AAT technition course - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Richard67 · Veteran Member

AAT technition course

Julie · Senior Member

Hi Richard,

Like you, I was considering the AAT route but decided that I would stick with ICB as I could set up in business a lot sooner. I also felt that I had spent enough time, energy and money getting through the various ICB levels to take an any more study.

Maybe in the future, when my bookkeeping empire has taken off I may look at AAT again, but for now Im happy with what I do. That is, offering a straightforward, professional and friendly bookkeeping service (hopefully !) .

But I can understand the need to add credibility, particularly with accountants practices, gaining work etc., but again, I`m happy to go under the ICB banner to gain clients. Also, if you go all the way with ICB you can include payroll and self assessments, which I think are excellent services for a bookkeeper to offer, and that is what we are, `bookkeepers` !

Are you looking at the AAT to perhaps go the whole way upto accountant status ? If so, then of course you should seriously consider AAT.

You say you have a number of years experience in bookkeeping and accounts but lack the qualifications, well I think your `experience` is your unique selling point, clients would be more interested in what services you could provide knowing that you have not just simply taken a load of exams with no practical experience. Again, like you, I have a number of years experience, and have found so far that clients are not too concerned about qualifications, just what service can you give them and at what price !!!

Hopefuly someone else on the forum has taken the AAT course and could throw some light your workload question, sorry Ive not been able to anwer that one.

Best of luck,

Julie

Richard67 · Veteran Member

Hi Julie

Thanks for your reply, I intend to carry on with ICB and do the self-assessments and payroll modules, but long term I would like to do the AAT maybe setting up as an "Accounting Services" provider which I believe you can as a member in practice, also I intend in the short term to get a job either temping or permenant until I have built up a decent number of private clients, and eventually I would want to offer a complete package for sole traders and small businesses by doing final accounts and tax returns. I'm hoping therefore that by doing the AAT I might be able to get a job in an accounting practice and gain some valuable experience.

Richard

Julie · Senior Member

Morning Richard,

Well, you seem to have it all very well planned out. From what you say then, AAT would certainly give you credibility in bucket loads, and its a very good idea to have a back up plan in terms of gaining temporary/permanent work whilst you build up your business.

Good on you for taking the initiative and looking ahead to the future. I`m content with my lot at the moment, sure and steady, just seeing how it goes.

All the best of luck to you.

Julie

rowets · Veteran Member

Hi Richard,

I started AAT Technician last year, took 4 exams and passed. I have 2 more exams to do plus the dreaded 'Project', a 4,000 word report on a relevant subject of your choice. I intend to take my final exam and have my project finished by June 2009. On that basis it will have taken on average around 3-4 hours per week of study in my own time, I am completing this via Distance Learning.

I have certainly found it exceedingly helpful and informative, I intend to apply for full membership to the AAT once I have completed the course, their CPD policy is very good, after all we have to keep up with current legislation and changes, probably one of the most taxing (no pun intended) and important areas of what we do.

I would say go for it, it gives you even more of an insight into what happens to your work after you have completed everything up to TB and handed it over to your clients accountants. For me it has already enabled me to expand my business to offering accountancy services as well as bookkeeping.

Regards,
Tim

rowets · Veteran Member

Just as an aside Richard, do you find that being a member of the Bookkeepers Network has brought any business your way? I am considering subscribing but would be interested to know what sort of enquiry rate is generated from it?

Tim

Richard67 · Veteran Member

Hi Tim

I have not recieved any business through network yet, although to be fair I only joined in August.

Which training provider did you use for AAT, I'm considering Premier or Eagle.

Another area that concerns me is the 12 months practical work experience you need to obtain your membership, have you got this sorted?

I've heard about the dreaded unit 10 project, is it really that bad, and did you do a real live one or a simulated one.

Well done on passing your exams so far and good luck for the rest, which level did you start at by the way.

Regards

Richard

Julie · Senior Member

Morning Tim,

Just a quick question regarding AAT Diploma. What is involved in the `simulations` ?

