I have read a lot of the numerous posts about the 2 bodies as I am in a dilemma as to which one to sign up to. I started life training to be an ACA, but realised quite quickly that on the audits, it was the finance person's job who I normally had to liaise with at the companies, that I really wanted.
I then spent 15 plus years working as a Finance Manager with the company growing enormously in this time, gaining lots of experience. Then I left to look after my children and also helped a friend set up a business and am now their bookkeeper, on a self employed basis.
I really want to gain some qualifications to give me the abilitiy to move more into self employed bookkeeping. Originally, I looked at AAT, but the time to qualify, cost and the fact that I don't intend to move back into industry pointed me to IAB and ICB.
When I trawled through the 2 websites, there is such an amazing difference in information. With IAB the site seems very disjointed and unclear if trying to ascertain, price, examination centres and general syllabus information, yet the ICB is so clear. My mum is funding me and I can easily go through where it's available to sit the exam, what it entails, all costs very clearly marked to advise her.
However, from the posts on the forum, both bodies have a huge amount of support, but... if there are any niggles, it's about ICB. I don't think I have read one about IAB.
My question is, has anyone else found it difficult to gain basic information from the IAB website? Also, for my needs of self employment and my present working (part time with children at school) is the ICB just as good?
I have telephoned the IAB, and tried to ascertain some answers, but I really want to be able to answer them clearly myself, without getting caught out if something wasn't covered on the phone call...
Niggles about the ICB? Most of them seem to come from standards, and the fact the ICB changed its membership structure last year. However I am bias so might have missed some.
There are also very nice things about the ICB on here, I do find however that the ICB does seem to be talked about a lot more than the IAB, and that might have something to do with me being on here from time to time (although the IAB does have its representatives).
I am not sure I am the best person to compare (I work for the ICB), but in short, the IAB are older, the ICB is larger.
The ICB was formed 15 years ago by a group of staff, members, tutors and colleges who left the IAB/IFA to start another body and do things differently. They wanted bookkeeping to be a profession in its own right, recognised by accountants, government and the SMEs.
The ICB is now the largest bookkeeping body in the world and has a presense in 101 countries.
Because the ICB is larger I guess it means more people in the office to update the site?
However, both bodies are very friendly on the phone so by all means ring them up.
I would agree with you about the lack of information in the IAB website. I was thinking recently that the grass might be greener with IAB but trying to get information was like pulling teeth. Like yourself I picked up the phone but you don't want to have to do that everytime another question pops into your head.
For me a downside with ICB is their telephone support, I've used it a few times but never really seem to get an answer beyond "it depends", so I much prefer to ask questions here.
As far as I'm concerned IAB/ICB are a means to an end. They get you supervision for MLR, and either teach bookkeeping or provide a means to prove what you already know. Given that this was my requirement I simply went with the cheapest option.
I don't think either offer the support needed. New bookkeepers need a lot of help with marketing and advertising. The biggest type of advertising right now is social media, but as neither ICB or IAB have embraced this for themselves they can't help their members with it. This is blindingly obvious when only James is active here. I understand their main purpose is to promote bookkeeping and maintain standards, but if many of your members are self employed advertising becomes a major support requirement. The way I think about it is that you can be the best bookkeeper in the world, but if you can't attract clients that doesn't matter.
For me a downside with ICB is their telephone support, I've used it a few times but never really seem to get an answer beyond "it depends", so I much prefer to ask questions here.
The ICB started a program 6 months ago to boost telephone support. Any feedback is welcome and I will pass on your comments Kris if you don't mind.
The telephone support is used quite a bit (increasingly so), and so is considered by the ICB as doing a good job, as pretty much all the people who use it use it more than once (suggesting they are happy with the advice level). At membership meetings I like to check with people who have recently used it and nearly 100% of the time get good feedback.
Perhaps I could suggest to ICB tech support that we do a feedback questionnaire after calls? I contact Microsoft every now and then and I always get an online survey to do after I finish on the phone.
One thing the ICB does try and do is put the member through to the tech support person they last spoke to. This helps build familiarity and hopefully comfort in asking questions. However, you can ask to be put through to someone else if you found the person to be too vague maybe?
Let me start by explaining that we acknowledge that the IAB website has become outdated and is not as user friendly as many others.
We are in the process of having a brand new website built, it is in the development phase and we are hoping it will be live by the end of March. (Obviously this doesn't help you in the time being!) We have also decided to fully embrace social media and will have Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and LinkedIn Profiles. There is already an IAB Group on LinkedIn. We are also happy to receive suggestionss from bookkeeping professionals and students as to what they would like to see on our website.
With reference to Kris' comments previously, I do work for the IAB so I try not to get involved in discussions unless they are IAB specific and do not wish to appear biased. I also do not have time to sit and read every thread and every post on the site! (It may be construed by management as not best use of time). There is a lot of helpful information for Member's just starting in practice in the IAB Members' Handbook but this is on a section of the website which is for Members only as we see this as a benefit of membership.
Therefore, I would say that I consider both organisations to be fully professional and capable of supporting you in your chosen career path.
Thank you all for your replies... it's great to hear the IAB is updating their site and also how the ICB came into being. I hadn't really comprehended their size. As the ICB exam externally near me in several areas, I think my mind is made up and thank you for your comments.
I know you have made your mind up now, but just a small note; I have no regrets when I signed up to be a qualified bookkeeper and the organisation I wanted to be with.
I am with the ICB and have AICB CB. Cert after my name. I have recently studied for the Diploma in SA with Training-Link and I am now revising for the exam; to which I aim to take next month.
Most of them seem to come from standards, and the fact the ICB changed its membership structure last year. However I am bias so might have missed some.
