Just interviewed at an accounting firm in Manchester lead by a ex PWC member. The job was for semi senior accountant with “ competitive salary” listed in the description. I was told that the director expected me to hit the ground running with accounts / bookkeeping / vat and taking ownership of a portfolio of clients with no study support or financial support towards exams or courses. The salary offered was £26,000 with the minimum annual leave. I declined and was told I missed out on a great opportunity. Is the market this bad ? I was also told £26,000 is a very good salary for a part qualified accountant.

Just interviewed at an accounting firm in Manchester lead by a ex PWC member. The job was for semi senior accountant with “ competitive salary” listed in the description. I was told that the director expected me to hit the ground running with accounts / bookkeeping / vat and taking ownership of a portfolio of clients with no study support or financial support towards exams or courses. The salary offered was £26,000 with the minimum annual leave. I declined and was told I missed out on a great opportunity. Is the market this bad ? I was also told £26,000 is a very good salary for a part qualified accountant.

Hi,

I am a trainee accountant with 2 years of experience. I recently left my firm due to redundancy, and I joined a one employee small firm ( 1 director ).

I managed to hit the ground running due to my past experience with larger clients making this job very easy. The clients are significantly smaller but I do not mind at all.

I have been here for 1.5 months and I have recently had to take one sick day. Upon returning to work the director was not happy with me and citied in strong words “ we are a small business we cannot afford to pay SSP” and “ we do not do sick days here”

Surely this is indicative of a toxic workplace and i believe it’s best to leave early.

Luckily, I have received another offer through a connection at my previous firm. I will therefore be giving my notice today. I will cite “ this is not for me “ and because I am still in the probation period my notice is 1 week.

I was honest with my upcoming employer and have told about them about my current employer.

Advice

Hi,

My background is in bookkeeping/ accounts / corporation and personal tax returns, I have around 2 years of experience in a small Icaew firm.

I’ve recently had my hours reduced due to my firm struggling with cash flow, so I have been applying for jobs.

I have received a few offers from two different firms-

1. The firm is a contractor only firm, so small clients, it is five days in the office with no study support. There will be no review process as I will complete all the work. It is a director only firm so he is the only employee. The office is small and old. The role has no benefits.

2. The firm works with various industries with large SME clients. The director is ex pwc and ex Crowe senior manager and offers study support in the form of paying for my exams and ACA masters. It is a director only firm but the director will review all work and provide feedback. The role is hybrid and has a modern office. The director has worked on large clients while at pwc and has a good network with ex big 4 professionals.

3. The third option is a well established firm with 16 employees and has been around for 60 years. I will pay for the exams and courses but they can provide me with study days. The role is hybrid.

I am leaning towards either the second or third option. The second option has the benefit of learning from someone with immense exposure to FRS102 /IFRS/ FRS105 but the third option is a well established firm with good amount of employees.

What are you’re thoughts ?

Hi,

I’ve just been to an interview and was told they are offering £26,000 for a client accounting role, with responsibility for around 100 clients.

The role provides no study support or benefits with 20 holidays and five days in the office.

It is a one director run firm who is looking for their first employee, and for someone with minimum two years experience. The role stated “competitive salary on the indeed post”.

The firms focuses on freelancers/ contractors. The director was boasting that they have quite a few people to interview.

Surely the market can’t be this bad?

Hi I am in the process of getting an outside IR35 role and I was taking to an contractor specialist accountant called nexus accounting and the advice was very basic, and seemed like the accountant was too keen on getting me to sign on to the package of £100 per month.

For those who do your own accounts / payroll have you found it necessary to get an accountant ?

Hi, I have been offered a job within a general chartered practise and also a niche practise that only serves contractors.

Both have offered the same salary and are of the same size, i have around 1.5 years of experience with certificate level passed ACA and I am a semi senior within accounts.

I am thinking of going for the general practise because I am not chartered yet, or should I go for the specialist firm.

Hi,

I have around 1.5 years of accounts experience at a small Icaew firm. The firm has 7 employees.

I am currently on the level 7 apprenticeship but have found the Kaplan materials and courses not helpful to my learning style. I therefore purchased ACA masters and found it much more helpful.

I spoke to my employers about quitting the level 7 apprenticeship and just doing ACA masters, I even offered to pay for the courses myself if they would not pay for them.

The partners turned around and said that if I quit the apprenticeship they will fire me.

I wanted to ask if this is a normal response in small Icaew firms.

Hi, has anyone here used nexus contractor accounting?

I’m thinking of using them for my first outside ir35 contract.

This is my first time contracting.

Hi I’m currently working in a small Icaew practise, doing bookkeeping, year end accounts, self assessment and CT returns. I have a portfolio of around 80 clients and I have completed all the certificate level exams. I am currently on 26k and I am studying with Kaplan on a level 7 apprenticeship. It is a good role, but a lot of pressure to hit wip and the budgets are very tight, for example year end accounts are 5/6 hours.

I have been offered a role within a small one man practise that specialises in contractor accounting, he has offered me 26k, and he is an Acca qualified accountant with a practise license, so he can help me become Acca qualified, but I will have to pay for the exam and books. There are no timesheets and no budgets, apart from getting the work done. I am unsure to accept the offer or not?

I have around 1.6 years of experience in accounting since graduating.