If you’re a stay-at-home parent or are planning to become one, you might be wondering how to transition back into the world of work or juggle childcare and your career. Whether accountancy has been a dream of yours for a while or you’re just thinking about it now, it’s a lot more achievable than you might think. Lots of mothers fall into the trap of believing their career is over or that they can’t change direction once they’ve had kids, but this is simply not true. Here are some reasons why retraining as an accountant could be the best career move for you:
Remote working
As tax return software is used in more and more companies, it’s easier than ever to work from home as an accountant. This means you’ll be able to stay at home with the kids while earning some money to keep the household running. Depending on the age of your kids and whether they go to school, it’s easy to fit even full-time work around your parenting duties. But there are plenty of part-time accountancy jobs out there too, so make sure you find the right fit for your needs.
Online courses
Unlike many other professions, accountancy doesn’t require you to get a degree. Going to college or university isn’t possible for most stay-at-home mothers, but logging onto your laptop for a few hours a day is more than doable. Lots of accountancy courses can be completed remotely, even the ones from accredited institutions, so you won’t be at a disadvantage when looking for work. Remember to check if the course you choose has a time limit. Some will be more flexible than others so consider your current situation carefully before paying any fees.
Room for improvement
While you might not have much time to spare while your kids are young, you might want more and more out of your career as they get older. Accountancy allows you to progress and develop at any stage, meaning you never feel like you’re stagnating. You can take more exams to increase your earnings and find more challenging jobs – and the best part about it is that you can do this gradually. There’s no need to jump into anything all at once, making accountancy perfect for juggling alongside childcare responsibilities.
Earning potential
If you’re a single parent or your partner doesn’t earn as much as you’d both like, money is probably constantly on your mind. But accounting has great earning potential, even if you can only start on a part-time basis. When compared with other jobs, accounting allows you to start on a decent salary once you’ve completed all your exams. Even if you don’t desperately need the money, it’s always nice to get more for the time you put into something, which will help you build up a pot of savings.
If you’re still hesitating to commit to retraining, reach out to a career advisor or other stay-at-home mothers who have a career. They can give you the confidence you need to take the leap.
