Hello all, I'm asking for advice as I'm feeling a little frazzled
I started from the very beginning when I decided to pursue a career as a Bookkeeper, and completed Level 1 Basic Manual Bookkeeping under the ICB.
From there I could see from the Job advertisements, that they require Bookkeepers who are proficient with Sage. So as much as I could see the benefits of Manual Bookkeeping knowledge, I chose the Level 1 City & Guilds in Computerised Accounts (Sage) over continuing onto Level 2 Manual Bookkeeping.
After passing the Sage course I looked again at the Job advertisements, they mostly by this point were all asking for Bookkeepers qualified in AAT. I am now half way through Level 2 AAT in Accounting, and plan to progress right through to (hopefully) pass Level 4. If any jobs come up before then, then great.
But I have always preferred the idea of being freelance personally, purely because I am a mother who wants to be as close to home as possible most of the time and it offers the flexibility of working my own hours. I generally spend my evenings flicking through the television channels doing nothing, If I worked my own hours I could those evenings to much better use. especially if my daughter has been home unwell from school etc, means I can just collect her from school straightaway and I'm home to cook dinner etc.
But there are things which hold me back from freelance, firstly it seems such a competitive industry, and even after 2.5 more years to the very end of the AAT, will still leave me not as qualified as my ACCA/ ACA fellow Bookkeepers, so finding the clientele, will prove challenging indeed. And with my family relying on me to make a steady income, it doesn't make me feel as confident as I should feel about it.
Secondly, I have heard comments from other Bookkeepers and Accountants about these people who do a course and jump in way too quickly, they fill clients books with many mistakes which have to be fixed by whoever picks up the pieces. Amateurs causing mayhem so it seems, resulting in irritated accountants and disgruntled clients. I don't want to be an add-on to that statistic.
So, would the way forward be, to go into a company as a low level/ trainee to get some experience as I study? (That's if I can find a low level vacancy that doesn't require a Level 4 AAT applicant)
sure that its been a while since anyone not trying to sell you something told you this but you are doing all of the right things in the right way. Well done to you.
Welcome to the forum. There's a good mix here from QBE's to ACA's with every flavour in between including IAB, ICB, IFA, ACCA, etc.
You've hit the nail on the head with issues the accountants have been having with the work of some bnookkeepers that has resulted in the bits of paper people hold meaning little compared to prior experience of the work output of those bookkeepers.
There is nothing to compare to experience for finding work but there lies a catch 22 in that you cannot get the experience without working in practice and you cannot get to work in practice unless you have the experience.
The door left slightly ajar into the industry is to gain knowldge by working with micro businesses by doing their books on a self emplotyed basis. There is another problem buried in there in that small businesses do not want bookkeepers, they want cheaper accountants. (its only at medium sized businesses that the two roles start to become seperated).
A bookkeepers work ends at trial balance but clients need people to prepare and file accounts and tax calculations.
Of course, because the clients are looking for full service arrangements some bookkeepers offer to do the work even when such is beyond their skill level and too often disasters result.
That is not to say that many bookkeepers are not competent at producing the accounts of small and micro businesses but those that are not tend to paint us all with the same brush in the eye's of accountants and the general public.
Going down the AAT route you are actually becoming an entry level accountant. Don't worry that there are some that are ACCA. They may have greater depth of detail but you should still know all of the base information that you need to work in the SME sector.
Everything changes at level IV which is a big step in complexity. Once you have completed that you will feel as though you have earned your stripes and you will know that you can do a good job for clients.
Accountancy practices know that and doors will start to open at level IV that are closed to you up to then.
That said, getting your foot in the door in quite a crowded market is not easy but unlike some other qualifications at least your CV will be getting past the agents.
To enhance your prospects you could try temping, doing the bookkeeping for family and freinds, etc. All of which will help you gain experience.
Also try to learn some other accounting packages such as Quickbooks, Kashflow, Xero, VT, etc. and ensure that you know Excel to an advanced level as such is a given even when not in the job ad.
The key is to get that AAT level IV plus a bit of experience under your belt.
As I say though. There is no guarantee of employment but you are doing all the right things to put yourself in the best position possible.
Good to have you on the site Ally and looking forwards to reading your ongoing trials and tribulations as you get from here to the position that you want.
kindest 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.
You certainly have been round the block in terms of qualifications, but one thing you are doing right is actually working toward that qualification. I wish you well with your continued study and future career.
Despite regulation changes, unfortunately, there is still an element of bookkeepers in practice that have not taken the time to get properly qualified and have no access to support services from qualification bodies, such as ICB. From my own experience, those who put in time and effort into training, and make use of available support, actually go out and do an excellent job. This is one aspect that has put you off branching out on your own as a bookkeeper, but it neednt have. Yes, there is competition, but there is competition in every job vacancy and its about you having the confidence in your ability to grab any available opportunity.
There is no doubt that the AAT qualification you are studying toward is very highly respected and, as Shaun has stated, this acts as an entry level qualification to higher level accountancy qualifications. However, until you gain a level of experience they will not permit you to operate on your own as a bookkeeper. Actually, if you had continued with your original ICB study you would have gained an excellent level of qualification, aimed at you offering a comprehensive bookkeeping service, including the completion of final accounting reports. You would also have gained Sage knowledge as this is the standard software used by the training companies. Maybe not too late to switch back if you have your heart set on self-employment as a bookkeeper.
Whatever your future holds I wish you every success and hope that you can benefit from the vast experience available within this forum .
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