Accountancy and horses - time for a new job?

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suzi

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I qualified as an accountant last year and curently still work for the practice I trained with.

I've just bought a new horse so that I can start competing a bit more seriously - nothing too serious, hopefully some low level BE / BSJA.

I've had comments from work about how I'm going to fit everything in around work and some very sarcastic comments about how I'll be no good at doing my job if I have an accident and end up in hospital.

I even had one partner recommend to me that I 'should curb my enthusiasm for that dangerous sport'.

I've not been overly happy there for a little while - and am thinking of looking for another job.

Has anyone here got experience of finding horse friendly accountancy jobs? I'd love to work in a company associated with the equine industry in some way shape or form.

Or I'd even consider working for myself . . .

Anyone got any suggestions / ideas?

I'm not even sure if I should be looking to move yet but some of the comments have been rather uncalled for. I've been late twice because I was waiting for the vet (in the last 4 years) and always made the time up and am very conscious of not letting the horses interfere with work.
 
Maybe change offices? I work within Hedge Funds as an Accountant and everybody is quite supportive of my riding - infact, my manager will becoming to watch at one of my comps! I fell off 2 weeks ago and now have soft tissue damage in my shoulder, and nobody has tried to put me down at all. I dont think it is anybody's business what sport you undertake as you could easily walk accross the road and get hit by a car, then have to have a time off as well! So I'd ignore them and potentially look for a new job if they wont let the issue go.
 
my friend is an accountant and although she does have her horse on part livery she does quite often take half days off for lessons etc. Her company don't give her any problems, after all most companies expect you to have a life outside of work, and you will probably take less time off for your horse than you would if you had children.

All in all I would either ignore them or find a new job :)
 
Time to change jobs Suzi - they wouldn't be allowed to treat you like that if it were children involved!!! How rude of them - they should be encouraging their staff to enjoy their hobbies.

I am an accountant and work for myself - it is a very good life. I do have to go to London 2-3 days/week to my clients, but I book in the days myself, and although I am flexible with them, I also expect them to be flexible with me. I work from home the rest of the time. You won't be able to get a practising certificate yet, but I don't have one, and it hasn't stopped me getting work - which is all word of mouth, and very regular.

Alternatively, look for something in industry rather than practice - I have always found corporate business to be more accommodating than accountancy practice - they tend to value their staff more, and will be more flexible to keep someone valuable.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the advice.

JennBaggs - how did you go about starting on your own? I have to admit that it is something that really appeals to me. How long after qualifying did you start?

What sort of work do you do?

I already help friends out with tax returns etc so I suppose it's just an extension of that really.
 
Time to get a new job! Everyone has to have a life outside of work, and newly qualified is a great time to move - expect you'll find you increase your salary too. I am CIMA qualified and worked in financial services for many years - hours and commuting time not a grerat mix with the horses, but I always fitted everything in somehow and never any complaints about my work. Even when I broke my back a couple of years ago my boss was very supportive and I worked from home for a bit before gradually going back into the office.

Good luck.
 
My cousin's an accountant who works for herself and she's always busy - although I expect we're a bit older than you so she has more experience!

She's got two school age children and is always doing up houses, so needs lots of flexibility and it suits her down to the ground.

I'm also freelance (altho in another type of work) and I wouldn't change it for the world. I decide when I work - which might be 7am or 8pm, and I decide when I do my horses :D
 
Longish story coming up Suzi...well you did ask for it!!

I was very lucky, and fell into it - was working at a small company while doing my finals, and had real trouble getting on with my boss - who was also the owner of the company (so no-one to complain to, and no chance of him moving on!). Handed in my notice, and thought I would temp for a while.

We had a consultant who came in 1-2 times a month, and when he heard that I had handed in my notice, he jumped at the chance of getting me in with some of his other clients. So, I had pretty much full-time work from day 1.

I then finished my finals - I had been working for over 10 years, and had put off doing the last exams, so although I hadn't qualified at that time, I knew what I was doing work-wise. I then had a couple of people refer me, and then a couple of those referred me, and got work that way - lucky, but I am good at my job, which helps with the luck I think.