Julie

rowets · Veteran Member

Richard,

Regarding the Bookkeepers Network, I think I'll hold off on that one for the time being!

I am studying through Premier, they are very good. They are available at reasonable times should you need help and the help and advice that they do give is of very good quality, you never feel 'alone'. I started at Intermediate level, with Kaplan, not as good as Premier. I prefer the Osborne study books that Premier supply too. I would recommend them. The Unit 10 Project can be very daunting at first, until you really sit down and work out exactly what is involved and how you are going to go about it. You have to formulate a plan and a 'timetable', this can be documented and actually used as a part of the Project itself. Premier were very helpful, sent me loads of guidance and info, but the best help was the actual Osborne study book itself, invaluable! I have based mine on a real life situation, I developed an improvement plan for an aspect one of my clients business and used this as the subject for my project.

I have recently submitted all of my work experience. I have been a self-employed bookkeeper for 3 years or so now and luckily I have a very satisfied client-base and so getting them to verify my work was absolutely no problem at all. I also have done some work at an accountancy practice and the principal there continues to be my Mentor and so was more than happy to agree to act as my referee.

Julie,

The AAT 'Simulations' are really just what the name suggests, it's just like an exam but based on a workplace scenario in which you have to prove your competence and ability to complete the task. It's all written work, as I say just like an exam really, under examination conditions. They are there to take the place of work based evidence if you are not in a position to be able to provide that for your portfolio.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Tim

Julie · Senior Member

Thanks Tim,

The whole AAT Diploma sounds very interesting, its got me thinking about it again !

Julie

rowets · Veteran Member

Go for it Julie!

Richard67 · Veteran Member

Morning to you both:

Definantely worth pursuing Julie, as Tim says go for it.

Tim, I have taken the plunge and have enroled this morning on a distance learning course with Eagle Training, nearly went with Premier but on the AAT forum some people said there was some delay in getting skills tests results back, and I hate waiting to long for results, Eagle have a deadline of 14 days although I am told it is usually a week, they also use Osbourne who I have heard good reviews about but in addition give you a Buddy Pack which is designed to support the text books and breaks it down into manageble chunks and uses easy to understand every day language with fun practical exercieses.

With regards to self-employed experience I was under the impression that the AAT would only allow work signed off by an approved accountant, are you saying that they will accept your clients word as well, as this would really make the job alot easier.

Anyway good luck to both of you with your studies /businesses

Richard

rowets · Veteran Member

I am directly answerable to my bookkeeping clients, there is always a director or a line manager to whom I have to report. They will be the person who will validate your claim to work experience, as long as they understand all of the tasks that you perform for them as it is these tasks that you will have to log with the AAT for validation. As long as your client fully understands what you do for them and is prepared to confirm that personally to the AAT then you will be fine.

Good luck with Technicians stage, will you opt for the Taxation route or the Management Accounts route? I opted for taxation as this is the area that is most relevant to the type of work that I want to be undertaking.

Tim

Richard67 · Veteran Member

Yes I will be opting for the Business Tax and Personel Tax modules as this will have the most relevance to me, how difficult is it?

Richard

rowets · Veteran Member

Very Easy!

wink

Tim

Julie · Senior Member

Morning Richard & Tim,

Tim, are you a shareholder of AAT or are you on commission ?

Like Richard, I have finally taken the plunge and registered, happy studying Richard !

Julie

Richard67 · Veteran Member

Hi Julie

Who have you registered with for your training? One piece of advice I could give you is to delay registering with AAT until next January, unless you aim to take an exam this December, as that way you will be able to take two lots of exams for one membership fee. I checked with AAT and there is no need to register until January and you do not need to be a member to register with a training college, just a thought.

What level are you starting at?

Anyway got the bit between my teeth now and can't wait to get started!

Good luck with your studies and if you check out the AAT forum you will get lots of advice and info there.

Richard

Julie · Senior Member

Hi Richard,

After looking at lots of providers, emails and telephone calls back and forth yesterday, I went with Eagle as they seemed far more helpful and gave me straight and informative answers to my queries. They were the last providers I contacted and I was really impressed with them, although they are a little more expensive, I just hope they deliver !

