bookkeeping - course or experience

[fairplay]

I'm keen to learn more about bookkeeping but have been getting conflicting advice about where to start.

I found a course and was all set to sign up but after speaking to an acquaintance who is an accountant he said experience would mean more than having completed a course.

So, should I pursue the course or be trying to get experience in some way?

I've seen some online courses heavily discounted on group on- worth a look?

Thanks, I've found a course which looks good but was confused by being told that any course would be useless and its experience I need.

Any idea how I'd go about getting experience?

As someone who employs a book keeper I would say both are important.
My book keeper did the course and then start doing the books for some tiny businesses ( none of them needed more than a few hours a week). She gradually built up learning payroll etc.

Experience is worth more than any bk course imho.

Unless you are contemplating AAT of course, in which case, go for it but you will be more than a bookkeeper at the end.

Also depends what type of experience I suppose. Doing the purchase/sales ledger role in industry is not usually very transferrable, being responsible for the bk for a small firm is more rounded iykwim.

Lots of smaller accountancy practices have smaller bk roles and you might find one happy to train you up on the job if you arrive with the right background knowledge and learn easily

Thanks for your replies. The course was an AAT one so I will investigate it further.

Would it be an idea to contact local accountants to see if they need any bookkeeping doing by a complete novice? Or would they just laugh?

I started as a bookkeeper about 6 weeks into my AAT course many moons ago, with no problem Fairplay Obviously was learning more as I went along but AAT is very comprehensive and you'll quickly know the basics for bookkeeping.

It is worth asking local accountants imo, but I guess it depends on the firms around you.

We have a junior atm doing her AAT and the people she attends college with (one day a month) really struggle if they are not working in accountancy, so be prepared for that. It is a great way into the business though and worth far more in reality than even a degree in business or whatever. You can open your own practice as an MAAT and there is nothing you couldn't do with reagrds to tax for personal/small business clients.

Good luck!