Qualified bookkeepers really are in huge demand - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

RE: Qualified bookkeepers really are in huge demand

Wella · Expert

Shaun

Aut Vincere Aut Mori

Ave atque vale
Bill

Guess whose just found his book of latin phrases

To save you looking it up
Aut Vincere Aut Mori = Victory or death
Ave atque vale = Hale and farewell

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Just reading about the death of Aetius (yes, I know that I should be doing corporate reporting!). Sounded like one heck of a general who could have been Emporer had he so wished.

Which of course signed his death warrant as the Emperor killed him by his own hand... And then a little while later the Emperor got offed by those who had been close to Aetius and all of the soldiers around had served under Aetius's so didn't lift a finger to save the Emperor.

Oh that the power struggles in banking were so easily resolved!

Actually, the way that Barclays destroyed RBS's winning streak by John Varley playing Fred the shreds arrogance isn't too far away from it!

RobH · Expert

Coming soon to a cinema near you, RBS Pensions: The Aftermath, starring Russell Crowe as Fredius the Shredius...

Wella · Expert

QED

Neil · Senior Member

QI

Incidentally, talking of things Roman (pre-SPQR, that is) did anyone recommend Imperial Commander to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup?

(HINT: It was me and I'm just off to collect my winnings!)

Cheers
Neil

-- Edited by Neil on Friday 19th of March 2010 04:33:24 PM

RobH · Expert

Well done Neil...did it actually win? I know you said EW

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Congratulations Neil.

does this mean that the first rounds on you then?

I'll buy the second as my top two shareholdings are up 8.62% and 5.8% on the day... I know it's not real unless I trade them but at least on paper it's looking good.

Neil · Senior Member

A good day all round then.

Rob, my annual bet was on Imperial Commader £2 e/w. So I could stand a round of shandies, at a push!

Shaun, My wife is a Serco employee and we've been collecting their shares for a few years. The last month or so has been like one big Christmas present.

I found out yesterday my contract won't be renewed after April 7th so it's good to have a some good news to temper the bad. Seeing you guys make a go of things is what keeps me optimistic.

Cheers
Neil

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Sorry to hear the bad news Neil.

On positive note, and I'm sure others will back me up on this, you seem to have taken to bookkeeping like a duck to water.

I for one am convinced that you'll be a success at this.

Neil · Senior Member

Shaun

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I think this forum is a great resource for real advice and I hope to be able to put it into practice.

Do the three amigos have a sort of d'Artagnan equivalent?

Cheers
Neil

Rhianrach · Expert

Neil wrote:

Shaun

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I think this forum is a great resource for real advice and I hope to be able to put it into practice.

Do the three amigos have a sort of d'Artagnan equivalent?

Cheers
Neil

Yep called barbie

Neil · Senior Member

Maybe not the job for Fat Neil, then! confuse

Neil

Rhianrach · Expert

Neil wrote:

Maybe not the job for Fat Neil, then!

Neil

Nope

As you can see (hope there isn't a rule about hotlinking),

http://www.barbie.com/activities/fantasy/princess/musketeers/

You have to be quite hot ( if anime is your thing) biggrin

RobH · Expert

Neil I think our ranks would open for a fourth amigo!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Seconded.

The excellent quality and quantity of Neils replies which he's always happy to offer had already made him our unofficial fourth.

Watch out for your crown KPMG we're well on our way to an LLP!

RobH · Expert

The Amigos LLP, we'll be getting the Enron contract!

Neil · Senior Member

Awww, guys!

I'm made up

Neil

RobH · Expert

We'll let Bill tell you about the inititiation ceremony wink

Neil · Senior Member

It's no problem, Rob. I've already got hold of a mankini. biggrin

Neil

Wella · Expert

Welcome to the Amigos Neil.

Now all you need is the blind fold, zip ties and leather apron and to have posted the necessary evidence photos on MySpace, Facebook, Bebo and any other anti social networking site I haven't mentioned, you will then receive you honoury practice licence.

Only joking. You have already passed the trial by ordeal. Just one more to go now, a debate on the pros of ICB membership with Shaun. This will entitle you to use AT3A after your name - if you survive!!

Neil · Senior Member

Bill, I don't know whether you've ever listened to Fighting Talk on a Saturday morning on Radio 5 but they have tie break final round between the two top scoring guests. It's called defending the indefensible. Is there where you got the idea for my challenge?

Neil

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Mmmm, I did Bite a bit yesterday didn't I when Attila was both defending them and attacking accountants!

I'm not so bad really! Twice this week I've advised people that their experience of the ICB may be different to mine and that they should at least consider them. (And then of course decide on the IAB or AAT instead!).

I think that full member level test should be writing a thesis on the "There or thereabouts" methodology as advocated by Rob.

and fellow level should actually be reserved for anyone beating you in a debate about VAT Bill.

Wonder whatever happened to Phillip? He's not been around for ages.

I think that he may have despaired with the way that the conversation kept going off piste (This thread being a prime example).

Shame, definitely fifth Amigo material.

Phillip, if your reading this come back. We all miss you.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Excellent one Neil! (lol). Go straight to full Member. You can even have an exemption from the there or there abouts thesis.

Wella · Expert

Neil, I thought had an original thought when I came up with that trial by ordeal but obviously not.

Just had another one, you will have to have AT4A after your name as an associate member, as it will officially no longer be The 3 Amigos (LLP?)

Bill

Neil · Senior Member

I'll do it with pride.

Neil AT4A

Terri · Senior Member

You Amigo's are such a bad influence on eachother

Lisa Jo · Senior Member

Omg you lot, I love a good ole banter..

Shaun, I cannot believe my fellow Iab member lives on the same street as you, what about that? Do you know he hasnt even advertised yet, hes been too busy with his company and all the work he has on.

