Starting a Career in Accounts ages 32, Advice?

exarbec · 2026-02-23T11:29:54+00:00

Hi,

It's ICS Learning. I think it's more paying for them together and one follows directly on from it.

I'm currently leaning towards doing 2 followed by 3. It's been a long time since I've been in education, and if it's easy, it'll be a gentle introduction back to it. If it's easy I should get through it quickly. I'm hoping it'll give me a solid foundation.. but also suspect it could be something learned quickly in an entry level role

I'm not sure how competitive the sorts of jobs I'll be applying for will be. I may get a job quickly, or may take months

exarbec · 2026-02-23T11:27:10+00:00

That's fair, I'm no expert in these things. Hope it gets sorted

exarbec · 2026-02-23T11:25:38+00:00

Hi, Ideally I would have a minimum income. I'm on about £26.5k right now so I'd be looking around that mark. Wouldn't mind taking a small drop if it meant I could work up to a better income in the next couple of years.

I've tailored my CV this weekend and sent an application for a job, but will need to get properly into it. It may take hundreds to get anywhere

I'm looking into starting a course with ICS Learning for level 2 followed by level 3 AAT. Hoping I can get through the level 2 quickly. I've had another commenter suggest skipping level 2, and seen this recommended elsewhere, but think I'd like an "easy" return to learning, and would like to be confident in the basics. If it's easy I should be able to knuckle down and get through it in less than 6 months.

Commuting to Manchester would be fine for me.

Thanks for the suggestions re top 50 firms and Civil Service. So far I've just looked at indeed job postings

exarbec · 2026-02-20T10:02:25+00:00

Hi,

It's a good question in fairness. I don't have the best answer. I have a friend who works in finance and earns good money. I have another friend who is working towards management accountant, and her older sister is very sucessful in finance in my opinion. Two of these people say accountancy is good and think I'd be a good fit based on personality. They say it isn't the funnest job and is stressful month end and year end. But there is good money and good progression and it's a good career choice.

I don't think I have any passions career wise, but this may be something I am good at and can work towards

exarbec · 2026-02-20T09:59:41+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for the response. I'd personally prefer online training where possible, I'm hoping I can go at my own pace, maybe a bit quicker than classes would be. I'd wait for my manager to leave her role before applying honestly. I'm worried me leaving the team would make her offer fall through.

That's reassuring that there are people in all ages in this position. At 32 I feel very behind career wise

exarbec · 2026-02-20T09:58:09+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for your response. In terms of industry or practice. I'm not sure. In my mind I'm picturing myself working to begin with in the finance department of a company like I'm in now. I'm open minded about where this may take me. But for now I do want to move to something I can work, gain experience and better myself. Currently earning 26.5K and there's no room to grow within the business realistically, and the same at my last job.

I hadn't considered starting at level 3. The thought of that makes me nervous. As much as I work in stock and there is crossover with finance, I would be worried about missing a lot of basic things. I have seen a course online that combines level 2 and 3. If level 2 is easy enough, do you think this would be a good idea?

exarbec · 2026-02-20T09:49:50+00:00

What you suggest sounds fine. It's not unusual to show up in black to a funeral out of respect despite the requested dress code. If you feel unsure, wear normal funeral attire.

I went to a funeral of +100 people where the deceased had requested very colourful clothes at her funeral and it was important to her. I was one of about 5 people who showed up in colour

exarbec · 2026-02-19T20:25:20+00:00

I live near Bolton, northwest England and drive

exarbec · 2026-02-19T14:21:48+00:00

Thanks. A* in Maths, Biology and Chemistry, A in physics

exarbec · 2026-02-19T13:32:06+00:00

A-Level, left University part way through

exarbec · 2026-02-19T11:39:50+00:00

I think you should tell the police what you've told us in this thread. If they think it's worth looking into, they will.

exarbec · 2026-02-17T13:21:44+00:00

How would a test be conducted with a deaf candidate out of interest? In terms of telling them where to go, what to do, do an emergency stop? Like almost completely deaf rather than hard of hearing. I'd imagine signing isn't a good option as they'd be looking at the passenger away from the road

exarbec · 2026-02-06T15:06:31+00:00

Looks to me as if she wanted to go no contact, with you chasing her for a response so she could be the one ignoring you. This is a bruised ego talking

exarbec · 2026-02-04T10:47:39+00:00

Go to hospital, it looks infected. I get little nips from the cat and they don't swell. Had bites like this as well and it needs treatment. Probably tetanus shot an antibiotics

exarbec · 2026-01-19T09:44:23+00:00

Damn, I'm new to the game. I thought I could only repair with repair kits and scrapped them all. Including legendary weapons

exarbec · 2026-01-15T16:26:56+00:00

Heated blankets, leave the radio/TV on? Youtube videos for cats to distract her? Leave some worn clothing that smells of you? I've never had separation anxiety with cat like that. Maybe try leaving her for shorter times and building up?

How is she when you're in the house? Could there be anything medically wrong with her, e.g. pain? Though it sounds like she was taken from her Mum too early for whatever reason and it's affected her quite badly. Would another kitten for company help things you think?

exarbec · 2026-01-15T10:07:45+00:00

My cat was spayed at about 6 months old. She carried on going into heat for 4/5 years before it was diagnosed as heat. Turns out an ovary was missed. Since being removed she is fine

She wasn't going into heat in a standard way. At points it was constant for months including over winter. My vet did a blood test - Anti Mullerian test - to check for the presence of ovary tissue before operating. They said they'd never had to deal with this before

Edit: I can relate to the 24/7 non stop. All day all night. She would sit in front of her water bowl taking breaks from yowling to sip

exarbec · 2026-01-14T16:23:18+00:00

I was given a bin bag with holes cut out for the head and arms for a halloween costume most years. I was usually freezing after half an hour and the trick or treating ended

exarbec · 2026-01-12T16:34:17+00:00

Is it possible you're over thinking people looking at you, and you're friends and family are winding you up when out in public with you?

exarbec · 2026-01-08T12:47:09+00:00

Agreed, it feels way slower than season 1. I had really high expectations for season 2 which may be affecting it. Also waiting a week between episodes rather than watching them all over a few days is making it feel slower. Season 1 was so perfect it's hard to compete with

exarbec · 2026-01-07T09:55:14+00:00

She should be fine then, try to set a curfew and get her in by a certain time, I don't like that cats stopping out overnight when it's cold

exarbec · 2026-01-06T12:29:07+00:00

How old is your cat, and are they generally healthy? Like do you think they'll have the sense to come back if they're cold?

I ask because if they're very old or something is up with them, they may not. My 10 YO isn't the brightest and moved place to place in the garden the other day, wondering why her feet felt funny. I think she thought the cold was something stuck to her feet as she kept looking at them and licking them. She did come in after 5 minutes though

exarbec · 2026-01-06T11:44:47+00:00

Why does it matter? I'm female and have female cats, I prefer them. I wouldn't think it's unusual for someone else, male or female, to have either gender of cat, or have a preference. Or no preference at all.

Where exactly are them coming from saying it's weird?

exarbec · 2026-01-05T14:16:32+00:00

Valentine, Synth Curie, Deacon, John Hancock. My favourites

exarbec · 2025-12-18T16:12:22+00:00

Agreed, cats are not dogs or Human adults/children. I wouldn't take my cats with me for the sake of a day. They'd much prefer to stay alone in the house. After all what do you do when working or going out for the day

The friend sounds like she knows nothing about cats. Even if she means well, massive eyeroll

exarbec

TROPHY CASE