You've probably been asked these questions, or variations on them, a thousand times, yet I can't see the information clearly in this forum (though I am sure it's here somewhere!)
Although employed in another career at present, I'm looking to turn my hand to book-keeping. I don't want to be an accountant, chartered or management, and am a bit bemused with all the professional bodies, e.g. ICB, IAB, etc.....and whether I should follow the ACCA route to be a Certified Accounting Technician instead.
What's the difference? Is there one? Or is it more a matter of focus and direction between the CAT/ACCA route, and the book-keeping route(s)? is the ACCA a route through to accountancy proper, or am I missing a trick here?
Any help/information/overviews gratefully received Thank you Ullinis
sorry, your message contradicts slightly in that you state that you do not want to become and accountant but then indicate that you are looking for a route into "proper accountancy"? Please could you clarify as the advice needs to be quite different dependant upon what you are looking to achieve.
CAT is an excellent qualification in it's own right regardless of whether or not you use it go go on to study the professional ACCA qualification for which you will be given exemption from the first three papers (F1, F2 and F3) for passing CAT. However, if your intention was always to go onto ACCA then why not just miss out CAT and go straight to that via the MSER.
beware that dependant upon the route you choose there will be restrictions as to the services that you are actually allowed to offer.
CAT is the ACCA sponsored equivalent of AAT. The two used to be very much on par but in the eye's of employers AAT seems now to be the one of preference. That's no reflection on CAT which is an excellent qualification and every bit as good as AAT, it's just an observation from job add's and speaking with various managers.
If it was just bookkeeping that you were trying to pick up there are numerous other options such as IAB, ICB, Open University, AAT ABC (that's not AAT!), Sage qualification, etc.
The full AAT qualification is to my belief the only one where you have to have a training provider. For others such as ICB, CAT, IAB, CIMA, ACCA you can learn from the books in your own time and sit the exams when you feel ready.
As always I would advise that if you are considering this move you first purchase a couple of books rather than invest in the courses. As I've mentioned in another post. Some take to this, others never quite fully understand it. Best you find out whether it's for you with a £20 investment rather than finding out that it isn't after investing considerably more.
Two good books to get you started are Mastering Accounting skills by margaret Nicholson and Matering Book-keeping skills by Dr Peter Marshall. You should be able to get both from Amazon for under £20.
There have been several recent threads on this site in a similar vein to this one. Have a look at this thread :
This is a bit of a generic catch all answer. Please reply with specifics and confirmation of intent and we'll dig out further details specific to your requirements.
Good luck in whatever your chosen path.
kind regards,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Welcome to the site, I too was like you a bit frustrated by the nighmare of choosing a training provider, its not always about price, check out my other postings on this subject. I have put many hours into studying each training provider and for me one comes out head and shoulders above the rest. Training Link www.training-link.co.uk
I was very impressed with them but I have gone down AAT route and they dont provide that yet. Anyway give them a look, and good luck in making your decison.
It is very confusing ICB,IAB,AAT,CAT,ACCA,CIMA. What you have to remember they are bodies
so you have
ICB vs IAB Book-keeping CAT vs AAT Accountant technician ACCA vs CIMA -- these are for accountants
But if you dont want to go into being an accountant than look at ICB OR IAB, However if you want to get employed rather than self employed they prefer you to have AAT more regonised in the field form what i gather.
I too am making the descion and have spent hours upon hours searching for the best school to go to and the course to go for. I have decided on Kaplan distance learning and gaining the ICB 1 & 2 and computerized level 2.
It is tough choice when there is a lot of money at stake
