ACA industry training contract - help!

EveT · 10-09-2010 11:12AM #1

Im currently training through industry, ive just done my CAP 1 exams and got placed, so doing well.

Im on 30k a year after finishing CAP1 but only likely to go up 5k a year going forward. Ive no idea what the average is and if this is good or bad, could people please advise?

also I dont know if I am getting enough experience, im doing things like processing invoices, bank recs, cash management etc. not really involved in revenue or monthly accounts. I have to have a meeting with my boss about it but she is v much more concerned about getting accounts done every month and quickest way to do that is do it herself.

Its a v small finance department, only 3 of us.

any advise is much appreciated!

DoraExplora · 10-09-2010 11:37AM

wow that sounds like great money if ur just accounts assistant , do you know it'll increase by 5k each year? id say ur doing pretty well although if its Dublin maybe its a cost of living thing. i do above and payroll on 28k and chances of reaching 30k slim, and i fully qualified 3 years!

EveT · 10-09-2010 01:02PM

are you ACA Dora? well I started on 20k 2 years ago (doing 5 year school leaver traiing contract as I didnt finish my degree), I went up to 25 after IATI exams (got a distinction so only had to do one set), and 30 after CAP 1s, so the trend looks like it will be 5k a year. Im in dublin yes.

prinz · 10-09-2010 01:03PM

EveT wrote: »

Im on 30k a year after finishing CAP1 but only likely to go up 5k a year going forward. Ive no idea what the average is and if this is good or bad, could people please advise.

In practice, doing all you mention, plus payroll for a number of companies, and act as audit senior on audits, doing accounts from prep to editing and finalising financial statements/co sec returns etc and on €21k a year, awaiting CAP2 resits. No increase in foreseeable future, and I'm in Dublin.

From a money point of view I'd say your laughing. There are literally hundreds of students who would take your arm off for €30k a year. IMO you are very much on at the upper end of earners for someone just finished CAP1, nevermind that people in practice would have a lot more responsibility and work demands.

Seriously pig's back comes to mind.

On the work experience side keep going, keep the standard of work up, when you run out of work pester your boss for more responsibility and more work.

EveT · 10-09-2010 01:05PM

thanks Prinz, I never said I was unhappy with it, I just wanted to gauge it against others.

I will be speaking to her about experience in the next few weeks. Im on my own here so its not like I have 50 other people to compare with ya know so Ive no idea what others are on and doing etc.

prinz · 10-09-2010 01:12PM

EveT wrote: »

I will be speaking to her about experience in the next few weeks. Im on my own here so its not like I have 50 other people to compare with ya know so Ive no idea what others are on and doing etc.

Just annoy her into giving you more challenging work. I was in the same position with regard to audit experience, there's not so much of it going around in a small firm, so just had to keep nagging to be put on audits using exams as an excuse. Keep reminding your boss that you need to put the theory into practice.

Be nice about it though, for what sounds like a small enough set up, she's possibly afraid that you could be taking her job soon enough.

Legend100 · 10-09-2010 01:15PM

You can count yourself very lucky to be on 30K after the Cap 1s!! Im fully qualified and have one year of the tax exams left and am only on 26.5k.

If only we were back in the good old days of newly qualifieds being on 50K:(

EveT · 10-09-2010 01:47PM

thanks all, as I said im not unhappy, i more wanted to check what the norm is. I got 4 weeks study leave, I know youd get a lot more in big firms but i thought it was enough. Im a bit older than most CAP1 students, am 25.

SL10 · 10-09-2010 04:47PM

EveT wrote: »

thanks all, as I said im not unhappy, i more wanted to check what the norm is. I got 4 weeks study leave, I know youd get a lot more in big firms but i thought it was enough. Im a bit older than most CAP1 students, am 25.

4 weeks study leave for CAP1's is prob about the norm. Thats what we got last year in the big 4 too.

EveT · 10-09-2010 05:00PM

Could anyone working in firms with standard pay scales provide some info on those please? Big 4 or not. Thanks!!

tenchi-fan · 10-09-2010 07:18PM

DoraExplora wrote: »

wow that sounds like great money if ur just accounts assistant , do you know it'll increase by 5k each year? id say ur doing pretty well although if its Dublin maybe its a cost of living thing. i do above and payroll on 28k and chances of reaching 30k slim, and i fully qualified 3 years!

3 years post qualified and you work for 28k? That seems crazy... I assume you don't work in dublin?

prinz · 11-09-2010 09:56AM

SL10 wrote: »

4 weeks study leave for CAP1's is prob about the norm. Thats what we got last year in the big 4 too.

A week per exam was the Institute guideline, with Law and Tax combining to form 1 week IIRC so yeah 4 weeks was the norm for CAP1

ACA industry training contract - help!

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