Where next? - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

ChipRivers · Member

Where next?

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi,

I think that there may be a misunderstanding here as to what the equivalent accreditations are.

Course B190 is the first part of the replacement set of OU courses that are taking the place of the certificate in accountancy (B680).

I think that they've actually broken it down as B680 was around £2500 and was getting to the stage where nobody could afford to take it anymore.

To have the full B680 gave you excemption from full accreditation of IAB, ICB, first 3 papers of ACCA and various other excemptions from things like CIMA, AAT and CAT.

Course B190 actually uses the EQL bookkeeping course. EQL is part of BPP. BPP sell the course (or a very similar version of it) directly as the ABC AAT which is a very sound course on bookkeeping.

I know that ABC AAT gives you excemptions from some of the AAT papers. Not sure what else it gives excemption from. Course B190 is the equivalent in real terms of ABC AAT and any other excemptions that are offered are purely down to the negotiating skills of the people at the Open University.

I will say nothing disparaging about the course B190 as it's an excellent introduction but I think that you should now consider your next steps carefully. Even with excemptions from B190 I think that you might be wise to take the exams of the body that you choose as they are based more in reality than theory and are very different to the OU / EQL course.

Coming straight off course B190 it is extremely unlikely that you are ready to become a self employed bookkeeper. I would advise you trying to get some entry level temp jobs whilst taking ICB exams and think about self employment when you have a lot of experience.

I'm really not trying to discourage you but if you look at some of the threads on this site you will see that the work out there isn't brilliant at the moment and as a newbie you might really struggle.

Good luck,

Shaun.
Cert Acc (open), AICB(comp)

ChipRivers · Member

Shamus wrote:

I think that there may be a misunderstanding here as to what the equivalent accreditations are.

I did think that the one short course at OU could not be equivilent to two full courses with the IAB. However it does say this on the site...

Professional recognition

Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting (B190) is accredited by the International Association of Book-keepers (IAB). The course provides exemption from both their Level 2 Certificate in Book-keeping and also their Level 3 Diploma in Accounting and Advanced Book-keeping. Therefore on successful completion of B190 students will be able to apply to become Members of the IAB.

So what would be your recommended route of accreditation? Which is the best course / provider?

Mike · Veteran Member

Shaun,

What did you make of the Professional Certficate in Accounting, also run through the Open University (I notice you've got the letters after your name)?

The OU bill this as being equivalent to a Technician level qualification (AAT, CAT etc) but which can be completed in 12 months.

Does this prepare you for a career in bookkeeping / accounting or is it much more thoeretical?

Also, is this a respected qualification in the bookkeeping/accounting industry?

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Mike,

The course is absolutely excellent but it's not widely known.

The course now offered as B190 is an enhancement of the pre-b680 course that used to be given away to learn bookkeeping before you were ready for the real B680.

B680 was always three distinct courses patched together to replicate the first three papers of the ACCA.

The first part is financial accounting. Starts with bookkeeping and goes through partnership accounts, limited companies, ethics and such, It even touches on audit.

The second part is management accounting. This goes through all of the various types of costing, budgeting and analysis.

The third part is theory and goes through the various different management theories, motivational theories, man management, marketing strategies etc.

General concensus from most people that did it was that it was the hardest but one of the most enjoyable years of their lives.

Its really difficult and nobody could do it in the suggested hours. Actual hours tended to be between about 25 and 40 per week. Sometimes much more! (forget having a life for the year).

Although passing it would give me exemption from the the first three ACCA papers I joined the ACCA on the MSER route and took the ACCA papers at the same time as the equivalent OU papers. I found that the two really did go hand in handand the equivalent studies helped the other qualification.

Overall whilst B680 is the equivalent level of AAT and CAT they are slightly different and more aimed at turning out people ready for work.

B680 does not touch upon tax at all. (came as a big surprise to a lot of us).

