I know it's very specific, but can anyone advise me on the best qualification to teach me book-keeping. Initially I would be working for two family companies - both partnerships, but may in a few years time want to take on more work, probably self-employed. I won't want to progress to accountancy.
Since I only have a few weeks experience I would start out preparing invoices, updating ledgers (manual and Sage) and VAT returns. Would then like to move on to payroll.
There is IAB or ICB bookkeeping qualifications, with both of these you have to pay a yearly membership to be able to study, would say this is worthwhile if you are self employed bookkeeper but if you work would say may not be the best course.
There is AAT which is expensive but would be worthwhile if your company can fund this for you.
If your company cannot fund would say maybe try RSA or Pitman bookkeeping, I studied RSA Bookkeeping when I first started out working in the accountancy/bookkeeping field and gives you a good starting point and don't think it costs as much as the other ones because you don't have to pay membership.
I am currently doing the ICB bookkeeping courses, Levels I, II & III manual and Computerised II & III. I am doing this via a home study course with Ideal Schools. I have quite a few years experience in bookkeeping, but didn't have any paper qualifcations, so a couple of years ago did a Pitman's Accounting Technician Diploma, which I found good, but when I enquired about joining the ICB with this qualification was told that they didn't recognise any Pitman's qualifications, so I had to do the ICB exams anyway.
If you are self-motivated and disciplined then I would say do a home study course (the tutors are always helpful) but if you prefer a college course, then try and find a course near you that covers the syllabus of the ICB or IAB, either of these would probably suit you.
Just to say that there have been a few murmurings on this forum about the ICB, but I have always found them very helpful and didn't have to wait ages for my first certificate or anything to arrive from them
Thank you both - very helpful. Seems there's 3 types of qualifications - local courses such as RSA, pitman or adult education, which are a good starting point, but not recognised elsewhere; ICB or IAB which are nationally recognised; and AAT which is preferred by accountants!
Think I will take your advice and start with a local course that is easy for me to fit round looking after the family, then, depending on how much money I have to spend look at a more recognised qualification.
-- Edited by crawlenj on Monday 14th of December 2009 10:19:42 AM
I think a good start would be at a local AE college doing OCR (RSA was amalgamated several years ago). The level 1 comprises, Cash Book and Petty Cash which are on demand assignments taken under exam conditions and externally marked, plus Posting to the Accounts which is offered Dec, March May and June and is a proper exam again externally marked. These are all manual, additionally they offer two level 1 computerised options which again are assignments taken under exam conditions.
It is a good idea to learn manual book-keeping because without this if you make a mistake on a computerised system you will have no idea of how to remedy it.
