Can i be self employed bookkeeper/accountant? - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

nicd1981 · Veteran Member

Can i be self employed bookkeeper/accountant?

Peaman · Veteran Member

You can register as a MIP with the AAT and they can also be your money laundering officer.

You will need to tell the AAT what services you will be offering under your license (i.e. personal tax, VAT, CT, PAYE etc.) and provide them with evidence of experience in these areas. In my situation this was easy as I had just spent 2 years qualifying for ATT, so they accepted this as my work experience in all the services that I wanted to offer.

Do you have any experience preparing SA, CT & VAT returns? I worked in practice for many years and prepared hundreds of accounts, tax returns etc. before I felt confident enough to go it alone.

I wouldn't worry about preparing manual payroll, I haven't done this for years.

Best of luck!

nicd1981 · Veteran Member

Hi Register,
I am hoping to send of my MIP form this week just need a prof ref, and haven't approached my boss yet.
I work as a management accountant and am still studying CIMA so I assume ill pass the experience side.
I carry out the month end of all 3 companies where I work, process the payroll and the vat returns. Never done a self assessment and the payroll company sends over the PAYE to us.
I am planning however on taking a short payroll course, hoping this will help teach me manual side of payroll, I did do some in AAT but too long ago now for me to actually think I can do this. In the mean time though I wont offer the service, ill just get some payroll software.
What is CT?
I Registered my self for self employment yesterday, although I haven't got any clients yet, and I'm planning on still being full time employed where I am for at least the next 18 months or so, I'm studying CIMA so need to qualify, and if I'm not employed I wont be able to do that.
How can I gain more experience in self assessment etc without actually working in practice? I did try and get voluntary work when I was studying AAT and no one would give me a chance, I was too old! (I was 27)
Nic x

Peaman · Veteran Member

Sorry, CT stands for Corporation Tax.

I don't see why you need to do a payroll course, nobody does manual payroll anymore, just get some payroll software (i.e. Moneysoft) and it will do everything for you. If you have been processing payroll then you will have the experience to be able to offer the service to your clients.

I have little knowledge of what the training for the CIMA qualification involves, but if you are planning on working for yourself you may be better off training for the ATT exams. They provide you with a lot more practical training for SA, VAT, CT, PAYE etc. than the AAT does.

Whilst you are still training make sure you get registered with HMRC as an agent for SA, VAT, PAYE & CT as this can take some time.

I think you need to keep trying getting some voluntary work in an accountancy practice. Most practices don't like to take on inexperienced workers as they know they will have to spend time training you up. Try the AAT forum or AWeb and call any local AAT MIPs.

You are not too old, I didn't start in accountancy until I was 25!

HendyPhilhendy · Guru

Hi Nicola

The Member in Practice for AAT is a great way to get started and you are able to start your business with that. The CIMA qualification could depend how far through you are as to how much you may want to continue.

I offer a mentoring service and can certainly help with some of your questions. Check out the website and our Facebook page. you can also follow on twitter @accountsmentor

Feel free to give me a call on 01380 860151.

Phil

matt123 · Senior Member

Does CIMA have any restrictions with regards to practising whilst completed the qualification? (Like ACCA Reg. 8)

nicd1981 · Veteran Member

Hey

No restrictions from CIMA
as long as im MAAT / MIP I will be covered for money laundering regs
and I am waiting on HMRC as I have registered myself self employed, although I don't like my name lol
Nic x

kris1985 · Newbie

If you love meeting people , are interested in working with small businesses, want to work from home and be part of a great brand, why not consider running a bookkeeping franchise with Cloud Bookkeeping. As a Cloud Bookkeeper, you will be provided with extensive training and support to ensure that you feel confident and able to run your own successful bookkeeping business. You have the added assurance of workflow templates known as the Prism process that will guide you through every bookkeeping assignment, enabling you to deliver a premium service.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Quote straight from the cloud bookkeeping franchise website!!!! Cost £15k ......rather have the cash in my own pocket!!!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hello Kris (Mandy?),

personally I'm not a big fan of franchises although I do appreciate that they do work for some who need the crutch of a support infrastructure behind them.

Please could you confirm that you have had permission from the site owners for the advertising. I'm not seeing that it would be given as the basic premise behind this site is to attempt to help newstart bookkeepers without them turning to expensive alternatives.