Although I have experience, I really wanted to start from scratch and so I am starting at the certificate level 2. I had figured out the AAT registration and so will not apply until January 09, like you say, at least I will get two exams out of the way within a 12 month period.

After telling my husband on what I have just applied for, que - eyes rolling up to the sky ! I do finally feel I have moved in the right direction, thanks to yourself and Tim and this very long thread, it has made me think seriously about what I want to achieve.

I will remind myself of this post in approximately 9 months time when I will be sitting my first exam !

Good Luck with your studies Richard.

Julie

Gemma12 · Veteran Member

Hi guys

I registered last September with the AAT to do just the payroll qualification - just to let you know if you weren't aware, the AAT student membership lasts for 12 months from the beginning of the month that you register.

I registered last year mid-September as the course I was following meant sitting the level 2 in December 07 exams and the level 3 in June 08 - my registration was then up on 31st August 08

not planning on doing the Accounting quals with them as it's a bit cumbersome doing a portfolio etc. I'm now using my A level in Accounting to go onto the IAB bookkeeping quals - didn't realise last year that they did a payroll qual !!

Gemma

Richard67 · Veteran Member

Just a quick reply as regards to Tim's question of Bookkeepers Network, I have just received a referal, however they are in London and I am based 75 miles away, oh hum!!

Mary · Veteran Member

Hi Richard,

I've found distance is becoming less of any issue now a days. A good number of my clients are based more than 100 miles away from me and I'm able to provide a service comparable to that of which I offer to my local clients. I use software called CrossLoop to remotely access my clients computer. Barring a few initial hiccups this seems to work well.

In fact I think theres a few advantages to clients not being too local, it certainly minimises them popping in every couple of days with bits and bobs I 'might' need.

Mary

SarahT · Veteran Member

I took on a client requiring a full bookkeeping service and monthly management accounts 6 months ago who are based the other end of the country to me. Im based on the south coast and theyre based in Carlisle and I was surprised to say the least when they approached me. They found my details on the internet, and said they liked the sound of me from my website! Compared to some of my clients its been an absolute pleasure dealing with them. They put there invoices and statements in the post to me every week without fail, and I email them with the reports they require. I even run their sales ledger which again has not proved to be a problem.

Bring on more long distance relationship!

-- Edited by SarahT at 16:43, 2008-10-01

Richard67 · Veteran Member

I stand corrected.

Did either of you have to meet your clients in the first instance, for example to obtain id checks to comply with M.L.

Mary · Veteran Member

For non local clients who I don't meet in person I use an online service called Creditgate.com for money laundering identity checks. The cost is pretty reasonable and you don't need the clients permission to carry a check out, but you do need to inform them. Never had anyone mind though.

Mary

Richard67 · Veteran Member

Hi Mary

I am an ex-mortgage advisor, and as such you need express consent of a client for credit checks as every check leaves a footprint on a person's credit file and it could therefore affect their future ability to obtain credit if there have been a lot of searches for example. It may be creditgate.com does not do a full credit check or their service works differently but to be safe and compliant I would advise that you would need to inform a client and gain permission first. If in doubt seek legal advice.

regards

Richard

Mary · Veteran Member

Thanks Richard.

The clients have all been limited companies so far. The reports I purchase concentrate on the identity of the company and its legal status, and I was advised it satisfies the requirements set by HMRC for money laundering purposes, although I don't profess to be an expert my self.

Best wishes,

Mary

Annacarter · Member

Nice conversation about AAT. You have given me lot of knowledge about it. Thanks

newleaf · Veteran Member

Anna

This thread is nearly 5 years old!!

But as the original poster thank you for bringing it to my attention as i had forgotten my user name and have recently signed up again under as a new user. Unfortunately things didn't work out for me back then due to family circumstances and i abandoned my studies and did something completely different but have recently the lure of bookkeeping and accountancy has brought me back and i have just started doing the i.c.b again with the view to setting up in practice again.

Richard