Book keepers

[Julietta05]

Not so much AIBU but posting here for traffic

I am looking for an opinion from anyone currently working or who worked as a book keeper. Someone recently suggested that I should explore this option as a job opportunity.
First of all, I am not qualified and I would need to start from scratch. How long does it take, do I need any secondement with accountant/ book keeper.
Secondly, I don't really know practically how flexible the job is (that is priority for me).

What is realistic prospect of a salary?
Do you find it interesting and if so to what extend?

Many thanks
J

Personally, speaking as an accountant of 41 years of working mostly in accountancy practices, I think you need to aim for something more than being a book-keeper. I'd strongly suggest you looking at the AAT qualification (accounting technician) which would mean you could aim to do more than book-keeping, i.e. payroll, VAT returns, annual accounts and tax returns. Most local colleges offer courses and you may get a trainee job in a local accountancy practice as most firms take on trainees, even the small ones.

The thing with book-keeping is that so much of it is now automated, with online software and live bank feeds, apps connecting one business with another, etc. The days of actually entering transactions into "the books" (whether paper or software) is basically over. The most popular online software is already using AI, and "rules" so that, say, a bank payment to the Post Office is automatically entered in the accounts categorised as postage. More and more firms buy their stuff online using debit/credit cards, so don't need a "purchase ledger" anymore. Yes, bigger organisations buy on credit and pay monthly so still need a form of purchase ledger, but more and more is being done automatically with invoices "pinged" from a supplier system straight into the buyer's system!

The real "added value" is to learn and gain experience in all the things that take more skill, i.e. payroll, VAT returns, tax returns, etc - the things that need a human input rather than AI. That could be understanding partial exemption rules for VAT returns, or similar. I.e. to give a reason for a small business to use you rather than for you to just do what AI can do. As a potential book-keeper, your target market will likely be small businesses where the owner would otherwise be doing the "books", so you need to have skills/experience that the owner doesn't have himself. Hence you need to be more than someone who just enters transactions in the book-keeping!

Thank you for that, it is really useful.
I was looking for AAT qualification, I know there are few levels of it and wonder where it could lead up to.

It depends what your after, I started a bookkeeping job about a year ago, I'd been out of work for 2 years previous due to mental health breakdown I new I wanted a career change and changed job 3 times in 12 months before finally settling in this role. I'd had no previous accounting or bookkeeping experience and was trained on the job, the pay isn't the best but then it's not the worst of some jobs I've had. It's the flexibility for me, I new I didn't want to work full time so I had the option to pick three days a week. The company I work for does bookkeeping for not for profit organisations which is a little bit different to normal bookkeeping but it's very rewarding.

So you did not get any official AAT qualifications?

I was a Bookkeeper with ICB. After the initial Bookkeeping qualification I also took separate qualifications in order to do Payroll, Tax Returns and Corporation Tax Returns for small and micro businesses so I could offer more than just bookkeeping. Feel free to message me to ask questions.

No, I have no qualifications in bookkeeping just the training that was provided on job, I also now have trained in payroll, again no qualifications just learning on job. I do double entry bookkeeping so this may be very different to normal bookkeeping

My sister is a book keeper. Her qualifications are alevels inc maths.

She runs her own business and charges £30 an hour . It suits as it works round kids. She probs works 20 ish hours except busy times

There are many Bookkeeping, accounts payable or credit control jobs where you don't need qualifications but they would probably choose someone unqualified with experience over someone unqualified without. Flexibility will depend on the employer but it is generally an office job that could be done from home. But different companies vary with what they offer or are happy with. I think the average salary is low to mid 20k pa/pro rata. I would just have a look at the job ads in your region on LinkedIn, Hays, Reed, CV library etc and/or sign up with a couple of agencies near you. That should give you a better idea what the market is like in your area.