I have been reading this forum for a few years now and am delighted that like minded people offer such great advice to other bookkeepers, it is by far the best forum I have come across!
I have, after many years contemplating it, decided to go it alone after being made redundant in July.
I qualified with the IAB back in 2009 and have registered as a member with them. I am also covered with them for money laundering. I have my PII insurance in place. Is there anything I am missing?
I would like to further my knowledge in self assessments and have done lots of research on the HMRC website. I know there is a course that the ICB doing for self assessments which I would love to take but as I qualified with the IAB I don't think it's possible. Anyone know of any other courses in this subject I could take?
I have contacted a few accountants and yesterday spoke to a lovely man who asked if I was going to be at the networking meeting this morning at 6am (so early!!). I couldn't attend because it was too late for my husband to take the morning off work to look after the children and get them to nursery. He was quite eager to meet me so I told him I wouldn't be able to attend the meeting and asked if I should forward my details onto him anyway. He said yes so I did. haven't heard from him yet to confirm he had received my e-mail. Do you think I should follow this up in the next weeks and give him another call? I don't know how the networking meetings work but he said that I should go because they are looking for bookkeepers. Not sure if he was referring to himself or people he knew at the meeting?
Can someone shed some light on what happens at these meetings? I would love to go as I know they will get my name known and possibly lead onto some clients but I'm nervous about going!!!
-- Edited by KBS on Wednesday 9th of October 2013 09:42:01 PM
It sounds like a BNI meeting, I have never been to one but Gary on here belongs to it so I will leave it up to him to enlighten you.
Follow up the accountant and phone him to ask if he as received your email and say that due to the fact you couldn't meet up at the networking meeting how about meeting up for a coffee or offer to have a meeting at his office, this is just to really introduce yourself and see what he looks like!
I network with accountants and it is definately paying off.
pretty sure that any of the ICB training companies would be more than happy to sell your the course without having to be linked to the ICB or take their exam... In fact, pretty sure that the exam is an additional cost to the course anyway.
Rather than that though have you thought about using your IAB qualification to progress to FTA?
Whilst the exams are not just about self assessment they will put the components of self assessment into the context of general tax knowledge... Actually, thinking about it I'm now almost selling myself on that idea rather than ATT as tax CPD.
Just a thought,
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.
Thank you all for your input. I phoned the Ideal School and they have said that I can take the course but would have to speak to ICB to take the exam. I know I would have to go through the exemption process for this and don't want to upset IAB but would be happy just to have the knowledge and not the qualification. The IAB directed me to the local bookkeeper who don't have any planned courses as far as I can see.
Shamus, I haven't heard of FTA so looked it up. Is this to become more of a tax advisor? I would be really interested in going down that route so will look into it, thank you.
Amanda, I'm glad you replied about the network meeting. It was the BNI. I rang the venue up just to make sure it was 6am and not 6pm as I would have definitely attended the evening one. If you don't go to networking meetings, how do you "network" with accountants? i will be giving the accountant I mentioned a call early next week to invite him for a coffee or ask to pop into his office to meet hi. The thing I worry about is I look quite young and wouldn't want him not to take me seriously! I also get a bit tongue tied when nervous but I suppose this is something I will need to get over!
I have been reading HMRC website for a while now. I tend to spend my whole evening on there researching! Do you think looking at the website and doing my research on their would be sufficient or will the course give me something else? Are there any books I can pop to the library to borrow that you recommend?
I have been reading HMRC website for a while now. I tend to spend my whole evening on there researching! Do you think looking at the website and doing my research on their would be sufficient or will the course give me something else? Are there any books I can pop to the library to borrow that you recommend?
Why not order the tax courses from one of the professional bodies?
I order ICAS's TPC tax module each year to refer to for the basics. But sure others such as ACCA and ICAEW would be just as good. (Just order ICAS one as reminds me of many happy hours study - not!!!)
Also use HMRC website on a regular basis as well as using Abbey Tax Protection tax helpline for more complex issues (which I can access as offer Tax Investigation Insurance cover through them).
Thinking of joining ICPA as they give a lot of benefits that I could use (they also have a tax helpline through QDOS)
Shame I didn't' see this earlier... lol. Sounded just like a BNI meeting!! lol
KBS, BNI is good, its works for me BUT it really is you get out of it what you put into it! WE get people come along and last 1-2 months pay the 600 quid fees then leave saying it hasn't worked for me! I suggest rather than you jumping into BNI, if your not used to networking, is go to cheaper, free'er options. Just Google 'networking events (your town)' You'll find plenty trust me! For the beginner, BNI can be quite intense... I'm in (name drop here...) the LARGEST chapter in the UK... we found out the other week, with 50 members! Myself and the accountant work very well, i pass him any Ltd company enquires i get and i get some bookkeeping work from him where the client doesn't want to pay £30per hour plus for his bookkeeping services.
If you want any more advice on it, just drop me a line! ;)