I do a lot of book-keeping work - combined with management accounts, cashflows, final accounts, corporation tax etc. I was very careful at first about what I did as I didn't have a practising certificate - I thought I would be able to get one after becoming a Fellow, and then discovered I couldn't, so cancelled my annual subscription - OK, I can't use my letters now, but I am a qualified accountant, and know what I'm doing and it has made NO difference to my business - it just means I can do the work I was already doing.

After 10 years I am continually referred by clients and also by a couple of accountancy practices who I know - and I have a very successful business. My initial client which gave me FT work became PT after a few months and finished after just over a year, so it really only took 6-8 months for my business to build up.

Feel free to PM me.
 
My OH is an Accountant and he rides my horses and no one would dare tell him to give it up he gets hust worse when he plays football with the guys from the Accountants up the road. You only work for them they dont own you if this was the case then driving, running, walking to work or even riding a bicycle is more dangerous, but millions of people do it so I dont see the point.
 
JennBags said:
Longish story coming up Suzi...well you did ask for it!!

I was very lucky, and fell into it - was working at a small company while doing my finals, and had real trouble getting on with my boss - who was also the owner of the company (so no-one to complain to, and no chance of him moving on!). Handed in my notice, and thought I would temp for a while.

We had a consultant who came in 1-2 times a month, and when he heard that I had handed in my notice, he jumped at the chance of getting me in with some of his other clients. So, I had pretty much full-time work from day 1.

I then finished my finals - I had been working for over 10 years, and had put off doing the last exams, so although I hadn't qualified at that time, I knew what I was doing work-wise. I then had a couple of people refer me, and then a couple of those referred me, and got work that way - lucky, but I am good at my job, which helps with the luck I think.

I do a lot of book-keeping work - combined with management accounts, cashflows, final accounts, corporation tax etc. I was very careful at first about what I did as I didn't have a practising certificate - I thought I would be able to get one after becoming a Fellow, and then discovered I couldn't, so cancelled my annual subscription - OK, I can't use my letters now, but I am a qualified accountant, and know what I'm doing and it has made NO difference to my business - it just means I can do the work I was already doing.

After 10 years I am continually referred by clients and also by a couple of accountancy practices who I know - and I have a very successful business. My initial client which gave me FT work became PT after a few months and finished after just over a year, so it really only took 6-8 months for my business to build up.

Feel free to PM me.
Click to expand...

OK, thanks.

I've spent 4 years doing a mixture of accounts prep, audit, corp tax and personal tax with some 'special' work including cash flows / forecasting.

Hmm, the more i think about it the more appealing it is!!
 
Could you look into becoming an accountant for a equine company? My friend knows of someone who is an accountant for Paul Nicholls racing, she gets to spend the morning watching the horses go up the gallops (not sure if she actually gets to ride out herself too) then the rest of the day doing the accounts. I think they are quite understanding if she ever needs to take a morning off for the vet etc. Something I would like to get into in the future!
 
Im a secretary, never worked in accountancy well once I was a secretary there but Ive had a lot of problems with work when I say Im going to be late in as Ive got the farrier/vet coming down. So I understand what you mean.
 
What pigs!! Do none of them play rugby / football and subject themselves to the dangers of injury on the pitch? Or are they all couch potatoes waiitng for heart attacks?

I work for myself and wouldn't have it any other way. It is a bit scary at first but if you are any good you'll soon find you have more than enough work. I can do the work in my own time
 
It's so frustrating.

I was told by one of them that I couldn't afford my new horse (she overheard me talking to my mum on the phone). If I'd said I was spending £6k on a car no-one would have blinked an eye.

Grr.

The only prob with setting up on my own is finances in the short term. Mortgage / horses / car etc.

JennBags and others - how much do you charge?? (PM if you'd prefer).

I'm ACA qualified and have no idea what sort of rate I could get.
 
Its none of their business what sport you have taken up!!
I am training to be a book - keeper under my dad who has set up his own accountancy firm. And tbh I've had no comments like that!
(I know I work for my dad but I get nothing for free he treats me as he would any other employee!)
 
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