I'm looking for a bit of advice please. Cutting a long story extremely short I worked for a bookkeepers about (chuckles) 15 years ago hehe.. when much younger. However for the last 13 years have been in investment banking within a Product Control department (daily P&L production on derivative trading etc) which is a different type of job altogether albeit having to know your GL and debits/credits etc.
Situation is.. I am starting to try and do bookkeeping initally as a sideline with the intention of giving up my full time job although very well paid. But prefer a more independant lifestyle.
I have only completed upto LvL II AAT (Many years ago) but bookkeeping knowledge seems to be still polished gaining 95% on the AAT review test online and rushing it. It advised to start at LvL III as I kind of expected.
However would it be better for me to do IAB,ICB being more specific to Bokkeeping or would you really recommend I continue AAT although I may be wrong but AAT will take longer and is more expensive? potentially more in depth accountancy focused than bookkeeping.
I have learnt I cannot get PII or at least very difficult without any affiliations.
I started on the ICB route, got my bookkeeping qualifications and am currently doing the AAT.
I would have to say that am finding the ICB is much more relevant to the nuts and bolts of bookkeeping, if you want to produce a set of books for a client, the ICB will better prepare you.
The AAT is much more theoretical, the ICB more practical. Also once you gain associate level ICB you can get PII etc...
Thanks for the advice.. just sold it and now going to do the ICB. From what you have said it would be more beneficial at present. All I intend to do is prepare books for 'basic' type clients with least level of complexity as possible just to get my feet on the ground.