And that brings me on to Jo's point. £15k up front plus 10% management fee plus 1% marketing fee does seem an awful lot of money to invest in a bookkeeping franchise. I appreciate that such is only half the cost of things like Tax Assist and Certax but of course those ones are big names going for the accounting rather than bookkeeping market.

I'll be cutting down the number of posts that you have made until you have earned your stripes as a poster in helping site members for free with technical queries. Once you have a few hundred posts under your belt where you are not attempting to sell anything then you may find one or two people gravitate towards your franchise.

Until then though, unless the advertising is approved by the site owners and paid for I'm afraid that it has to stop.

kind regards,

Shaun.

Leger · Master Book-keeper

Cheshire wrote:
Quote straight from the cloud bookkeeping franchise website!!!! Cost £15k ......rather have the cash in my own pocket!!!

And there was me thinking you were going to treat me! biggrin

Only bookkeeping I'll be doing in the cloud is when I've got wings and a harp by my side!

-- Edited by Leger on Wednesday 1st of April 2015 10:17:32 AM

David Ballantyne · Senior Member

I can never understand why anyone would want to pay for a franchise. Especially when they ask for fees of thousands of pounds and then you have to invest more of your own money in promoting their business and getting clients which belong to their franchise.

Bearing in mind I am attempting to start up myself, if I had that sort of money, I would rather spend it on promoting my own business where all the clients are mine. £15k spent wisely on Google Adwords would probably bring me all the clients I would ever need.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

David Ballantyne wrote:
I can never understand why anyone would want to pay for a franchise. Especially when they ask for fees of thousands of pounds and then you have to invest more of your own money in promoting their business and getting clients which belong to their franchise.
Bearing in mind I am attempting to start up myself, if I had that sort of money, I would rather spend it on promoting my own business where all the clients are mine. £15k spent wisely on Google Adwords would probably bring me all the clients I would ever need.

I havent spent a penny on advertising and I have all the clients that I need, so it is do-able. Good luck David!

I guess franchising works for some, well the fanchisors if no-one else, as Ive yet to see one and I have clients who are involved. I have also seen the pitiful returns from the businessplans of others to be put off them - I wouldnt bother getting out of bed for what they make.

-- Edited by Cheshire on Thursday 2nd of April 2015 11:56:48 AM

nicd1981 · Veteran Member

Hey all,
Ive no interest in joining a franchise. I plan on slowly building up my business and will advertise when ready. (advertising ideas are welcome)
I have applied for my MAAT, and found a local accountant for my continuity of practice agreement. Which is great, Ill also have someone I can recommend to clients looking for tax advice etc as I know I don't have the experience in this area.
Ive just purchased my PII Insurance through AXA. So feel ive covered all the bases here. Tomorrow I start working on my home office ... 4 days off, may just be enough :)
Have had meetings with potential clients this week and take on my first one mid April. Bookkeeping and Payroll, all stuff I do in my day job so nothing Im unsure off, only issue I will have is which software to purchase (or should I use free HMRC payroll ) and VT ?
He currently uses SAGE and payroll is money soft but once I take over I can use which ever software I like , im thinking of purchasing VT + and money soft but open to ideas, and recommendations.
CIS tax though, never came across it before, Ive downloaded the guide from HMRC, and read it page to page. Will I find major issues, his bookkeeper said she will write me a set of handover notes so hoping they will cover any issues I may have
Any major issues I should be aware of?
Thanks in advance
Nicola

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Can you use his sage and Moneysoft? He pays for software, best scenario. Also it's great existing bookkeeper err is helping you, might be worth keeping their contact number if something crops up in a few months time.

I currently use Sage (very expensive and moving to monthly pay rather than perpetual licence in near future) and QuickBooks( well priced). Would love to have time to train on VT as I keep hearing good things. Certainly good for anyone who is good with double entry, which given your background will be a doddle! I've used Moneysoft with CIS. Really easy to use and a good price. Some recent comments around on here about AE on Moneysoft so worth a read. I've used 12pay which is good but from memory they don't do CIS (but will stand to be corrected by someone) recommend either. CIS is easy...I learnt all I know from HMRC website and just getting stuck in.

I've never spent a penny on advertising, networking is better and neutrally recommendation.

