Accountancy Student Stories:
AAT Student Stories: Emily Kay | AAT Level 2 Review

Emily used furlough and the pandemic to break into a career in accountancy by studying an AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting. 

I have worked in a Finance Department for the last 4 years. Before then I had no previous experience of working in an accounting environment.

I was given the opportunity to learn Accounts Payable and since then have become the team leader of the department.

Although I have learnt a lot in the last 4 years, I found that I was lacking further the knowledge that would enable me to progress from my current role. I had the intention to start a Level 2 Foundation course in accounting and had even discussed this with my manager at the end of 2019.

Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and my work priorities moved away from starting a training course. I was furloughed a few weeks into the pandemic and this made me realise that if I was ever to be made redundant, having completed the course and learned the basic fundamentals of accounting would be very beneficial in applying for new roles.

In July 2020 I decided to start the Level 2 Foundation course with ICS Learn and fund the course myself.

I found that the options ICS Learn offered were very affordable and I was able to start the course straight away.

I was unsure how I would cope in being disciplined enough to study in between working full time and whether I would like to study online.

However, after starting the course I quickly realised how easy and accessible the online portal was and I started to study regularly at the weekends.

The tutor that I was assigned provided fantastic support; she answered all my questions and marked my practice exams so promptly and always with explanations and advice.

Since starting the course I have found that the topics I have been learning have hugely benefited my current role as I now understand the ‘WHY’ behind what I am doing rather than just the ‘HOW’.

I have completed 4 out of 5 exams achieving over 90% in 3 and I am currently awaiting the 4^th exam result, but I hope for this to be over 90% too. My aim is to finish the course with a distinction.

I am confident that if I were to ever change roles, I could take the knowledge ICS Learn has given me and apply it to any accounting role. I hope to start the Level 3 course with ICS Learn over the next 12 months, as I have thoroughly enjoyed the support ICS Learn has given me. I would highly recommend ICS Learn to anyone who is thinking of starting to study online, I hesitated at first, but I wish I had started sooner.

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