On the IAB front, I cannot believe that South Staffs college have now took off the L3 comp bookkeeping due to low numbers. This is sad, I dont know whether people think its just too hard or whether home-study is taking off, either way the tutor has asked me to do some marking for her which should get me into the IAB side, you never now which route to go down do you?

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Lisa,

Soon to be two fellow IAB members in the street! Already been accepted but still got to sort out the paperwork, and then it's adios ICB.

When he does start advertising all of his client are going to have to come past my house to get to his so there may be a few pit traps appearing on my side of Hednesford!

Your right, the conversation between the Amigo's does tend to fly off at tangents doesn't it... Sure you wouldn't have us any other way though. biggrin

Wella · Expert

Shamus wrote:
....... the conversation between the Amigo's does tend to fly off at tangents doesn't it... Sure you wouldn't have us any other way though.

The reason is simple.

Bookkeeping/ accountancy is far to important to take it seriously.

Bill

attilabenko · Guru

Neil! Thanks for Imperial Commander £2.50 e/w and Denman the same. £56 winnings... nice gold cup it was. Kauto Star fell over stupid horse some loss there.

attilabenko · Guru

ACCA MSER
Mature Students Entry Route (MSER)
Normally individuals over 21 years of age may register
through the Mature Student Entry Route (MSER). No
academic qualifications are required. This is designed
for students who have the maturity and skills to deal
with the ACCA qualification. MSER students must pass
Paper F2, Management Accounting, and Paper F3,
Financial Accounting, within two years of registering.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Sounds as though they've dumbed down the entry requirements a little since I joined up.

Maybe you should think about joining?

RobH · Expert

Shaun If I didn't know you better I would think that was a barbed comment!!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

ME! Not in a million Rob! Two completely separate statements... of course if you were to read them together!

I think that you know me very well. I just don't have time for people who are disparaging towards the work, skills and integrity of bookkeepers and accountants.

You're approach of "Go on then, show us the evidence" was of course a much more grown up one. Obviously your experience in PR is paying dividends.

RobH · Expert

Oh I'm rather partial to the barbed Churchillian remark Shaun...but I'll wait until I'm Guru status before I try it!

I'm out all day tomorrow on a refresher tax course and then on wednesday afternoon on an MLR course. CPD will be be overdone this year, I have to do 45hours, 15 structured and 30 unstructured (talking on here must surely count!)

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Oh to be as intelligent as that man!

Guru status isn't far off now. it's bestowed at 500 posts so at the rate that your going that will be some time next week then!... anyone know what comes after Guru?

I think that your right, giving advice on this site must count towards something. You just need to find some threads that don't end up going off piste as evidence.

Can you carry forward any of your CPD to the following period?

RobH · Expert

I think at 1000 they transport you to the top of a Tibetan mountain where you can receive pilgrims and bestow wise words...the vow of celibacy may make you re-join under another name at 999 posts!

Don't think I can carry the cpd forward but now I have joined Mercia Training it is easy to get the cpd, the trouble is, most of the courses are concentrated over a few months rather than spread out. But it is good value and the courses are very good...haven't fallen asleep during any just yet!

RobH · Expert

Strangley going back on piste...not a bad start to the week as regards to 'bookkeepers in demand', potential new client phoned and I have a meeting on saturday (unfortunately), she wants bookkeeping, payroll and year end doing (I've suggested she budget for around £2k) and just got a telephone answering client sign up...so the demand is out there.

attilabenko · Guru

I did not try to defend ICB. Ok I am member but so far I got nothing from them. I understand where they are coming from regarding ACCA ( kind of ). Anyway if i am a bookkeeper and want to become accountant I don,t want to claim exemptions I rather do the studies just to make sure... and if I would be an accountant why on earth would i want to join ICB? It is like you are a managing director but you want to join the union...
And yes I do appreciate ACCAs MSER mainly because when I was younger I chose parties instead of university and now it is a bit late for a degree. So if they give me a chance that,s great.

RobH · Expert

Fair enough Attila...sometimes things come across the wrong way when written...welcome to the forum!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hello Attila,

lets try and start again as the first message was to me the equivalent of poking a hornets nest with a stick.

I'm extremely protective of our profession which as far as I'm concerned incorporates accountants and bookkeepers.

If you are ACCA until you have two years post qualification in a supervised role you are not allowed to practice as an accountant.

However, you are on a self employed basis allowed to offer bookkeeping services to trial balance, VAT and Payroll services.

Until in practice the ACCA does not cover you for MLR. However, ICB membership does which is why ACCA people have a second affiliation in order to get cheap PII and MLR cover.

I took the ICB level I and got 99% and got 98% in the level II. Both without any serious revision and using only ACCA texts to brush up before taking the exams.

What agrieves me about the ICB is that they moved the goalpost on members who were already in practice telling everyone that if they want to keep their existing status they have to pay for more exams.

We were told that in most cases this would not be necessary due to continued professional development but when I contacted them in relation to my other qualifications we got into all this rubbish about accountants not being able to do bookkeeping where quite obviously from my scores in the two exams that I had taken they are.

The ICB quote statistics about only 32% of accountants being able to pass the ICB entrance exam but they won't expand upon the detail of the statistics which pretty much makes them meaningless.

Anyway, welcome to the forum and I hope that we can move forwards on better terms that the last couple of exchanges.

kind regards,

Shaun.

RobH · Expert

Well said Shaun...now go to bed!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Evening Rob,

your a fine one to talk... You've got MLR CPD in the morning.

Excellent message on networking that you posted on Carol's thread.

Have a good one matey,

Shaun.

-- Edited by Shamus on Tuesday 23rd of March 2010 12:14:34 AM