Any IAB Book Keepers out there

kazd

Having read a few threads on book keeping I would be interested to know if there are any IAB Book-keepers out there who have done the course and are now practicing.

craftycrofty

Yes me!!!!!!

What do you want to know?!

CC

kazd

Having read a few threads I was getting concerned that I was studying for a Mickey Mouse qualification. I am doing a distance learning course. I completed level 2 last year and took the exams which I passed thankfully. Because of the work I do I am unable to start studying again till after Easter.

I will start level three next March and hopefully take the exam in June.

Did you start out with any finance experience and are you now practicing on your own or are you working for someone.

craftycrofty

I worked in banking for about 20 years and while I was on maternity leave I wanted to retrain to do something more flexible (ie self employed).

I took part 2 & 3 (was exempted from part 1) Then I wrote to over 20 accountants in the area asking if they used self employed book keepers. I had a few +ve replys and after an interview with one of them went to work for them. I was paid £8.50 p/h (in Sept 2000) After a few years I gradually started to get clients of my own and as my confidence grew I took more on. I now work soley for myself charging £15 p/h. I only take on clients who I can do term time only! Depending on where you are good book keepers are hard to find so I guess if I was really hard faced I could charge more, but I am happy with £15.

You should carry on with IAB. I was put off at first by some people saying I should do AAT, but I only wanted to do book keeping to Trial Balance level so IAB was fine.

In the end the exams get you in somewhere and then you gain experience. Its the experience that is the key!!!

I did a sage course of 12 weeks too which was very useful. But its good to know the manual double entry system first so you know what to do if anything goes wrong.

Good luck and let me know if you want to know anything else!

CC

kazd

Thanks for you reply Craft, sorry it took so long to reply but I have been hard at it trying to sort out our holiday and had only a limited time to sort it out.

I started at Level 2, don't know about when you did the course but they do not offer Level 1 anymore, this did concern me slightly but my tutor assured me that Level 2 was very basic and could be gained by somebody without any basic accounts training. ie school leaver.

Anyway I successfully passed both parts, obtained a B Credit and an A distinction for the second part. Have probably forgotten most of it now but am sure it will all come back once I start the Level 3.

I had thought that I would complete at least the first stage of Level 3 and then try and get some temp work. I then wanted to do Sage Line 50 but have just read a post that said to obtain a Multiple Company version costs £1200 so maybe thats something to aim for when I have a bit more experience under my belt.

Regards
Kazd

craftycrofty

As far as the Sage software is concerned, I make sure each client owns their own copy. Usually I recommend that they use Sage Instant Accounts Plus. I think it costs around £120 ish. The important thing about this is that it means if for any reason you can no longer do their books they are able to find another book keeper who can then take over using the clients version of sage. It also keeps it legal as far as licences are concerned.

The other point on this is that if you have the top notch version of sage which costs £1200ish, its probably too higher spec for what most small business want. After my 7 years of book keeping I have not met a client who needs anything higher spec than Sage instant Accounts Plus.

HTH

CC

cagneuk

Hi,
I know this is an old thread but hoping an mse might be able to give some advice. I've been trawling the up your income board as that is exactly what I need to do. I work full time mon - fri 9 -5 and also have taken on a second job friday and saturday evenings at tesco. My wife works full time also but we have a growing family and over the last few year our debts have grown also.
Anyway enough about me. The reason I'm adding to this thread is I've worked for Sage in technical support supporting sage customers for about 8 years. Primarily Payroll and Sage Accounts as well as some of the smaller products.
As I have no 'official' accounts qualification, I was wondering if people think the knowledge and experience I do have with sage would be enough to offer my services to businesses at evenings and weekends.

opinions really appreciated