Any certified Bookkeepers on here?

[DaddyCool]

Didn't want to start this in legal/money matters as I didn't think it would attract enough attention.

I'm a CIMA looking to do a semi career change. Bookkeeping is still in the game but a completely different kettle of fish.

I'm looking for more home based, work on my own initiative work and I've got the backing of a good chartered qualification as back up as not to look like a total hack to prospective clients.

I'm looking at completing the 'certified bookkeepers' qualification on line to top up my training.

anyone a bookkeeper? do you know:

1. what business is like? (demand)
2. length of course?
3. potential pitfalls other than getting no business!?

I am all-seeing, DC

obviously. can you see what finger i'm holding up now?.....

[stern faced emoticon]

not to worry. the spec'ed school marm comment planted a fantastic erotic image so all was not lost.

ok, on a more serious and appropriate note....

Ha! I can get membership to the Institute of certified bookkeepers without doing anything. my CIMA gets me a 'pass go, collect $200' type exemption.

So there's my letters... now I've got to figure out how to do it! surely that's just wrong... or is book keeping really just that simple?

I'm a certified bookkeeper - what do you need to know?

I am qualified and have done some bookkeeping work to keep me sane while I'm at home with the kids (v minor work).

I will say one thing - from going to an office based finance/audit/accounting job to doing books is a massive change, especially if you do tiny sole traders (which is what I did).

I did a little bit of free work for some local businesses just to get used to it and then was planning on charging them for regular business. It is quite difficult going back to square 1 having been in a corporate environment. You have to remember that most of these people don't know their Vat from their PAYE and have very little idea of accounts (many sole traders are exceptional good sales or marketing people and leave all the finance to others!) so they rely on you to do EVERYTHING and remember EVERYTHING relating to finance that they need to do.

So the first thing I would say, is make sure your VAT and tax knowledge is up to date. Make sure you know all the applicable dates for returns to be in - make sure you understand all the company formats (sole traders, partnerships etc.) and if they have to submit accounts. If you know SAGE then that's good - I didn't (had only worked on big systems like SAP) and although SAGE is v easy to understand, there's an obvious difference between a bookkeeper who knows how to work it and one who doesn't!

I think you can get on very well if you are on top of your game - you'll come across well to the clients and in bookkeeper, recommendations can be everything.

I also found it quite hard going back to basically first year accounts - things like putting through trade discounts etc. etc. - not that I couldn't do it but it was such a long time since I had had to actually do double entry accounting right from step 1 that I had to give myself a virtual kick up the backside to remind myself how to do it all! Good luck.

Yes DaddyCool, I agree with fox,

Be prepared for a sole trader to bring you in a carrier bag filled with a mixture of receipts, statements and scraps of paper with comments such as 'milk, 34p' on them, and saying to you "theres my accounts"

I'm dealing with a guy who went self-employed two years ago, who still doesn't understand why he can't buy his son's footie kit as a business expense (nothing to do with his line of business), and thinks it's iniquitous that he can't claim back VAT on everything (including his weekly shopping).

I'm a mini-limited company director and I am nodding away at Foxinsox's comments. You will get complete financial dunderheaded disasters like me - I rely absolutely and completely on my accountant to do my books and inform me of all deadlines, advise me on best this that and the other, and do all the paperwork for me - on her part, the good thing about that is that I also nod away at the invoices my accountant gives me, whilst writing out a cheque smiling happily to myself. Ah, for a simple life....

I'm a chartered accountant, I have been working for 3 years now part time basically as a book-keeper for a number of smallish businesses/private individuals. I didn't take any additional training in book-keeping and have learnt Sage on the job - I hope I'm not one of the nightmare book-keepers Accountant Anonymous talks about, but have had complimentary comments from the CA firms I deal with and have gradually built up business. I also prepare stat accounts and do small tax returns.

You have to deal with CA firms thinking you are stupid as you are "only" a book-keeper and talking down to you constantly! I initially found this pretty irritating but have got used to it now. I have to say I didn't realise how arrogant CA firms can be when working on the other side. Be prepared to work for less than you are currently earning (I assume)! I charge around £18-20 an hour.

As a self employed person, you need to take out PI insurance which is expensive. Also you need to find out with your CIMA institute whether you need a practising certificate. The ICAEW makes it all a bit of minefield. You have to keep up with all relevant CPD which can also be expensive and awkward due to courses being far away and lasting way beyond normal childcare hours.

I agree with Easy that when you work for smaller businesses you are constantly dealing with people trying to put non-business expenses through and you have to often be very firm about such issues. I have not had problems with deadlines as I do all the book-keeping/VAT/Intrastat returns and other such matters so it is up to me to be on time!

Good luck!

this advice is excellent and very much appreciated. you're giving me good ideas and confirming my fears or thoughts.

like many of my hyperactive little ideas, this one has developed since yesterday....

We're def off to canada in May. The plan is to go over and continue my current career but train in specific canadian bookkeeping/tax/law at the same time and hope to open my own little business over there with my chartered qualification as a strong backing.

if we return, I'll be in book keeping mode and I'll simply top up my training with the UK ICB qualification and get myself aquainted with detailed personal tax etc.

So... the question was more a general inquiry to book keepers as opposed to a UK specific question but your feed back is extremely helpful ie: the question of insurance/CPD and relationships with local CA's.

Thanks

Ah, too late . Glad you have got the answers you need.

And interesting that there are a few of us on here. I've completed my book-keeping exams and am now halfway through AAT Intermediate whilst working part time in a CA's doing books and sole trader final accounts. For those of you who have gone the other way, am I completely mad to even contemplate trying to qualify as a CA at this stage in my life?

how old are you. you should only have about 4 years to go after AAT intermediate.

4 years

I'm 36. 3 kids, youngest is 2.

No, you're not mad.

AAT Intermediate will no doubt take you to June, you'll then start technician in Aug/Sept and that could take you a year, maybe six months if you tried to fast track it.

which qualification ACCA or ICAEW?

ACCA will take anywhere between 1.5 years (serious fast-tracking, sitting about 4 to 6 examsn every six months) up to 3 years (sitting between 2 and 4 exams every six months).

Hmmm....

What's the difference between ACCA and ICAEW?

ICAEW is a an old fashioned one which is going down in popularity. Its usually the preferred choice by the top 5 accountacy firms though and has a really strong international recognition.

ACCA is a very popular one (biggest in the world I think) and seems to be the most popular one to choose for certified chartered accountants.

ACCA is much easier to study for (flexibility) and you sound like an ACCA person. ICAEW can be very awkward and stuffy and requires a whole load of employer based training and a huge amount of support like day release etc etc.

Eww, did someone just fart?

aahh rhubarb... i wondered when you'd show up. you're obsessed with me girl, admit it! you're like one of those girls on the playground who kicks the boys she likes, in the nuts and runs away.

Not really, I'm the one who just likes kicking boys in the nuts!

LOOK AT THAT NOW!! you've scared bookkeeper away! i hope you're happy with yourself.

Bookkeeper - he's only trying to get into your pants!

well anybody would be better than you. I'd have to surgically peel yours from your body and attempt to wade through the multiple layers of pale white blubber in order to cop a feel.

Oh, so you want a feel now do you? Dirty old pervert!

you've infested my perfectly innocent thread. you're an infestation.