Apart from the basic bookkeeping services, is there anything legally stopping me from performing the following services to clients:
Self assessment for taxi drivers? Management accounts service? Credit Contol and Management?
Sorry if this appears like a stupid question, just don't want to offer services that aren't legal for a bookkeeper or encroach on the work of local accountants (although hopefully i'll be one soon :) )
Thanks.
-- Edited by Bookkeeper4u on Monday 21st of March 2011 02:06:37 PM
Your ACCA status quite specifically forbids offering a Management accounts service.
Credit control should be ok but if you are managing a credit control function rather than just working in that environment under supervision then you really need to talk to the ACCA about any service that you are allowed (or not) to perform for clients.
Trust me, you'll find out over the next few phone calls to them just how restrictive student membership is. I even had to turn down an offer of employment from an accountant because they were only qualified by experience which is not sufficient in the eye's of the ACCA to qualify one to act in a supervisory role so a student accountant is not permitted to work for them.
The other really frustrating thing that you will find is that if you were less qualified you could quite happily offer more services. Wierd but true.
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.
That's an interesting point on the credit control and management Shamus.
Just to throw something out there which may or may not be applicable, if for example the work carried out was at the client premises, whereby all books and records are kept at the clients and I was to attend on "A Day" each week/month and whilst there I ran the aged creditors report and then chased my clients creditors (by letter/email/phone) on behalf of the client, would this fall under the Credit Control Function given that I would have nothing to do with setting creditors terms or doing credit checks etc...
Obviously its going to be different for students and fully qualified, but I find that this type of scenario may be common!!
Thanks for the reply. I find it strange how restrictive the ACCA student membership is with regards to offering services to clients. Surely their restrictive rules should only apply if your publicising your student membership, whereby it may have an effect on the ACCA's image if you make a mistake.
I think i might give them a call and double check. Just checked the student's rights and obligations on their website, gives the distinct impression they don't want you to work on your own until qualification (so much for the governments attempt to encourage us to be entrepreneurs).
I take it self assessment for taxi drivers would be forbidden too, although i know of alot of taxi drivers having their year end accounts certified by "accountants" with little/no professional qualifications. Strange world.
I do get the impression that there may in the rules be a certain element of ensuring that students don't muscle in on the work of members.
I can fully understand the ACCA stance but do find it frustrating where we are put at a disadvantage by trying to do things properly... Or one version of properly anyway.
Just one of those idiosyncracies that we have to live with and work around.
Would be very interested to know what the ACCA have to say to you though. Good luck with the phone call,
kind regards,
Shaun.
__________________
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.
Tried calling the ACCA earlier this afternoon, but gave up after I was put on hold for what seemed like an eternity. Oh well, I think i'll just have to work around the ACCA regulations at the moment or maybe get creative with the bookkeeping business and work as an employee rather than an owner.
