Just joined this site! - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Jacqui55 · Newbie

Just joined this site!

cevans34 · Member

Hi Jacqui

Claire

Wendy · Veteran Member

Hi Jacqui,

Welcome! Had a peek at your website and it looks very professional. Good to hear business is going well.

Wendy

brog13 · Veteran Member

Hi Jacqui

I only joined on Monday - and already the site has answered a couple of my questions.

Everyone seems really friendly and helpful.

Welcome!

Babs

Macko · Member

Hi Jacqui

Just joined as well. I'm starting at the bottom and I'm still debating about the route to follow ICB or IAB. Interesting to note you're ICB.

Like the web site.

Cheers
Mike

Julie · Senior Member

Hello Jacqui,

Good to have an extra brain to pick !

Really good website.

Julie

brog13 · Veteran Member

Interested in Macko's reply. I have worked on accounts for more than 10 years - as a Finance Manager and learning 'on the job'. I started on Sage Instant Accounts and then moved on to Line 50.

Two years ago I decided to go freelance, and started using VT - which I am very happy with.

But now, after joining and reading this site, I wonder if I should have/need a qualification??

I have been on the IAB and the ICB sites, and am no nearer to a decision really.

No-one has ever asked if I was qualified - and I have always been very honest (as you would expect!) that I have learned from experience. My customers are hopefully quite content with my work.

So - do I bother with training and exams? Any thoughts would be welcome.

Thanks. Babs

Macko · Member

I'm exploring the ICB and IAB sites with a view to study and exams as my knowledge on book keeping is paltry to say the least. My wife opened a boutique a year ago and I've been trying to maintain the financial records based on some scant knowledge of accountancy gleaned from an HND in Bus Studies a number of years ago! I came across a web site http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/ and I downloaded an excel based package which seems to do everything , including tax return. Damn useful for me as rightly or wrongly we formed a limited company. Curious to know if anyone else has come across it and what their impressions are from a professional perspective. Had a look at the VT web site - www.vtsoftware.co.uk - and that looks rather useful as well. Unfortunately the boutique business is struggling - not surprisingly - and it would not support two of us should I leave my current job , so like many others on this forum I'd love to start a book keeping practice as another source of income. One concern I'm 48 and maybe it's too late for an old git! smile

-- Edited by Macko at 13:19, 2008-11-20

Julie · Senior Member

Hello Macko,

Never ever think that your age is a barrier, bookkeeping is one of many professions that I personally think experience comes into its own.

Having qualifications is of course good, they can fill in the missing bits and give you a more rounded and fuller understanding of bookkeeping.  However, nothing beats experience and when you go solo, you will come across `non text book `accounts systems, from a bag full of receipts, pages of scribbled notes and figures that have been plucked out of thin air !

I`m 43, have a number of years experience in accounts, ICB qualified, currently studying AAT. I decided to gain some qualifications because if I`m honest, I really do enjoy accounts and want to see how much I can push myself.

I would suggest that you buy a past exam paper from ICB levels 1 & 2 and just use them to see how much or little you know, this may surprise you. Then decide what you would need to brush up on or not.

Julie

Macko · Member

Hi Julie
Glad to hear age isn't a barrier!
'Bag full of receipts' sounds familiar...I'm guilty of that.   Good advice to buy a past paper..I'll do that. I was contemplating the courses at Ideal School for ICB Levels 1 + 2 + Sage .   They have a special price on at the moment.   I note some of the forum members worked from the text book , but not sure if I have that confidence.
Out of interest , based on your experience , ICB then AAT or should I consider going straight for the CAT.   Did you consider IAB?
Apologies for the short response...dashing off to a seminar..many thanks for your good advice.
Mike
smile

AccountantsCircle · Senior Member

Firstly, welcome to the forums Jacqui!

Sounds like you've made a great start on your business, and I expect with all that experience too you'll be heading onwards and upwards.

Babs - I wonder why you're considering the qualifications now. Is there a reason for it? Something that sparked your enquiries?

If you've been operating for a couple of years now, plus have that experience I don't see any great reason for considering these qualifications unless you just want to personally have that achievement, or use it to move forward in your services.

From what you've said, I'd be more tempted towards AAT, or even CIMA/ACCA - depending on your reasons.

As for age being a barrier, I've never seen it to be (in my 30s) but certain state of mind and way of thinking can be. It's slowly changing to make more use of technology, and not at least considering this can create barriers to taking on clients (or employment) that does make use of technology.

Julie · Senior Member

Hi Mike,

Before looking at the various schools offering bookkkeeping courses, I would, like I suggested have a look at some past papers. You may know more than you think !

Also, don`t dismiss the diy route. The ICB sells Kaplans Practical Bookkeeping which will get you through the manual levels 1 & 2, Osbourne books also do a few manuals which are worth looking at. For the computerised level, although I had experience of Sage I still went the diy route and purchased Sage courses/certification 1 - 3. These are all worth considering before making your mind up about registering with a `school` as some do not offer good backup to their students, so it would be worth investigating the right one for your needs.

I went with the ICB because I wanted the association / technical support they give to practicing bookkeepers, and it offered the quickest route to self employment. The AAT is more about personal achievement than anything else, plus its useful to gain more knowledge and perhaps give you the edge over others.

When I first started out, I certainly would not consider the AAT but as I am getting a little more work, and varied work, I can see the advantage of taking it.

Just think seriously about what YOU want to achieve !
Julie

Macko · Member

Hi Julie
Thanks again. It has been a wee while since the HND but using the spreadsheet from DIY is dragging my knowledge of double entry towards the light. I'll purchase a copy of Kaplan, previous exam papers and join the ICB. I'll have a look at the Sage web site re courses. I'm keen to get into practice as soon as possible and get some experience under the belt. Already enjoying looking round the forum at some of the questions, technical or otherwise.
Looking at some of the experienced book keepers , it's encouraging to see the potential of business from around the UK without the need to concentrate on localism. Especially with the new technology John refers to. I found the Accountants circle to be an interesting web site.
Fortunately I'm keen to immerse myself in this new venture, as my original concerns of having the necessary discipline and motivation for study were responsible for my embryonic thoughts of a formal study course; but you've helped me to reassess my strategy.
Thanks
Mike

brog13 · Veteran Member

Hi John

Actually, this forum made me think I should have qualifications!

Everyone seemed to have ICB or some such, whilst I had been quite happily finding out just by doing it.

Since going freelance I have always got work through recommendations from my accountant or other clients, and so the subject of qualifications has never come up.

Perhaps I am just making problems for myself.........

Babs

Julie · Senior Member

Hi Babs,

With your recommendations from clients and accountants, you must pat yourself on the back as this proves you are doing an excellent job already. Bookkeeping is not only about experience but confidence as well and , I think you have it in bucket loads - can I have some please !

I lacked the confidence in my own abilities that is why I joined ICB, I then found my confidence and am now eager to stretch myself, hence starting AAT.

After reading your last post Babs, I would say, only think about gaining some qualifications if you want to expaned your services into something that you currently do not offer to your clients.

Julie

brog13 · Veteran Member

Hi Julie

Thank you for your comments - they are much appreciated.

I have some lovely clients, but maybe feel that if I want to attract a couple more, I should have at least some qualifications to offer.

Also, sometimes, I admit that I don't have all the background knowledge, and it is frustrating. The accountant I work with is lovely, but it wouldn't be fair to use her as a training ground, even thought she is always really helpful when I ask questions.

I have searched this forum for advice on training, and if I do go down that route, it seems to be ICB with distancelearning or IAB with Woodgrove that gets the most votes.

And anyway - as you say - it is sometimes good to stretch yourself!

Babs