Im in my final year of AAT and am fully versed in Sage line 50 as well as other accounting systems. All my work experience is in industry, i do all my companys accounts except for year end as we outsource to an accountant.
How would i go about becoming self employed? what would i have to do and would i have the experience ?
I know nothing about what to do next, and obviously need a job in practice to eventually become an accountant, but theres none out there at the minute x
It sounds like that exam wise that your within a year of passing your AAT exams and could then use the letters MAAT, once you have your experience in industry verified. If you cannot get the required experience, it appears to becoming more common to work for free for a period, like I did, to get signed off.
In terms of getting started, I think the sister website of this forum provides a good quick overview, the link is below.
The next stage of research would be to look into Marketing your business. There are endless posts on this and other forums on how to gain clients, so have fun exploring these.
I hope this provides a starting point for you.
Ben
-- Edited by woody88 on Sunday 30th of October 2011 09:46:48 AM
Perhaps if you cannot get your experience verified via the AAT try the ICB?
Sounds like with your qualifications and experience you could join the ICB as a Certified Bookkeeper, the ICB would then help you set up self employed.
Alternatively contact the AAT and see if they can find you some work experience to do.
You have a head start on others coming to the last lap on their exams in that your work is known to the accountant who finalises the company accounts. Introduce yourself and ask if they have any work they would consider handing to you. They may also know of other accountants who could use your services and perhaps mentor you through the somewhat different challenges faced by the self employed bookkeeper.
There's an excellent blog here from PDM who is setting up in business:
