I studied with ICB as a professional bookkeeper and hence I know what the ICB expects of me and the rules they have in place, but I am curious what would of happened if I had studied with the IAB? What are the differences between the two professional bodies, apart from the ICB giving initals after your name once you have pass a particular qualification, I would like to know what good aspects the IAB has and also their worst aspects if they have any.
Once again, this is just out of curiosity, and the feedback I get I can ascertain if I made the right choice by going with the ICB when the HLC introduced me to bookkeeping.
They are very similar although I do feel that the ICB is now doing more to drive the profession forwards.
The ICB was born out of the IAB with Gary Carter leaving to set up his own institution.
I get the impression when it comes to professional bodies that they are not very forgiving of anyone changing the status quo so the ICB really has to be commended for not just surviving but thriving.
There are close links between the IAB and IFA which makes it somewhat easier to move to an accountancy qualification (although officially the ties were actually severed in 2009).
Also the IAB qualification is recognised for exemptions by the other accountancy bodies where the ICB one is currently not although as it grows bigger and stronger I am sure that will change.
I don't feel that the ICB was a mistake for you but conversely the training company concerned was unlikely to highlight all of the alternatives if they were not going to make money out of such advice.
If you gained full ICB I believe that the IAB is still offering an amnesty if you wanted to transfer to their membership which as I say could then lead on to IFA.
That said, as a bookkeeping qualification ICB and IAB are really considered at the same level and the exemptions are more down to negotiation of the bodies than contents of their exams.
All in all the IAB has the wisdom of age (born 1973) and the ICB has the enthusiasm of youth (born 1996). Neither to my mind is better or worse than the other. So your decision even with limited information to make it, was actually fine.
hope that makes you feel better that you did the right thing,
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.
Hi James, I'm not sure what you say is 100%correct, although as you are speaking about your father I would have thought you knew more about the truth of what happened. (Or are you like my my stepdaughters, who had rewritten history about their father & mother about their divorce and it was only when at a family event, the dates of various things where being discussed, it was realised there were a number of untruths that were being banded about between them and others!)
I wasn't there when this all happened but from the people I know who were, I don't remember any of them mentioning that it was a group of people - just your father. Next time I see them I'll ask them (although it will be a while because I am going on a well earned holiday this weekend for a couple of weeks and will not exactly hurry to find out!), but then I have to remember to ask, as I tend to have more important things to discuss with them.
-- Edited by YLB-HO on Thursday 13th of September 2012 06:27:59 PM
Pretty much hit the nail on the head there Shaun, but thought I would be picky on your line "The ICB was born out of the IAB with Gary Carter leaving to set up his own institution."
It was a group of people made up of some tutors, training providers and the President of the IAB at the time, who felt the IAB was being run as a stepping stone to the IFA, rather than supporting bookkeeping as a career and profession in itself.
Garry Carter at the time was an external consultant to the IFA/IAB regarding events/publications and was approached by the group (because of his enthusiasm for bookkeeping) to help setup another body that would be independant of accountant bodies to support the bookkeeping profession in its own right.
Garry was made CEO of the new body, that quickly became an Institute thanks to the support from the then Chairman of the Board of Trade (then Department of Trade and Industry, now BIS) Michael Hesseltine, and shortly afterwards was Certified.
Since then the ICB has always concentrated on supporting bookkeepers and the profession. Because of this it has grown to become the largest bookkeeping body in the world, and I feel that we at the ICB are all passionate about our work, and that bookkeepers are becoming more respected for the work that they do.
It has only been 15 years but I feel that we are getting there, with the help and support of good members who are out there at the 'coal face'.
I would just like to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to my post. The differences between the two professional bodies is interesting. Thanks again.
To begin with the ICB was going to put people through IAB qualifications, as was only going to represent bookkeepers in industry, after qualifications.
However, the IAB refused to work with them, so the ICB set up their own qualifications.
