Hi Desna,

welcome to the forum.

when you've been reading part qualified what that generally means is PQ with one of the higher bodies or passed AAT level IV.

It gets more complex in that there are also a few different definitions of what PQ means. For some its having passed the first nine ACCA papers. For others it means that you've passed all of the papers but don't yet have the experience requirement for membership.

Traineee positions tend to be for school / uni leavers rather than career changers which is why so manyu people go down the self employed route in order to gain the experience that they need in order to find employment with a small practice.

I would say that the minimum knoledge requirement would be to complete AAT level III plus the two tax papers at level IV to give yourself a good understanding of tax as that will always be what clients don't understand or worse still think that they understand and lead you astray with the old "my mates accountant does it this way" where the reality is either that they do not understand what the accountant has told them or its an unqualified accountant. Best always to have a sound understanding of tax... And VAT notice 700 (which you will do with the tax but its better if you read 700 end to end).

All in all you really need to be looking at arund 12 months minimum prep time to put you in a position where you know the basics and then work only with your freinds for starters to build your confidence preferably whilst you are doing the rest of level IV.

YYou also need to have sound knowledge of a few software packages. Sage is the defacto one but try to get as many clients as possible onto something like VT Transaction+ as with that you pay an annual licence regardless of the number of clients but with software such as Sage you effectively pay a client tax. Quickbooks seems to be heading online only which probably means that they'll also adopt the pay per client model.

You will also need Payroll software. Many here use either 12pay or Moneysoft which are both good reasonably priced packages with unlimited clients.

Hope that helps get you started,

all the best,

Shaun.

Thanks Shaun & Leger It looks like I've got a long way to go then! I already use Quickbooks and Moneysoft Payroll Manager at work so I have some familiarity with software, and I'm aware Sage seems to be the preferred package for empoyers (also note that some people on here are not a fan!) Thanks for the tip about VAT 700 - will read up on that, and the other advice as well...will continue plugging away with the AAT stuff. Desna

Thanks Joanne I'm on a phone at the mo, so I'll work out how to add my name next time I'm on a proper computer! In terms of getting experience - whilst continuing my studies - what are peoples' thoughts on sales/purchase ledger roles? I've been looking at some of these locally to me but many of them seem to want someone who is part-qualified as well, so I'm feeling a bit stuck on ideas! FWIW (prob should have said this in my first post) I currently have a role within a voluntary sector organisation where I am doing the basic book keeping (Quickbooks), bank reconciliations, providing quarterly reports to Directors, cashflow forecasts, costing new work, payroll (Moneysoft Payroll Manager)...but this won't last for ever (funding gap) so I am job hunting...and seeing as I am a million miles away from being ready to freelance I could do with some ideas!