Hello! I've been studying IAB Bookkeeping through distance learning. I've completed levels 1 & 2, awaiting my manual level 3 results and currently plodding through my Computerised level 3.
My plan starting out, was to eventually begin my own bookkeeping business. However, as my studies have progressed I've been questioning if it is actually a viable option. I've felt very isolated with distance learning, so I am very pleased to have found this forum where I hope I can ask a few questions and seek some advice along the way. Thank you for taking time to read my introduction
I was begining to despaire today as the first two posts I looked at post stank of spam.
There are some great old posts on here to wade through. If you want to search the site forget the search facility and instead use Google with the search :
Site:forum.bookkeepers.network
and then follow that with some key words such as VT or SAGE or Networking and see what comes up.
Look forwards to chatting sometime,
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.
Thank you. I've made a start reading through previous posts. It is a very helpful website, and very encouraging to see the support you have for each other... What a find!
Hi, The course uses Sage 1. I'm yet to see any job vacancies asking for knowledge of this... Everything but this! I'm wondering how complicated it would be to swap over to one of the other systems once I'm done with the course?
don't think that you ever will (#1) but it's only a short hop and a skip over to Sage 50.
You will find most systems have commonalities although some of them can throw you curve balls such as VT that doesn't use nominal codes or have any requirement to close off periods (I always found it strange that Sage needed you to do that).
Always remember that the software that you learn is just a tool to help simplify your job. Any software that makes your job more complex or slows you down isn't worth having.
For employment, I would say that the main software that employers look for is SAP, Sage, Excel and IRIS.
For self employment it's more down to what you need (unless the client want you to use software that they already have). People here in general seem to use combinations of Sage 50, Quickbooks Pro (#2) and VT Transaction+. And for Payroll the front runners seem to be Moneysoft Payroll and 12pay. Of the cloud offerings Xero seems to be taking pole position amongst accountants who are pushing cloudy stuff... Having used it myself with a couple of clients I've absolutely no idea why. Maybe its the banking integration or auto populator third party add on's. Whatever, I'm not impressed with the actual base product (or the cloud generally for that matter).
Keep on with your sage one studies but just bare in mind that once learnt you are going to be moving on to different software in the real world.
kindest regards,
Shaun.
#1 first version of Sage one was so bad that it got withdraw and replaced. (Only software I've seen to actually get a negative score on the Accounting web software satisfaction survey). Version 2 is apparently better (although I'll never know!) but it's not really sofware developed with professionals in mind. More something for the really (really, really, really) small business owner who doesn't want / can't afford professional representation and who doesn't mind the mind numbing speed of data entry... I suppose the best way to think of Sage One is an advert by Sage for why customers need to buy Sage 50.
#2 Intuit are attempting to guide everyone towards their cloud offering. However, one of the main reasons that people here chose QB was that it used to be unlimited clients on software that did not need to be changed each year. Where Cloud offerings are built around the business model of pay every month per client forever... Can you see why they are going down that path! It seems to be becoming more and more difficult to purchase desktop based versions of QB so I can see them falling from favour with accountants and bookkeepers.
__________________
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 so much for taking time to explain about the different systems. I really do have so much to learn!
Hi Lisa
The computerised course is really just to give you a flavour of what needs doing as every software system is different and has is plus and minus points. Try downloading a few free trials of different ones and see how far you get - great for learning not only the way the different ones work for for improving your general bookkeeping skills and speed of input etc
-- Edited by Cheshire on Thursday 7th of September 2017 07:09:30 PM
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Thank you Joanne, I will free trial a few different ones for sure, but I think I will leave it until after my final exam as I fear I will fry my brain if I do so before . I have been reading the forum avidly since I have joined, it is so interesting. I've had mixed feelings... Some posts really inspire me, and I feel like this is the profession for me, then other posts make me wonder if I will ever know enough to be truly competent. You all have such incredible knowledge! I'd like to think I will be here in 10 years time giving advice out to a novice like me. Thank you again.
Hi Lisa
Without it (hopefully) sounding off putting, this industry is one in which you never ever stop learning as there is so very much to learn. But that is what makes it so interesting, life would be very dull just doing the same thing all the time. So even those who have been round the block for a few years are still wondering if they will ever know enough.
Glad you like the forum and looking forward to seeing you answer questions as well as asking them.
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
. I have been reading the forum avidly since I have joined, it is so interesting. I've had mixed feelings... Some posts really inspire me, and I feel like this is the profession for me, then other posts make me wonder if I will ever know enough to be truly competent. You all have such incredible knowledge! I'd like to think I will be here in 10 years time giving advice out to a novice like me. Thank you again.