Good luck

nicd1981 · Veteran Member

Hi Joanne
thanks for your quick reply.
He has the sage disk but it will need an upgrade in Sept 2015, Also money soft is his bookkeepers so id need to sort out new software which is why Im thinking I could purchase a new / different one, I have just watched the YouTube money soft video though and it looks great so will definitely get this one. May buy the multi company package , that way if I take on more clients I can use same system.
I like Sage, I use it in work , and as his bookkeeper has sent me the sage backup it may be worth me using his disk for now and looking into the monthly sage upgrade for Sept
Networking is something im looking into also, a friend of mine told me about BNI and I have spoken to a few of there members who have invited me along to a meeting , hoping this could be good for me just starting out.
It does look pretty simple, I just don't want any mistakes .
Im currently trying to write my letter of engagement, the templates on AAT website seem so long, do I need all that information?
Im going to print off and try and re write In my language whilst still keeping in any relevant info
Thanks again
Nicola

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Hi Nicola
Why will Sage need an upgrade? Many use it for years without so if he hasn't got sage cover I wouldn't worry about it. I'm suggesting you use it on his systems as putting it on yours could be in breach of his licence.

If you need CIS on Moneysoft then you have to pay for the highest level version, from memory, so yes it will give you access to the multi company version. The helpdesk are available weekdays only but are very good. They also have the backup and restore version which I would encourage you to do regular backups, as with sage. Saves a whole load of problems in the event of errors. Are you starting the payroll from Month one of the new tax year? If so it's good timing, if not get a copy of the P11 workings (or I think you could get the backup), but copies of the last CUS return if the bookkeeper will let you have it.

I would say stay away from BNI, they will suck you dry!! There is a very lengthy thread in he about it, which you can search for...have a read before you go and if you still go....keep an open mind and don't sign anything on the day!!!

Re the letter of engagement, I don't use the AAT one, but bear in mind it is there to protect you, it has legal jargon in it that when you start stripping bits out can substantially weaken the document and may even change the terms of certain parts of the agreement Ina detrimental way.

-- Edited by Cheshire on Thursday 2nd of April 2015 11:58:56 PM

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Leger wrote:
Cheshire wrote:
Quote straight from the cloud bookkeeping franchise website!!!! Cost £15k ......rather have the cash in my own pocket!!!
And there was me thinking you were going to treat me!
Only bookkeeping I'll be doing in the cloud is when I've got wings and a harp by my side!

-- Edited by Leger on Wednesday 1st of April 2015 10:17:32 AM

I'm sure I did a response to this one earlier today, but it's disappeared.

i reckon it will be payroll rather than bookkeeping you will be doing in heaven John, if another thread is anything to go by.

i was just thinking I hadn't done any cake baking for a while and what with a long weekend ahead of us (yer right, like most on here won't be working!!) that I might do some for my appreciative boys. But I can't figure how to get them to everyone without the postman eating them, the whole lots being crumbs when they arrive or worse still just stale. Still....I'm taking orders!!!! ;-D

-- Edited by Cheshire on Friday 3rd of April 2015 12:02:25 AM

-- Edited by Cheshire on Friday 3rd of April 2015 12:03:17 AM

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Here is that BNI thread started quite a while ago but was resurrected recently!

www.book-keepers.org.uk/t53251480/where-does-all-the-money-go-that-the-bni-make/

nicd1981 · Veteran Member

Hey Joanne
The upgrade was told to me by the current bookkeeper , I haven't received anything yet so your right ill use it until I can change etc
I will start from Month 1, she is finishing financial year end then ill be taking over.
Suck me dry... how? Ill search for the thread. Thanks
Bookkeeper is giving me everything relating to the company, she seems lovely and has answered all of my questions via email.
Hopeing to receive handover notes and information next week or so. Its all new and exciting
Joanne you have been great, ill read up on BNI now, ill get back to you and let you know what I think?
Nicola x

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

No probs, glad to help. I found the thread, posted just as you posted yours, see above.

David Ballantyne · Senior Member

Hi Cheshire,

Can I be nosey and ask how you gained your clients?

David.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Hi David
I wasn't even looking for any when I got my first one. Had taken redundancy and a pal of mine was a hypnotherapist- I had helped her out as a favour with some paperwork because she is so hopeless with it, sorted a mess she had created in six months in about two hours. So when one of her clients was complaining about a similar mess, my pal said oh you need Joanne. Thought it was just temporary to help them get sorted and did it for something to do, definitely didn't want a job!!!! Next thing I was looking after her and her fella....who are both now my best clients. One is an ex footballer who does piles of pundit work and such. Moved on to do the bookks within a few weeks and now do all invoicing, credit control, a bit of PA type work and some sports agency bits. Was just about adding value I guess. Im in discussions with him to expand that latter side as his agent has let him down and they think I'm wonderful (their words not mine!!)

