Looks like 13k per annum without children would get me an additonal £10 per week, wouldn't cover bus fares if i am expected to accept offers (according to directgov) within a 15 mile radius.
I have read your reply and still think that £13,000 for a bookkeeper is disgraceful..... Whether they are aspiring to get a practicising certificate or are just a bookkeeper ( and are happy that way I might add, not everyone choses to carry on) the job is still for a bookkeeper and they should pay the going rate. I think it says a lot about a company when they pay low wages like that .
Best wishes
Georgie
PS Would love to know who gets the job and how they get on.
This is what a forum (this forum anyway) is all about, open discussion and then a solid agreement to disagree. I can tell by your posts that you value the work a bookkeeper does and that they merit appreciation and recognition for such work.
On the other hand, from Shauns posts i can tell that such a position as the one offered shall be treated by certain bookkeepers and accounts assistants as a "foot in the door" or "the next rung on the ladder"
The forum is the fence, we choose upon which side we consider the most comfortable to sit.
This is what a forum (this forum anyway) is all about, open discussion and then a solid agreement to disagree. I can tell by your posts that you value the work a bookkeeper does and that they merit appreciation and recognition for such work.
On the other hand, from Shauns posts i can tell that such a position as the one offered shall be treated by certain bookkeepers and accounts assistants as a "foot in the door" or "the next rung on the ladder"
The forum is the fence, we choose upon which side we consider the most comfortable to sit.
On the other hand, from Shauns posts i can tell that such a position as the one offered shall be treated by certain bookkeepers and accounts assistants as a "foot in the door" or "the next rung on the ladder"
The forum is the fence, we choose upon which side we consider the most comfortable to sit.
Do you ever watch Merlin on BBC1? There are moments when arthur realises how wise Merlin actually is. This was definitely one of those moments young Padawan.
Your completely right, I see bookkeeping as a stepping stone rather than an end in itself.
Actually, maybe stepping stone is the wrong metaphore. A more appropriate one might be the back door of the old boys club left slightly ajar by mistake and tikes like us are sneaking in before anyone realises the mistake.
Thats why I worry about the ICB's campaign to get bookkeeping recognised and protected as if they did then the accountancy bodies would do the same and in a carve up of what various people can and cannot do I know which group would end up with all of the good bits!
The Japanese admiral in charge of bombing pearl harbour (Isoroku Yamamoto) famously said "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve".
I think that would be the issue if the bookkeeping profession keeps prodding the accountancy one with a pointy stick to see if it is sleeping!
And that was absolutely nothing to do with this thread... So far I've managed to incorporate Harry Potter, Merlin and Bombing Pearl Harbour into this thread whilst never going too far off peist!
Then again, you went Dusty Springfield on us so I don't expect too much proverbial taking for my meanderings.
P.S. If only the grass wasn't always much greener on the other side to where one is sitting!
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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.
Lol Steve, i suppose someone needs to sit atop the fence to tell us exactly what is happening on the other side, to stir it up as it were.
But when your mum shouts you in for tea which side would you get down on?
Neil
The side where my house is, it would be pointless getting down on the other side, then I would have an excuse as to why I'm there beyond opinion so I could still claim fence status regardless of not sitting on it anymore.
It brings to my mind that the real difference here is 'fair' and 'the market'.
The market may be £13k pa (without scrolling back to check), it doesn't mean it is a fair wage. The two are different arguments.
Whether they get someone for that £13k is the market whether or not it is fair.
If they did, it wouldn't be fair.
To my mind, it's the experienced part that smells a rat. Getting the 2 years post qual experience by definition means the person is not experienced doesn't it? I have no problems with someone giving a keen young person who is good at figures and can learn quickly a job and an opportunity at that wage and in that area. There aren't many jobs going. It doesn't look like that is what is on offer though.
Telling no-one has popped up from the company either, regardless of our thread subject meanderings. Post and run isn't polite.
Getting the 2 years post qual experience by definition means the person is not experienced doesn't it?
Not necessarily.
imagine a scenario where someone has worked their way up to working in an quite senior accounting role in practice after 20 years with a chartered or chartered certified firm.
They then do the exams to gain chartered status but before they can set up on their own they must do a further two years post qualification before they will be allowed a practicing certificate from their supervisory body.
Membership is slightly different to a practice certificate in that you need three years experience fully signed off but that can be gained whilst training rather than after qualification.
In my case I have more than three years signed off experience in relevant roles and could go straight to membership (rather than sitting in affiliate purgatory) but would still need to work for someone else for a further two years to get a practice certificate.
So, as you see, having experience doesn't equate to having experience that counts which is quite different.
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.
I suspect that salaries in Somerset are like those up here in Yorkshire ie low. Unless one gets a job in the public sector - local government, nhs, police, fire and, believe it or not the voluntary sector who use public sector pay bands (with the associated flexitime, six months sickness on full pay - seen as extra holiday and a target to be achieved, index linked pension, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays rising to 30 after five years, etc, etc,) £13 to £16K would be seen as a reasonable starting wage. The government's new benefit capped so called average earnings of £35K before tax is an unachievable dream as the average is more like £20K.
Shaun said: Been there, done that, got the T shirt, writing the book. Fed up to the back teeth of people who talk and talk and talk and never do a damn thing but try to find a way of claiming the glory from those who do actually do something.
Me too. It's amazing the number of highly paid people who actually do nothing but talk and take holidays!!! Whilst those lower down the food chain come up with the ideas and take them forward.
I am reading this, not been posting recently as been busy.
I don't think getting the term bookkeeper protected will happen just because of the ICB. I think some bodies have been trying to protect the term accountant for much longer, and the ICB is just tagging on in case it goes through and they can try and protect the term bookkeeper.
