How diffricult is SAGE?

chocsessential

I am looking at a job description which says the role may involve SAGE and payroll which I have no experience in. How difficult is it to learn SAGE and could I learn it at evening classes? I am confident with Excel and databases if that helps.

SueC_2

I really don't think anyone is going to be able to answer that question for you. What I find easy to learn, you may find difficult. And vice versa.

Equally, none of us is going to know what evening classes are available in your area. Suffolk's a big place and we have no idea where you are, or what the options are at your local colleges.

Sorry, you may have to do your own research on this one.

saintjammyswine

Generally, FE Colleges will provide training in both accounts and payroll, day & evening classes usually available.
About £150 - £200 for the introduction course which is about 12-15 hrs spread over 4-5 sessions (4-5 weeks evenings)

ILW

chocsessential wrote: »

I am looking at a job description which says the role may involve SAGE and payroll which I have no experience in. How difficult is it to learn SAGE and could I learn it at evening classes? I am confident with Excel and databases if that helps.

Do you already have a knowledge of basic bookkeeping?

chocsessential

Well, kind of. I did a paper based double entry bookkeeping course years ago but I did not enjoy it, mainly because it was a correspondence course and it was not well administered. I keep my own household budget on a spreadsheet but it is quite basic.

SueC_2

I'm going to be frank here.

You don't enjoy bookkeeping work, have no Sage experience and only know basic spreadsheet functions.

1. Why are you even considering this role?
2. If you think there won't be many far more suitable candidates applying, I suspect you are sorely mistaken.

Sorry, I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear.

chocsessential

I already work for the organisation involved but due to restructuring I have to reapply for my own job plus any others in the organisation I am interested in. My manager gave me job descriptions for similar jobs and she knows that I am willing to retrain. I really only wanted to know if people found SAGE a difficult program to learn in general. I am prepared to study and the SAGE is only a possibility, as the role is assisting someone else.

ILW

If you know the basics of accounts, most of Sage is just data entry.

jm2926

Some people find it easy, some will never master it. Here is a link to an online trial of Sage Instant Accounts. You should be aware that it is an entry level Sage product, and the one your work use may have many more features:


http://www.runaware.com/clients/sageuk/index.jsp?app=ia

I agree with ILW above, the thing I found difficult was learning about book-keeping, not Sage in particular. You do have to be of a mindset to be very consistent and accurate.

runninglea

I use sage every day and is not that difficult to pick up.

My son now come to work with me - since christmas he has learnt how to reconcile bank, enter purchase invoices, sales invoices, pay suppliers, print out remittances etc.

You need to have someone to show you and follow it up with a course at college - however they are not always the best as do not teach you what you actually use sage for.

What are you going to be doing on sage?

chocsessential

runninglea wrote: »

I use sage every day and is not that difficult to pick up.

My son now come to work with me - since christmas he has learnt how to reconcile bank, enter purchase invoices, sales invoices, pay suppliers, print out remittances etc.

You need to have someone to show you and follow it up with a course at college - however they are not always the best as do not teach you what you actually use sage for.

What are you going to be doing on sage?

The job description just says managing payroll and accounts. I will have to ask my manager for more details.