I took my first job after qualifying at Level 2 bookkeeping in February and the role specification stated credit control, invoicing, petty cash and liaising with the current external bookkeepers, who ask me to maintain the cash books.
Increasingly I am being asked to prepare data for share issues and EIS and was called in on extra hours today to prepare for an R & D tax credit claim.
I have always been a realistic and a believer that you start at a basic level and build up your skills, but I feel alot of what they are asking me to do is for higher qualified bookkeeprs or even accountants. My confidence is in major free fall and I am now wondering if Tesco check outs is a better option. Are the tasks they are asking me to do the role of a bookkeeper at my level?
These additional duties to me appear to be outside of those required of a bookkeeper. If you are self employed you should have a letter/terms of engagement or if you are an employee you should have a job description both of which would state what you are required to carry out in your role as bookkeeper.
I know that it might be difficult to say it to your client/employer but if you do not feel comfortable carrying out these tasks then you should say so because if you don't do them well or properly your client/employer will think that it is you who will be at fault for doing them incorrectly not them for asking you to do something that you are not qualified/confident to do.
Don't give it up because in the end you will get much more job satisfaction from being a bookkeeper than you would at Tesco's, we all go through crises in confidence.
I am employed as I thought this was a sensible route to take in order to gain experience. My job description is very vague and there is always the good old sentance which states "any other duties".
I am tempted to hand my notice in and take my chances as I worry that rather than give me experience it is wrecking any confidence and enjoyment I did have. Its the old money issue and need to earn a wage which is making me hang on in.
If the consensus is that is beyond a bookkeepers role unless otherwise specified in a contract , it gives me the impetetus to perhaps tell them that
Whilst it is difficult to advise anyone what they should do, please try to take the confidence in doing your bookkeeping well (ie, credit control, petty cash, maintenance of cashbboks)this way you will know that you are still doing something within your job really well. And for the other tasks look upon them as training which may come in handy later on.
Good luck and don't give up
Please let us know how you get on or ask if you need any further help or support
Having done R&D claims in the past would say that these are beyond the typical remit of a bookkeeper. But they arent rocket science and being the bookkeeper you may be the best placed person to complete given you knowledge on the costs incurred and the projects undertaken.
Might make sense for you to complete then get your employer's accountant to look over to see if all makes sense. Would work out cheaper than if the accountant did it from scratch.
Whilst I have tried to look upon it as a training opportunity, they have asked me not to speak with the external bookkeepers or the accountants as its the old scenario of " each time they speak to you its extra money on the bill".
They have been asking me to gather facts for the supporting evidence. Whilst I agree you have to have an overall understanding of the Company and what they do & provide, the details are beyond me. I have said that the technical director really should be stating why the work is new and resolving a technical uncertainty!
Thanks everyone. I think I need to be putting feelers out for other work which is more the day to day bookkeeping. I dont enjoy feeling so out my depth.At least I have a bit more to put on a CV though!!
Hi, sorry i can't be of technical help, as i've rarely been involved in EIS. As a last ditch attempt at keeping your job and sanity, is it worth posting an anonymous question on accounting web or taxation web. You never know, it might solve the problem. Prob a good idea to be up-front about the awkward position in which you've been placed. best wishes Tim
