I have just turned 37 and have realised that after 10 years doing finance it really isn't for me. I've never really known what I wanted to do and kind of fell into finance despite never really liking it or having a natural knack to it. My current role and previous jobs have always been accounts assistant type jobs where I raise invoices, do the purchase ledger, expenses, look after a few spreadsheets and that kind of thing - all very general. Balance sheets, P&L, reporting, Inter-company, accrued revenue, management accounts packs and more advance things scare the living daylights out of me.
I don't have any accounting qualifications and whenever I have tried to do the ACCA or AAT in the past have given up because I just wasn't interested enough and couldn't take it in plus failing the so-called easy computer based exams don't exactly help.
Recently my company have employed new CFO (I work in the media/tech industry for a agency) and it's made me very anxious that my job is under threat and I am constantly worried he will soon figure out that beyond the basics I don't know a lot about accountancy, plus if I were to leave it would be very hard to get a similar salary elsewhere - I'm in the mid 30k bracket now. There is also the realisation that I can't really go any higher or forge a happier career without any professional development. Plus the thought of spending the next 30 years in finance really isn't making me feel happy about my future.
I have always been interested in HR and working in my current company I do have a fair bit of exposure to the finance side of HR (i.e. I do parts of the payroll, pension onboarding/admin, deal with HMRC, cyclesheme & other salary sacrifice things, provide HR with basic analysis and spreadsheets on recruitment costs or wage increases and that kind of thing). I think that looking at the CIPD course it is something that I would be able to follow and have a good chance of completing as it interests me and I feel does come naturally to me. When I mentioned a career change to my friends, they all commented on how HR would be perfect for me.
My main worry is that I am at a point in life where making a career change by starting at the bottom and taking a salary cut in order to find a junior HR job is unrealistic - I have a mortgage and other commitments.
I would most likely be looking to jump straight into the CIPD Level 5 Diploma Human Resource Management from a career and cost perspective.
The advice I am really after is:
- Is the CIPD course something I could do at home whilst maintaining my current finance role?
- I'd be doing this off my own back so without guidance from any other HR professionals or employed in a HR role so is it even realistic?
- How long might it take? I would commit to time after work and weekends.
- How much would it cost at a rough guess and can anyone recommend any home learning course providers?
- Would my HR type experience on the finance side as listed above be of any use if I were to apply for HR roles and help within the course?
- If in 12-18 months time would it be realistic to move into a HR job without taking a big salary cut should I pass the CIPD course I am looking to take?
Thanks so much for any advise and apologies for the long post.
