Motivation | Distance learner
Striking the right balance
Family, care and work responsibilities mean that not everyone is able to attend college in person to attain their AAT qualifications. With distance learning, you can study up to Level 4 AAT from your own home, as Stacey Spencer is doing
AT A GLANCE
1
Distance learning means you can progress at your own speed and fit studying around other parts of your life.
2
The key to success is being organised and disciplined about your study time.
3
Transferable skills from your previous career will be valuable.
Stacey Spencer spent 10 years in health and social care as a support worker for adults with learning disabilities. But it was during lockdown while at home with her first baby that she began to think about switching to a different career.
“After I had my son in 2020 during the pandemic, I completely re-evaluated my life and decided that I wanted to build a career in accountancy that I could fit around family life,” the 29-year-old explains.
“At school, maths had never been my strong point and I hadn’t previously considered accountancy. It wasn’t until I took some online tests and looked at the personality traits of an accountant that I began to consider it a career option.”
She started a business management degree with the Open University in 2021 and began looking for accountancy jobs but found employers were looking for AAT qualifications.
“Wherever I looked, everyone wanted you to have AAT because it is a recognised qualification that puts you above the other applicants,” Spencer says. “I wanted to get practical work experience that I could combine with my AAT study, so that I could put what I learned into practice.”
Bursary support
While she had transferable skills from her previous career, especially in communication and working in teams, Spencer realised that traditional classroom learning wasn’t going to work for her as she didn’t want to sacrifice family time.
In terms of funding her studies, she knew it was going to be tough as she was already on the Open University course and now had two small children to care for. Then she came across Rachel Harris, founder of Accountant She and striveX. After messaging her, Spencer learned about Harris’s bursary scheme, which was designed to help fund a student through to an AAT Level 4 qualification.
“Rachel’s lifestyle really inspired me,” Spencer says. “She showed that it was possible to build a career in accountancy that also allowed for a balanced life. I didn’t want to be in a nine-to-five job where I had to sacrifice school pick-ups and sports days.”
Through the bursary, Spencer was able to enrol in AAT Level 2, which she passed in September 2020, and she hopes to complete Level 3 by the end of 2025. What’s more, after receiving 12 months of mentorship from Harris, she has just started as the entrepreneur’s personal assistant, where she will be able to learn how to run a successful accountancy business first-hand.
Wherever I looked, everyone wanted you to have AAT because it is a recognised qualification that puts you above the other applicants
Flexible schedule
Spencer enrolled on AAT Level 2 through First Intuition, which offered self-study materials and access to a tutor for guidance. She decided to take a flexible approach to study, working when the children were in school or being looked after. She uses books, online resources and video tutorials to break down the material.
“I like to study when it works for me,” she explains. “Sometimes that’s in the evenings when the children are in bed. Distance learning means I can pause and come back to things when I need to, which is really important.”
However, her journey hasn’t been without its challenges. “There were times when I wished I had classmates to talk to,” she says. “Not having that peer support can make it feel lonely, especially when you’re struggling with a concept or just need someone to bounce ideas off.”
Her solution was to use social media to build a community and share her experiences. Her Instagram account, Journey to Accountancy, has become a platform for other students to connect and support each other through the ups and downs of distance learning.
“It has been amazing to find people who are on the same journey and share similar struggles,” she says. “We can all relate to the challenges of studying while juggling family and personal life.”
TOP TIPS
Spencer’s tips for distance learning
1
Use every spare moment
“I create revision cards and read through them while cooking dinner, just to keep reinforcing what I’ve learned.”
2
Schedule your studies
“I used AI to help create a realistic schedule to fit everything in, including some personal time for me.”
3
Break down large tasks
“If I need to finish a module by a certain date, I figure out how many chapters there are, how many weeks I’ve got, and divide it up. It’s about making big sections feel manageable.”
4
Start early
“If you’ve got deadlines, don’t wait until the last minute. It can get overwhelming fast, especially if you’re juggling multiple commitments.”
5
Set clear goals
“Having a ‘North Star’ – a clear vision of where you want to go – makes all the difference. It helps you take actionable steps instead of feeling lost.”
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