Its my first post - sorry its a long one - hope someone can give me some advice.
After 20 years as a local government officer I am looking to change careers.
My job is disappearing and its given me the kick I need to do what I really want which is to retrain in the book-keeping/accounting field.
I was thinking of training in AAT as I could probably qualify and have my own book-keeping business in 3 - 5 years from now.
However, I was hoping I could get some advice............
1.) Would my age go against me? I'll be in my late 40s. 2.) What hourly rate could I realistically expect (employed/ self-employed) (North West England) 3.) The AAT requires you to train with a firm for 1 year (I think) before you can qualify. At that point I would probably be earning min wage. I'm on the equivalent of around £15/hour at the moment. Is there any way to avoid this drop in income?
Sorry for asking so much on my first post.
Ray
-- Edited by Ray2000 on Tuesday 8th of February 2011 08:35:00 AM
-- Edited by Ray2000 on Tuesday 8th of February 2011 06:26:29 PM
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.................just an ICB student, at the moment.
I took the plung in 2009 and sold my business to embark into book-keeping. I am just completing my AAT diploma (Hopefully in July) and have set up a small book-keeping business whilst working part time as a Finance Officer. I am alo based in the North West. If you are considering AAT, they offer advise an being a student operating as a book-keeper and you can be a MIP, but with restrictions. I have to be honest here and say it is a very difficult time at the moment. I am finding that £10 - £13 an hour for BASIC book-keeping is not unusual. By that I mean up to TB, not tax returns or Management accounts etc. Having said that I am only just establishing myself and the more experienced book-keepers will tell you you do need to charge a minimum of £15 to cover insurance,ML,softwear food for family!! Keep posting and good luck, Tony.
Have you thought about distance learning? You could start your study while you are still at your work, and complete the examinations on the evenings or weekends.
You could either setup without AAT and just register with HMRC to setup your own business (I don't recommend that I always recommend a professional body ) or could try ICB.
I am quite surprised at £10-£13 per hour, I would have thought you could charge more than that after qualifying and getting insurance etc etc.
Couldn't agree with James more on £10-£13 but I haven't completed my AAT yet and desperately need the experience!!I am getting more picky now though, looking at the work I am taking over. Regards, Tony.
I truly recommend AAT, if you become part-qualified then that would be more than adequate.
You can study AAT by long-distance or at part-time college. Nowadays AAT offers more detailed information on subjects that have been covered for years.
In my class there have always been a mixture of older and younger people. I'm not sure if all colleges will be the same but I wouldn't worry about your age you'd be surprised at how many older people are studying AAT. There are no school leavers on my course either and never have been really. I'm not sure if the college deals with them seperately and younger people are more likely to do the day courses than the evening ones.
Yes I was going to try and do AAT while I'm still working (or ICB perhaps).
That means when my job comes to an end towards the end of this year I might have completed Level 2 and some of Level 3. Does that mean that I could start earning £10.00 - £13.00 / hour working in an accountants firm?
-- Edited by Ray2000 on Tuesday 8th of February 2011 06:59:11 PM
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.................just an ICB student, at the moment.
If you can find self employed work from accountants ie Their bin bag jobs or book-keeping work they may not want to do, then you will get better money than hoping one will employ you, and not to forget that accountants often have their own book-keepers/trainees . Perhaps you could do some networking with local firms to see if there may be any call for this? As stated before,you need some practical experience on bank rec. have you any actual book-keeping experience yet?
I'm finishing my AAT at Kaplan in Liverpool and there were a lot of people younger than myself (I'm 45) but some around my age, it hasn't been an issue to me!
Yes, I was a 'trainee accountant' for about 18 months in the 1980s but gave it up for the exciting (and better paid) world of working for the council. I was studying for ACCA at the time but gave it up before the exams. Now I wish I'd stuck with it - older and wiser! :(
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.................just an ICB student, at the moment.
) or could try ICB.
