I have introduced myself on here previously but I will give a brief recap.
I have almost completed level 3 AAT, just spreadsheets to pass hopefully next week, and will next be applying to charities to try and gain some experience. I would eventually like to start my own bookkeeping business from home and fully intend to continue onto level 4, however I feel I should get some practical experience along the way.
Great intentions although I really have no idea where to start should I actually manage to find some voluntary work.
So my question is what sort of information should I be digesting in the meantime and where should I look?
Thank you very much guys for any advice you may be able to offer, and just want to say how fantastic I think you all are for all the amazing advice you all give.
Any idea what type or size of charity? The local childrens football club or brownie group just needs single entry cash accounting type stuff. At the opposite end of the scale some of these charities are VAT registered, mini businesses.
I would say - start with the VAT guide 700. A snooze read. Then look at all the offshoot guides. But remember to take them all with a wee pinch of salt as HMRCs interpretation of the law can vary from the actual law itself. So if you want a real read - read the VAT act! Then come on hear and explain it to this lot
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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
Thanks for your response Joanne, I will definitely take a look at those, thank you very much.
VAT act sounds pretty scary then lol
I haven't managed to find a mentor yet but I still log onto this site and have a read through the advice on here as well as a few facebook groups. I have also been trying to find some sort of bookkeeping coffee club in hull so I can be around others in the same boat as me or pick actua bookkeepers brains lol but stuggling to find one. May have to start up my own
Sorry forgot to answer that I have applied to a couple of ads on do-it.org they seem fairly small but think I will aproach my nephews football team and see what happens. Thats possibly a better option anyway as then hopefully it should be straight forward.
Watch out for some of the facebook groups. I've seen some with students/newly qualified advising on real life scenarios and getting it badly badly wrong. Funny was just having exactly that conversation with another AAT level 3 lady this weekend.
Also, who needs 'coffee clubs'! You will always get an answer on here and it's free! Plus save yourself the cost of the coffee (which is not tax deductible!) and stay in the dry and warm (just thinking of the howling gails we are having!).
given you are almost done on level 3, have you reconsidered applying for jobs at accountancy practices? Full or part time as an AATQB could get you some serious experience which will help once you get your level 4.
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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
Hi have noticed some wildly different answers and advice, so I will make sure not to take it as 100% right.
Think I was just feeling a little lonely tbh, I home study through distance learning so was just trying to find a way to connect with others face to face which could possibly build a little confidence to network at bigger events later on. I understand networking can really help when trying to gain clients etc. Although I definitely like the warm and dry too haha.
I would love to try an employed role however with having young children its kind of impossible. Really feel like I woukd benefit hugely from it too however theres almost 2 years b
Anyway as I was saying I have 2 young children where life is impossible haha so work from home is massively appealing to me and my family. I will consider trying to get a job tho maybe we could sort something out, who knows.