Since then they've recommended me to others, who have recommended me to others. I've had one client alone recommend me to about sixteen. I didn't have to ask this particular client, but I'm not afraid to and until recently I have. They all know lots of other people in business so it's the best way to get clients.

One I targeted a few of weeks after they opened....I just phoned them up! Got him when he was already swamped with trying to set things up so the last thing he wanted to deal with was the bookkeeping paperwork, was lucky timing but I would try that one again. In fact I did just go through the local paper for about six weeks and rang people of the cuff after doing a bit of research on their businesses first of course...I didn't get anything, but you would be surprised how much people will tell a perfect stranger over the phone and I did have one that came very close, but I didn't follow it up through a lack of confidence. Mad.....I should've.

Tell a lie.....I did get one through advertising , but only on gumtree (and before they started to charge), but it's probably my biggest client now. They also recommended me to one last month, although I haven't taken that one on, in part because I have no capacity and the client I'm already working for are using me a bit like a finance Manager, they have grown so rapidly from one company when I took them on 12 months ago to 4. They really need a full time employee, but I'm trying to do it all in less, an increasing squeeze!!

That gumtree advert actually generated two clients, the other I went to see and was offered the job. Would've been a good one in a way, had two successful businesses, existing internal accountant was leaving. I turned it down because I didn't take to one of the directors. No idea why, just a gut feeling, but I always go off gut feeling!! I don't work with people I don't like! In fact I still don't want to do this bookkeeping/accounting lark as a job, lol.

I would say, don't be afraid to ask, as don't ask , don't get. But bear in mind even if you do ask, you still might not get. I keep it all very low key, friendly and approachable. The best question if you can get in front of someone is 'tell me about your business' ....they can ramble on for ages as with most it's a passion, whilst you get all the golden nuggets of info you need. Absolutely add value where you can to differentiate you from the accountant/bookkeeper down the road and that might even be by doing something non accountancy related, anything they need that you can help with, be it a one off or regular stuff. I helped one client out when they where asked to sign personal guarantees and a debenture rather than just a charge over book debts by a funder.....put my background in banking to good use and now getting more of the Directors work pile to complete which just increases my fees. Now the problem is just not having enough time.

Good luck with it all

-- Edited by Cheshire on Friday 3rd of April 2015 09:26:36 AM

David Ballantyne · Senior Member

Hi Cheshire,

Well your story just goes to show that if you do a good job, people will recommend you and business will gradually snowball.

Have a feeling that I will still have to do some advertising though.

Thanks for letting me know.

David.

Leger · Master Book-keeper

Cheshire wrote:
Leger wrote:
Cheshire wrote:
Quote straight from the cloud bookkeeping franchise website!!!! Cost £15k ......rather have the cash in my own pocket!!!
And there was me thinking you were going to treat me!
Only bookkeeping I'll be doing in the cloud is when I've got wings and a harp by my side!

-- Edited by Leger on Wednesday 1st of April 2015 10:17:32 AM
I'm sure I did a response to this one earlier today, but it's disappeared.
i reckon it will be payroll rather than bookkeeping you will be doing in heaven John, if another thread is anything to go by.
True
i was just thinking I hadn't done any cake baking for a while and what with a long weekend ahead of us (yer right, like most on here won't be working!!) that I might do some for my appreciative boys. But I can't figure how to get them to everyone without the postman eating them, the whole lots being crumbs when they arrive or worse still just stale. Still....I'm taking orders!!!! ;-D
Cakes and buns are my downfall, and I'm sure yours are gorgeous - I'll be drooling all weekend now! You'll just have to shoot the pesky postman, or mark the contents as something else, but then I guess he will smell the aroma and that'll be that, no cake for moi.

Happy Easter Jo, and to the rest of the friendly gang on here.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Was just dying to do some baking as Im so bored and fed up today, but I havent got one key ingredient so back to Sage it is! Although I will have to look on Amazon for some good boxes that will travel well.

Have a great Easter too John and to the rest of the friendly rabble on here (but not the unfriendly lot, lol!)

