I've completed and passed my level 2 ICB and just completed my advance book keeping course and ready to take my ICB level 3 exams. what else would i need to find a decent job? i'm thinking of joining and taking the AAT level 3.
I also have sage level 1 qualification too.
Alot of people are asking for experience, but where and how am i suppose to get experience if they are all asking for it.
I've completed and passed my level 2 ICB and just completed my advance book keeping course and ready to take my ICB level 3 exams. what else would i need to find a decent job? i'm thinking of joining and taking the AAT level 3.
I also have sage level 1 qualification too.
Alot of people are asking for experience, but where and how am i suppose to get experience if they are all asking for it.
Hi, welcome to the forum
Can you put your name under the signature line so we know what to call you
Congratulations on passing ICB level 2 and good luck with Level 3, I would definitely recommend going down the AAT route.
What sort of work are you in now and what sort of roles have you been applying for?
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Doug
These are only my opinions of how I see things and therefore should not be taken as advice
I have just generally been applying for book keeping posts and junior accounting roles. I have seen a lot of pay roll jobs. Shall I take the icb payroll exam?
I'm currently enrolling and starting the aat level 3 course.
What can I do to improve my prospects of getting a job?
What can I do to improve my prospects of getting a job?
Hi,
welcome to the forum, as requested by Doug, please place your first name in your signiture so that we know what to call you.
For getting a job think seriously about moving to the AAT (also as suggested by Doug). ICB is geared very much towards the self employed and some accountants regard it as an anti qualification. Thats nothing against your training but rather the ease with which people get to a practice certificate then set up in direct competition against those who may have spent ten years becoming qualified then needed to gain 4,620 hours working in practice post qualification to be able to offer their services to the public. Unsurprisingly, any CV that mentions the ICB goes straight in the bin.
Thats not however true of all accountancy practices and persistence may pay off. You may have better luck applying for credit control positions (although they will look also for ICM (Institute of Credit Management) qualification. And Payroll will be looking for CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals).
No learning is ever wasted and whatever knowledge you have acquired to date will put you in good stead for whichever body you decide to move to. Or if you decide to stick with the ICB and beome self employed. But if you go with that latter option read the posts on this site which will give you a better idea of what to expect of the role of a bookkeeper. Which for the self employed seems very much to be judged to be a cheaper accountant. (just as much knowledge but at a fraction of the cost).
I am not saying that there are no employment opportunities for those with an ICB qualification, but rather that they are much more restricted. For example, look on the Reed website. There are currently 6008 advertised AAT job... And 14 ICB! Which I feel demonstrates that the market.
My advice to the above question... go knocking on the AAT's door and try to find a training provider who will allow you to start from level III. (level II AAT is pretty much what you have been doing with the ICB).
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.
A lot of job adverts say working towards aat. Does that mean I can apply and will look favourably just by being a aat member and starting with a provider?
I've been looking at premier training. They asked me to take a initial quiz to see if I qualify for level 3.
They are currently doing a 20% off sale too. So I will most likely go with them. Any views on This?
it is always difficult to comment on training providers as what differentiates them is often their tutors and tutors tend to move between training companies. I know that both Nick and Neil very much put Premier on the map with this site, and both of them have since left with Nick moving to First Intuition. Both Nick and Neil won prizes for their work, but then, so has Premier as an organisation.
Don't be rushed into anything by a 20% off offer. Training companies are always offering sales... They're right up there with sofa pushers in that with some training providers the sales have been going on so long that nobody can ever remember a tie when you needed to pay the headline price... Even when there is a sale you can still often get money off or freebies when talking to their sales team.
If you do the test I think that it's one that you can only take once so be prepared for it. Maybe do the AAT workbook for units 1 to 4 (took me a weekend to do the book cover to cover a few years back so whilst it's quite a thick book its not great commitment of your time).... Plus, if it gives you difficulty it should also tell you where you should start rather than needing to take the test.
On the first question, yes, once you are on the road to AAT companies start to notice your cv. I would however not start apllying until you have completed level III AAT which gives you good foundations for your future career (it gets complex at level IV). Always remember that whilst your CV may start being picked up in searches you will be competing with others for every role so having the confidence of at least having achieved level III is an important stepping stone.
You may find it much easier applying for jobs in industry rather than practice until you have experience. The exception to that is if you are able to get an apprenticeship (pays next to nothing) which would get you on the ladder. The issue there though is supporting yourself whilst training.
Good luck with the applications.
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.
Which text books you recommend and where .ca I get them.
Ideally I'll look for some second hand. Your right, work through them and see if it's too difficult and if I can actually start at level 3
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.
Come on Oliver - pretty poor form not acknowledging the help that two posters gave you in ANY way. They dont get paid for taking such time to respond so a thanks goes a long way.
The ACCA do a webinar that might help you. I might add a link.
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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
I have recently by and large been applying for accounting posts and junior bookkeeping jobs. I have seen a great deal of compensation move occupations. Will I take the icb finance test? I'm at present selecting and beginning the aat level 3 course. What would i be able to do to improve my prospects of finding a new line of work?
Right - so you signature bar advertises some company in AU - spam
You profile says you are in Germany but adds that you are an SEO expert.
You have dug up a pile of old posts and added odd comments.
What are 'compensation move occupations'?
Are the ICB and the AAT recognised in Germany? I dont mean by themselves, I mean amongst the Accounting fraternity. That is where you should be asking your question, not in the UK.
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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
