I am eager to start a book keeping course which will enable me to become an independant book keeper. IAB, ICB, AAT ? Which one to choose from and what's the cheapest route? Anyone with any advice on this please help ! Also would anyone know where can I access ICB exam papers apart from the official site? I am having problems with the shop download. Thanks .
In general terms IAB and ICB are very similar. AAT appears to cover the basics but also includes more 'accountancy' and requires you to work for 1 year before you obtain certification from them. The others don't have that restriction.
This sort of question comes up a lot on this forum. This forum thread is a good one and discusses your options in a lot of detail..................
Hi Peace, Yes, check out the other thread for some help on this matter.
Also, bookkeeping is like anything; you need the experience. Get yourself started on a course and then try and get practical experience from anywhere:- local practices, businesses, charities, clubs, associations etc. Essentially, bookkeeping is the same regardless of industry, although, there can be different "types" of transactions which is where the experience come in, for example in the Construction Industry.
I did the ICB but was already very experienced and simply just sat the exams but I also did AAT back in the 1990's. You also need to decide on how far into accountancy you want to go. Bookkeeping through ICB/AAT/IAB will only allow you to do bookkeeping so if you want to go into doing final accounts, tax returns etc, you will need something greater.
good advice as always but your last paragraph isn't actually correct.
at the later stages of the qualifications that you mention you can actually do final accounts.... Whether such should be allowed where people have not gone through the training of the accountancy bodies is another matter, but as a statement of fact full members of ICB, IAB and AAT can do final accountants for sole traders and limited companies.
In fact, one big bone of contention is the issue that MAAT MIPs are actually considered accountants and trade as such (so do final accounts, tax returns, etc.).
This whole issue caused me quite a bit of grief in that I was PQ ACCA and AICB. Because of my ACCA affiliation I was only allowed to do bookkeeping to trail balance which was severly at odds as to what I would be allowed to do under the ICB alone and considering the additional knoweldeg that I have you can imagine how that one grinds on you!
At AICB you are still pretty restricted but at MICB my understanding is that the shackles pretty much come off and the gap between bookkeeping and accountancy becomes a very grey area.
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.
Thanks Ray , David and Shaun for all the advice. I shall probably take ICB or IAB route and take it from there. I have spoken to a local Accountant who is happy to take me on as a volunteer on a once a week basis. So , fingers crossed that'll get my foot in the door!