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Happy Easter John,

I think that there's a flaw in the approach of shooting the postman pre cake delivery... And isn't it normally postmen that do the shooting... No, sorry, thats America isn't it.

Happy Easter Jo,

whilst I'm very tempted by your offered goodies I've got this vision you slaving over the kitchen sink over the entirety of Easter. You don't want to spend your Easter sweating away in the kitchen after spending all week tied to your desk do you?

Hope that you have a great long weekend and do something fun.... Although I suspect that like myself I'll probably be seeing you and John amongst the rest of the usual suspects on here.

All the best,

Keyser Soze

(p.s. that was all a ruse to put John off the Cake scent... The securicor van will be around to pick up my cakes later so quick, to the kitchen now.... ).

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Made a right old mess in the kitchen and been at that kitchen sink for hours!! That after being tied to the office desk all week is my idea of heaven. More tomorrow methinks.

Leger · Master Book-keeper

Shamus wrote:

(p.s. that was all a ruse to put John off the Cake scent... The securicor van will be around to pick up my cakes later so quick, to the kitchen now.... ).

You're busted Shaun! - Rule no. 1 Don't make your intentions known on a public forum biggrin biggrin

Jo, below is a message written just for you, but it's been written in invisible text, so you'll need to unencrypt it first biggrin

Tell the securicor van to piddle off. Group 4 will be pulling up just behind it.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Very good John... But you've failed your own cardinal rule as the moderator see's all.... Now, lets just check the route of that group 4 van between Jo's place and yours... Wonder if you can hire JCB security van can openers by the hour? biggrin

Leger · Master Book-keeper

Sorry Shaun, but all the JCB can openers are busy ripping out cash machines!

Drat, I forgot you were a moderator lol. Jo, load up the securicor van and the Group 4 van. Cakes ahoy, yippeeeee!!!!

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Bloomin heck - you would have me tied by that kitchen sink all weekend!!!

Fortunately tomorrow is SS day - you know - Special Sunday, so to free myself up for that, Ive just spent 31 hours making this - its been voted Britain's favourite cake and has 352 mini eggs on it, ok 350 as I ate two! Downside I now have the biceps of a builder after creaming so much butter.

I think there are enough cupcakes to share. My buns are only for one man!

-- Edited by Cheshire on Saturday 4th of April 2015 11:05:01 AM

Leger · Master Book-keeper

Thats one mega cake, well done. How tall is it?

My buns are only for one man!

Lol

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Ok I admit that tall one is not one of mine, but it did win the favourite cake award. If I had 31 hours to spare I would make it, although for the life of me I cant see how it would take that long - maybe about 6 to my reckoning, even just with one oven, mustve been a very slow baker! It about 1.5- 2 feet tall if you get a proper risen sponge!

Oh and the group 4 van has been re-directed darn sarf!! After not sticking up for me with the lousy Americans , Shaun gets the lot! wink

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Cheshire wrote:
Shaun gets the lot!

Excellent.... My cunning alteration of Johns posts worked then!

Reading this line "My buns are only for one man!" if it hadn't then plan B would have involved ropes, your boyfreind and a randsome note payable in buns and cup cakes.

Leger · Master Book-keeper

Cheshire wrote:
Oh and the group 4 van has been re-directed darn sarf!! After not sticking up for me with the lousy Americans , Shaun gets the lot!

Whatttt!!!!! Noooooooooooooo you can't

That's it then, last time I'm waiting in the bushes just to catch a glimpse of you getting all hot and steamy in the kitchen, you'll have to find a new stalker!

nicd1981 · Veteran Member

Hey guys,
Ive just purchased osbourne books both personal and business tax. Is this enough to brush up on tax for self assesments etc
or can you recommend anything else?
Nicola x

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

WHAT... Someone's asking questions about bookkeeping and accounting in this thread!!!!

Lol, morning Nicola

AAT books are only intended as a doorway into a subject which will build confidence and structure to your knowledge base. They are a good doorway and certainly build great foundations, but are they enough?

To move to the next step try Alan Melville, Taxation. You need to buy it every year of course but its a good reference book for the whole period. Before investing £40 on a copy pick up an old one for pennies from amazon resellers to get a feel for the format and determin whether it's at the level that you need.

Its a read cover to cover once (doing all of the questions as you go) and then dip in and out as needed throughout the period.

