So i have used the forum quite a lot since i became a member a couple of years ago, more of a lurker than anything, i find the search option very useful and can usually find my answers that way! I've posted a couple of questions recently so have been asked to do an introduction.
I started book keeping about 5 years ago, My father started his own business and I just kind of took the role on. My hubby did an accounting degree so he helped me to start with, although his knowledge is more theoretical than practical. I used to have a book keeper come in to help in the first year and she did the year end stuff with me, she taught me quite a lot but was pretty expensive so we now use an accountant to do the year end stuff which is much better and there knowledge on how to be more tax efficient is very useful! They also do the payroll for me know as I didn't have the strength to fully get involved in AE!
I started my AAT level 3 in January and passed the 1st 4 modules and start back in September to complete the last 2. I am hoping to start Level 4 in January, and then possibly ATT but I am not sure how far I want to or even have the ability to go after AAT!
Not sure where i stand on this forum with regards to self teaching quite a lot of stuff before starting AAT and working for my Fathers business as I know there is quiet a lot of emphasis on not being able to give business owners advice! I am not a business owner, just work for a family business!!
Anyway, thank you the advice given so far and hopefully future advice!
absolutely nothing wrong with being self taught. The AAT have given you the structure and goals so if you have the self control to set your own time tables and stick to them then go for it.
If there are any parts of AAT that you have particular difficulty with then just post on here. For little things we would be able to help you directly but for larger subject problems such as if you came on and said that you really don't understand (say) group accounts then we would generally ask what book you are currently using and then suggest a better one that explains the same subject in a different way (I've had that issue in the past and it's been cured by swapping between BPP and Kaplan texts).
Don't question you own abilities too much. As you say you have gone through 4 AAT exams since January. When you move up to level IV there is a bit of a step up in complexity so it may slow you down slightly but that said there is nothing there that will stop you in your tracks and once you develop your confidence at level IV you will really discover which parts of the subject matter you love and what if anything you do not (you will at some stage find something that even though you can do it you really do not enjoy doing it).
On the giving business owners advice bit the issue there is really around them not understanding the advice that is being given and acting upon what they believe that they are being told rather than what people are actually saying.
If someone is a qualified and or experienced bookkeeper or accountant, starts a business and needs some clarification I for one have absolutely no issue with helping them out... Although my advice is normally tempered with the addendum that if they do not use a bookkeeper at least ensure that they use an accountant.
Even if you were a business owner attempting to keep a cashbook, you have stated already that you business uses an accountant at the period end so as far as I'm concerned there would have been no worries about helping you anyway.
The only issue really and one that Joanne picks up on a lot is the small business owners who are not just keeping a cashbook but basically attempting to do the whole job through to filing and the real fear is that they do not know what they do not know. In many cases I am sure that business owners who do not use a professional end up costing themselves much more (even before penalties, fines, surcharges and interest) than if they had used a professional.
Thats not applicable to yourself at all Roxy.
Good luck with the studies and I'm sure that we'll chat quite a bit more on your road to those elusive MAAT letters.
All the best,
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.
