Hi all, I'm planning to set up on my own as a book keeper and before I plunge in head first abd probably go off in a million and 1 wrong directions, I thought I'd ask some advice first!
I worked for 7 years as a financial Manager in a small (ish) architects practice, setting up management accounts, doing VAT returns, wages, preparing information for the accountant, all the day to day stuff really, plus I also have an MBA which touches on both Financial and Managment accounts. However, I'm now working for my parents company and don't really get involved so much with this side of things.
Due to personal circumstances and because I actually really enjoy the figures side of things I think now is the time to seriously look into doing some book keeping from home, but dispite quite good experience I don't have a proper qualification. I've had a talk with the Institute of Certified Book Keepers and their courses look good so I think this is the route I'm going to take, but it would be good to get some feedback from people who are praticing already. Have any of you done their courses, are they any good and do you think being a member really helps in attracting clients? Are their alternative routes I could consider?
Basically any advice you would like to give would be gratefully received.
It may also be worth looking at other bookkeeping qualifications including the IAB (www.iab.org.uk) and the AAT (www.aat.org.uk). Like the ICB, both of these are highly regarded qualifications.