It definitely covers a far wider syllabus than either ICB or IAB.

Oops, got to go. Chat later.

Shaun.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

back again Mike,

sorry, just had to go and pick my son back up from his Moms.

As to where having B680 will actually get you?

Most accountants have never heard of it and even fewer agents have. However, if you get to interview the employer is always pleasantly surprised as to the depth and breadth of your ingrained knowledge which is far beyond their level of expectation.

I think that the intensity of the course is designed to shell shock you into a state of mind that sets you up for studying ACCA or CIMA.

Its not however AAT or CAT which are both very good qualifications for people working at the technical level in accountancy. You would also probably find those routes cheaper (I like CAT as it's part of the ACCA but AAT seems to be a more widely sought after qualification).

The qualifications that get you through the door are still AAT, CAT, CIMA and ACCA.

If I had to do it all again I would still have chosen the B680 & ACCA route but would probably also have signed up for AAT as well. I would not ever take any offered exemptions (I've got exemptions from all of the ICB exams but I still take them as the higher you get the more you fear forgetting the basics so always good to keep in practice).

Ok, waffled enough for now.

Talk later,

Shaun.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi again chiprivers,

sorry got waylaid with the other post.

Don't knock the one short course. It is a very good one but I wouldn't have thought that it would have given exemption to the diploma. Which ICB exams does it give you exemption from?

I get the impression that there's a bit of a battle for membership going on between the ICB and IAB at the moment. Both very good organisations. Personally I'm with the ICB but that was down to the speed with which one could get from new member to practicing certificate at the time. Things with the IAB may have changed now.

Personally if I were you I would go AAT which is a very well respected technical qualification. You've basically done the ABC AAT so you've got exemptions from some modules if you want to take them.

This isn't a route that I took so unable to advise on a good course provider but your in the right place (might need to start a separate thread) to find someone whose gone down that path.

Talk soon,

Shaun.

LaShel Bookkeeping · Veteran Member

Crikey Shaun, you are one informative guy and have been gicing really good advise. I was looking at OU recently, and Im unsure where I want to go etc.. I have tried to M you but you dont accept e-mails, I believe your in lovely Staffordshire also..

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Lisa,

I'm closer to you than that. I'm just on the other side of Hednesford from you on the small estate behind the Cross Keys. (Used to be Hednesford football ground). Your on the other side of the bridge close to the doctors aren't you?

I don't give out my email as I don't want people mailing offering services.

I think that in offering advice you learn what you know. I know that sounds silly but I've got all of this stuff that I know and find that you really need to use it in different ways and think about things from different perspectives for it to really sink in as ingrained knowledge.

The people on this site are great and even when I go and put my foot in it as I did today when forgot all about AIA when talking about WDAs they're very subtle in correcting you... But that's one piece of advice I'll never now get wrong again!

Anyway, great to talk.

Hope to chat soon,

Shaun.

LaShel Bookkeeping · Veteran Member

yes, I know where you are. Theres a bookkeeper over there as well, Keys Bookkeeping by you, I believe. We took our exams together then I went back to teach payroll. (mad I am).. I work at our local accountants, I trust you know the one, only a stones throw away..

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Evening Lisa,

Well, I've found you and me amongst the one line entries on Yell.com but can't find Keys Bookkeeping anywhere but on the IAB website.

I know which accountants you mean. Mine are over in Rugeley although I only put finalising my companies accounts through them. Everything else including VAT, Payroll and self assessment I do myself.

Seems like there's a whole group of us really close. I'll have to careful I don't give any of my cunning plans away!

Shaun.

LaShel Bookkeeping · Veteran Member

Yes, just waiting for mine to go on the Iab website, as we speak, they take their time I can tell you. I believe Keys registered but the owner has his own company as well but winding it down so he will prabably be advertising this year. Dont worry about cunning plans, Im looking at going down the payroll route via the IPP, depending on cost. If you need any help though, just shout..