Did this not cover me? 'If not, can you explain the gaps in your work history in a way that doesn't make you look bad/paints you in a better light?' lol.
I had a recruitment agent say to me, if that's all you've got then that's all you've got. I think honesty is the way forward too, you only end up tying yourself in knots.
I would still include all my previous employment though. I still don't understand the thinking behind recruiters, i mean, a piece of paper decides whether or not they
talk to you even before deciding whether or not you would make a suitable candidate. It's a long drawn out way of picking the wrong person for the job if you ask me.
-- Edited by Spamkebab on Monday 15th of April 2013 03:55:25 PM
I have already sent the form for money laundering but I see on the buttom of the Bookeepers Network page that it says I also have to register as an agent for my clients.
Book-keepers setting up a new practice who wish to act for clients in their dealings with HM Revenue & Customs need to register as an approved agent, and obtain a unique agent code. HMRC will issue a unique agent code for each type of client you represent, e.g. Self-Assessment and Corporation Tax clients. New agent codes will be notified by letter.
Q: Do I have to register also as an agent for my clients with HMRC or is it just optional ?
Thank you !
Have a great day ! :)
Adrian
__________________
This is just my personal opinion. Advice should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
P.S. I only ride a motorbike because I want to dry my clothes faster
If you are only providing services to trail balance or you are working under an accountant and the client is registered to them then you don't need to register.
Also if the client files their own returns based from your input you don't need to register.
Where you need to be a registered agent is whereyou are representing the client to HMRC for which :
a) You need to be registered for the services that you provide (each service requires seperate registration such as VAT, Payroll, Corporation tax, etc.).
b) You need to send HMRC a 64-8 for each client that gives HMRC the clients permission to talk to you on their behalf.
generally it's a good idea to set yourself up as an agent even before you need to be so that everything is in place for when you do need to offer such services.
As an agent you also get the HMRC agent newletters which are quite useful.
HTH,
Shaun.
__________________
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.
Thank you Shaun, It is a great advice. At the moment I really do not know what to do, I have seen that there is so much information and so many procedures in place as to do a good quality accounts work. This means more years after the three years spending with the accountancy qualification that I have already done. More years to sacrifice and no guaranteed result. If my clients will be small companies, my wages will be close to minimum wage as I can`t charge too much as no one will buy my services; they will prefer to do them by themselves or a friend in order not to pay too much. Also the administrative work that have to be done and collecting the documents from them will take a lot of unpaid time. I do not know what to do, please if you can, give me some help and advice as I am really in a point where I feel that anything I have done by now was pointless.
Thank you very very much., Your advice is highly appreciated.
Best regards,
Adrian
__________________
This is just my personal opinion. Advice should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
P.S. I only ride a motorbike because I want to dry my clothes faster
there are no costs involved in becoming an agent so that's one small mercy.
Nothing that you have done to date has been a waste. Every minute of revision has probably without you even realising made you more employable.
The issue that you have is the old catch 22.
You can't find a job without experience and you can't gain experience without a job.
Your qualification will put you in a better position than someone without either qualifications or experience but you will in most instances fall behind those with experience and unfortunately in the current market there are a lot of them.
The way that many get around this is by working for themselves preparing the records of a few clients. This has a two fold effect :
1) If the business takes off which some do you are your own boos doing what you love.
2) If the business doesn't take off you have gained experience to support your qualifications which makes you more employable.
When you talk about unpaid time that perhaps is the wrong way to think of things. One way or another clients pay for your time. Be that by direct billing for time or adjustment of fee's to make up for non chargable time.
More often than not small clients tend to bring the work to me at their convenience rather than vice versa. Its the larger clients that expect you to go to their site and I find the larger ones tend to be less trouble when it comes to getting paid without questioning every minute invoiced (I'm very honest on that front and I think that the better clients tend to appreciate that very quickly).
Also, have you thought about temping? again you may need to get some relevant experience first but once you have you would be surprised how many businesses regard temp finance staff as a practical interview and temp roles very often turn into permanent ones.
Personally I've done two temp roles which I took to pick up new skills and was offered permanent employment in one of those. (and the other I walked away from as the highly skilled role that was portrayed by the agent proved to be a call centre arrangement).
Keep with it Adrian. You don't know where the big opportunity will come from yet but if you are persistant you have to remain positive that it will come.
kind regards,
Shaun.
__________________
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.
May I take the chance to really say a big thank you to Shaun and Neil. Should I consider the option to get a temporary/permanent position in order to build experience and also to make my own business on side ?
Thank you
Adrian
__________________
This is just my personal opinion. Advice should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
P.S. I only ride a motorbike because I want to dry my clothes faster
I have resigned on my last job and I do not have references apart from the termination letter that says: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your work at ..... Ltd over the past 3 months and wish you all the best in your future undertakings.
Is this a reference ? Could this help me on my future job application ? The fact that I have resigned from my first paid job in accounts after only 3 months could be regarded as negative ? I have gaps between jobs in accounts. Is this bad ?
Many thanks,
Adrian
__________________
This is just my personal opinion. Advice should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
P.S. I only ride a motorbike because I want to dry my clothes faster
Are the gaps between jobs in accounts filled by jobs in other areas? If not, can you explain the gaps in your work history in a way that doesn't make you look bad/paints you in a better light?
Is that all your letter says? if so it looks more like a handshake and goodbye than a reference.
Still, you have a letter showing 3 months work experience.
The gaps were filled by necessary work (to pay the rent) in other industries. I do not want to include them in the CV as this is not relevant work. I hope this is not a major downturn.
__________________
This is just my personal opinion. Advice should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
P.S. I only ride a motorbike because I want to dry my clothes faster
I would include them Adrian, to prove that you have always been employable no matter the nature of the job is far better than gaps in your CV. Try and polish the job titles up a bit, i was recently shown this trick for my CV.
For example, include a covering letter with your CV stating that you were taking short term roles to pay for your studies but now that you have finished your studies you are looking for a more permanent role.
The employment and study periods will overlap and fill the gaps with the exams that you took at those times.
For example :
Oct 10 - Jan 11 XYZ ltd
Jan 11 - Jun 11 AAT Personal and Corporate tax papers
Jun 11 - Oct 11 ABC ltd
Oct 11 - Mar 12 AAT financial reporting
The time devoted to quality qualifications can take all of the available down time.
When looking for work you need to be able to put a positive spin on any situation.
Sit down and list every question that you fear being asked at interview and think of a good response to it.
Do not lie as you will be found out but always ensure that you can spin any scenario in your favour.... And in the scenario that you describe you were studying and taking exams, not just having short roles then being unemployed.
HTH,
Shaun.
__________________
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.
Thank you Shaun, this is gold info ! I have just called HMRC and got a reply that it should be enough to register for money laundering and that if a client will want me to be their agent they have to state this. Maybe I did not dial the right number, as I was speaking with the lady from Money Laundering, maybe she does not know about registering as an agent thing.
I will dial a general HMRC number, maybe got another opinion.
Adrian
__________________
This is just my personal opinion. Advice should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
P.S. I only ride a motorbike because I want to dry my clothes faster
