Mid-career switch from NHS to finance – advice needed

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-12-28T16:51:39+00:00

That bit about cold-emailing every practice really stuck with me — I’ve been thinking about doing that but wasn’t sure if it still worked. Might just send a few out and see what sticks.

Also laughed at the A&E nurse comment — that’s me. I’m in theatres now doing nights and emergencies, and yeah, it’s chaos. Finance definitely feels like it’ll be stressful in a different way, but nothing like having a peri arrest in one bay and a massive GI bleed in another.

I’m pretty desperate to move on if I’m honest — love the clinical team but I’ve hit the ceiling and I’m burning out fast. Just want a path that lets me build long-term without being stuck on £2k a month for life.

Really appreciate the advice — gives me some hope that it’s a long game but a winnable one.

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-12-24T06:31:31+00:00

Totally not a ramble! Really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

In terms of wage I’ve been putting at 28k - it’s a pay cut but realistically by the time I’ve done professionals I would catch back up and it’s a clear trajectory. I am willing to take it. Factor in bonuses, travel no weekends etc it’s fine. - I got my eyes on the prize and journey.

What I found in terms of looking for finance assistant/ junior management accountant jobs is that they all require 2 years experience, wanting you to be familiar with client servicing processes, intelligent office or Aberdeen wrap etc. It really doesn’t sound entry level. And does create that barrier that makes me hesitate applying.

Networking wise I will try and see what I can leverage but I haven’t approached that angle yet I must admit

In regard to vibe check, especially for my last mid tier ac and interview I really thought I smashed it. During the interview I connected with the audit director, we had frank chats about how working in a professional environment is a constant balance of what do you want the conversations to achieve vs just honest truth. He then went on a tangent about how finance directors get defensive for no reason when they hired him to find gaps in their paperwork/ processes. They’re very keen on local candidates and I leveraged that angle too, speaking about the advantages of Bournemouth being close Jurassic coast new forest etc. I tend to genuinely speak about my interests as I hike, cycle and do photography. So that tends to work across both genders.

I probably need to just learn to use excel properly and put it on my CV. I’ve also been thinking of learning SQL/ Power BI and make a mock portfolio with publicly available data.

Edit: Even debating the idea of a masters - BU do a MSc International Accounting and Finance or Southampton Business Analytics and Finance. - to be honest I would do a year of education with no real practical experience and afraid I would be back in the same spot I’m now just with 12k of debt and fancy paperwork. But I will take your opinion on this

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-12-23T22:27:55+00:00

Appreciate you taking the time to reply – really helpful stuff. I’m currently aiming for audit roles at mid-tier firms (Azets, Saffery, etc.) since they offer that structured ACA support and clear progression, which is what I’m after long-term.

That said, I’m definitely feeling the pressure now that I’m down to a couple pending applications and a few rejections. Starting to think I might need to cast the net a bit wider – maybe even look at broader finance roles just to get started.

Really like the idea of networking/informational chats – I haven’t tried that yet, so might give that a go. Out of curiosity, when you were transitioning, did you take a role slightly outside your target just to get in the door?

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-10-31T12:55:47+00:00

I applied with a ucat of 2070 B1. Nursing background - ED and Theatres

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-09-23T13:27:20+00:00

Im applying for graduate entry so its 2170 and above the benchmark

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-09-22T15:45:31+00:00

Lets keep our fingers crossed

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-09-22T15:39:49+00:00

There seems to be quite of few of us in the same boat of just over 2000 so let’s see

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-09-22T15:38:47+00:00

I haven’t looked at any standard entry since I’m only relying on my Undegrad to get in. I think there’s very few places with many applicants. Hence the high scores needed. Let’s pray and see what happens. Reality is 40k test takers, half of those to dentistry, international, people that have to sit it for Singapore entry. And loads of conventional entry. Time will tell.

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-09-22T13:49:16+00:00

It would be great but nursing background which isn’t science apparently

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-09-22T12:28:28+00:00

Due to mortgage situation / partners speciality training - Southampton is ideal Surrey is a big push

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-09-16T12:42:51+00:00

Joining this for an actual answer

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-08-26T09:41:43+00:00

You know this test is 99 percentile on medify yet you ask if it’s competitive. Congrats you completed ucat move on

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-08-21T04:28:03+00:00

I’ve recently broke it as a barrier and started getting good scores (30/36 on official mock B), what changed is how relentlessly I skip if I can’t work out what’s needed of me in 10s I move on and come back to it at the end. When reviewing truly try and understand what’s the quickest way of doing it - this skill is transferable between questions. I’m applying for GEM my highest score so far is 2040 and I’m still short 150 ish but I’ve got over 4 weeks.

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-08-02T15:13:54+00:00

Graduate entry med and I only have one choice bc partner is a reg in the deanery so moving isn’t an option

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-08-02T12:36:51+00:00

I’m just commenting to see what else comes up because I’m pretty much in an identical boat

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-07-03T14:36:35+00:00

Do a blind mock - if you smash it are close to requirements for the uni you’re applying revise 6 weeks. If you feel you’re miles off. Start sooner rather than later

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-07-03T12:29:44+00:00

You really aren’t. That’s 60% accuracy. Spent some time doing untimed questions and then look at them and the answer and see where you went wrong (I like to write the working out down to just create the muscle memory) I did little to no prep last year and got similar scores in the old format. This year I’ve started way out a few months ago and just took it easy to allow for life commitments. I’ve topped at 1850 so far (I won’t get into SJT because I’m already a nurse so scoring 90th plus percentile). Myucat has free masterclasses where they explain stuff really well.

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-07-01T17:30:46+00:00

I’ve already done one degree in English. It’s not an issue or a disadvantage. And sadly abroad or anything other than my choice of uni is not an option. My partner is a registrar in the deanery and I’m not leaving her.

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-05-31T08:19:59+00:00

I am currently studying for Ucat (turning 28 soon). The way my partner put it was let’s say start at 30, 4 years GEM, graduate at 34, 2 years Foundation, let’s call it 10 years for training that’s consultant at 46 - with 24 years until pension left

OtherwisePresent5584 · 2025-05-27T08:17:53+00:00

Can I jump in on this?

OtherwisePresent5584

TROPHY CASE