I tend to alternate the purchase of Melville and the Kaplan study text for ACCA paper P6. That text comes with the usual Kaplan errors in questions and answers which you need to have the confidence and knowledge to realise that you are right and the book is wrong before you start so I would not advise it as a first text... But... For freehand Pro Formas for tax calculations (of which there are a lot!!!) I think that Kaplan ghave the most practical materials.

I mention Kaplan rather than BPP as the Kaplan approach is study, try, try again with added complexity and I'm very much the sort of person that need to do something to understand it properly. I find BPP has more emphasis on the study element than the practical application.

As you progress with your Tax studies you might want to buy either the Kaplan or BPP ACCA revision books for paper F6 (the lower level tax paper) which will test your tax knowledge using old ACCA exam papers brought up to date for the latest finiance act.

Assume a budget of at least £100 per year on tax books.

If tax proves to be an area that you are looking to specialise in then consider studying ATT after CIMA

kind regards,

Shaun.

Leger · Master Book-keeper

Shamus wrote:
WHAT... Someone's asking questions about bookkeeping and accounting in this thread!!!!

I know Shaun, what is the world coming to. biggrin

But to continue in a more sensible vein. I am going to be doing levels 2-4 of AAT with hopefully a completion date of July 2017, what's my best route after that should I continue. I had thought, rather naively, that AAT as a MIP would be enough to give me Accountant status, but since being here for the last year or so, I'm coming to the impression that it's only the beginning.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi John,

it all depends on where you want to go and how much you want to learn.

My view is that to be a bookkeeper offering accounting services the minimum level should be MAAT MIP (which is where you are heading) or equivalent learning. Personally I would then progress from MAAT to also have ATT under your belt to become the sort of well rounded accountant with excellent tax knowledge that SME businesses need.

Thats nothing against ICB or IAB and there are many people with AAT level knowledge who hold those qualifications. Everything is as much an attitude to learnig as it is the bit of paper that one holds.

For those such as the regular contributors on here who look at gaining the knowledge base rather than simply passing exams then it doesn't matter what allegiance one has as the underlying knowledge base is not restricted to one's professional bodies syllabus.

I would say that if an AAT/IAB/ICB fully qualified person cannot pass ACCA papers F1, F2 and F3 (entry level fundamentals papers freely available on the ACCA site to download and try) then one is not yet ready to be offering accounting services.

For studying AAT you could take a leaf out of Neil (spam kebabs) book and study ACCA to pass AAT (see the free lecturs and notes on the OpenTuition website). Gives you a far broader knowledge base than you need to pass the exams.

Talking about progression, if you only intend to be self employed then I do not feel that progression to ACCA is wise as regulation 8 restricts the services that you are allowed to do and you will find yourself in the silly situation that as an MAAT MIP you can offer services that all of a sudden because you have progressed to ACCA you are no longer deemed competent to perform unsupervised.

CIMA is more lenient that ACCA but you would need to talk with someone such as David Ballantyne to get the full run down on what you are permitted to do.

As I say though, if your intention is to be a bookkeeper offering accounting services then I think that AAT to ATT and then ATT CPD each year to cover both qualifications. If you have that I can see no reason why you could not call yourself an accountant. (You would not be able to offer Audit or Insolvency services as those are protected parts of accountancy).

kind regards,

Shaun.

David Ballantyne · Senior Member

Hi John,

If you are intending to remain in practice serving small businesses, I would agree with Shaun in suggesting that the AAT then ATT route is the most practical.

The CIMA qualification is geared towards producing accountants who are aiming to be employed as senior managers or finance directors in larger organisations. Unless your clients are asking for advanced management accounting services I think you will find studying CIMA is irrelevant to the services your clients want.

CIMA don't offer much support for members in practice as that is just not the focus of where they want to be as a professional body. AAT on the other hand seems as heavily focused on members in practice as it is on members in employment. AAT does offer good support for members in practice.

Leger · Master Book-keeper

Thanks guys, my only regret is not doing this years earlier. I did a years college when I left school for general business studies and got 39% in bookkeeping (no computers in them days m'lad The pass rate was 40% and i couldn't be bothered to sit the exam again

That was it until about 10 years ago when my boss said to me I want you to do the day to day accounts, which was my first introduction to sage and computerised accounting. I just took to it like a duck in water

If i get to ATT status I'll only be about 7 years from drawing my pension lol, but I wouldn't mind having a crack at it.