Motivation | Career changer
“AAT was my ‘Eureka!’ moment”
After an injury led Tim Cooke to reassess his career options, he did some research and realised everything pointed to accountancy as his new profession.
It’s never too late
At the age of 50, Tim Cooke is proof that it's possible to make a significant change of direction with the right approach and a positive frame of mind. He has completed AAT Levels 2 and 3 (and has his eye on Level 4). His job is now as an Accounts Assistant in the finance department of a 50-strong company that supplies services to the construction industry.
“Experience has taught me that there is not necessarily any correlation between age, ability, knowledge or career path. I’m one of the newest employees in my company, and almost certainly one of the oldest. I am also the most junior in the finance department, yet I’m happy that I’m surrounded by a wealth of knowledge and experience that I can call on for help, which can only be a good thing.”
Embracing a career change later in life
Tim had enjoyed a varied and non-linear career path, beginning with a vocation in music which took him from classical performer, to teacher and then a hands-on sales role with lots of travelling. He was missing his children growing up so took a break and found a variety of part-time local casual delivery jobs. The break had only intended to be for a few months, but Tim was enjoying being outdoors and on the road so he carried on until a foot injury forced him to start thinking about a fresh direction.
“There was a careers fair taking place the following month and I went full of hope and enthusiasm for what new opportunities I might find. However, I came away deflated having found an impressive variety of companies, but nothing that inspired me.
It was shortly after this that I had my ‘Eureka!’ moment. As well as Music I had enjoyed Maths and Statistics at A-level, so why not think about something related to this? Something like accounting, perhaps? I knew accounting wasn’t all about numbers, but at least the numeracy part of it would be familiar. My challenge was that I didn’t have any accounting qualifications and very little directly relevant finance experience. I was also in my late 40s.”
My challenge was that I didn’t have any accounting qualifications and very little directly relevant finance experience. I was also in my late 40s
An enthusiasm for the industry
Tim knew that if he was to have any chance of changing career successfully, he needed to demonstrate commitment to a new direction, particularly in finance which is heavily regulated, demanding particular skills and knowledge.
“Once I’d had the idea to do accounting, following through with it was relatively easy. After doing some research and speaking with my own accountant, it was clear that everything pointed towards AAT as the place for me to start.
I went to New York on holiday with my family at the end of July 2022 and resolved to give my new (and perhaps slightly off-the-wall) idea some further serious thought while I was away from home. I decided that if I had the same enthusiasm for the idea when I got back, I’d do something about it. And that's exactly what I did. I went back to my favourite delivery driving job on a reduced schedule, found an AAT tuition provider (who turned out to be fantastic) and signed up to begin studying AAT Level 2.”
Never stop learning
Tim finds that knowing that he is learning all the time and putting all his new knowledge to use is empowering. He likes acquiring new skills and it was motivating for him to find something he enjoyed that has real career path potential.
“I’m quite well organised and studying again has been very enjoyable, so it’s something I’ve done without any sense of dread or obligation. I’m perhaps a bit unusual in that I secretly like taking exams too! Professionally, it really has been a case of starting over. However, the bank of transferable skills that I have gained over the years (like communicating with different types of people, team work, leadership, adaptability, customer service and keeping up to date with (even basic) IT skills) allows me to focus more on the new learning in the accounting and financial details of my new role.
The initial learning curve of getting to grips with my new company’s processes has been steep. This is good and I like the challenge and all the various approaches and other skills learned through AAT have been an enormous help.”
5 TIPS
Tim’s top tips for changing your career
1
Commit to it
Once you’ve decided to switch, go for it. As a mature career changer I believe that demonstrating the commitment to studying both Levels 2 and 3 really helped.
2
Enjoy the journey
And be prepared to change your route along the way. When I began studying, I was convinced I would only be interested in financial accounting. As my studies progressed, I found myself enjoying the management accounting units more than I thought I would.
3
Don’t let rejections get in the way
Keep on applying. As long as you present yourself and your skills appropriately, and show genuine enthusiasm and curiosity, keep knocking on doors and eventually one will open.
4
Be realistic
From initially making the decision about the new career direction to starting in a role took 21 months of combined work, study and family life. This was three times longer than I imagined at the outset.
5
Focus on your best chances
Most job ads say they want previous experience and with lack of it, I found myself drawn to roles with a finance team in existence. I wanted to begin working alongside a group of other more qualified people and count myself fortunate that I landed a role where this is the case.
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