It certainly looks like its going to be a major exam fest to get an accounting qualification soon - I wonder what is happening to the other exam heavy professions ?

I totally agree - I was just wondering, if the volume of exams and the subsequent cost - would put off  unsponsored students.  A friends son is having all his fees paid by his employer (Barclays).

As you say by the ICB lifting their game  - so that you can become a  light accountant is very very interesting !! Just completed my MICB and looking !!!!

Shamus wrote:

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Evening Jo,

sorry, been otherwise engaged for most of the day.

If your boys dedicated to his studies then there is no reason that he could not pass everything under the existing syllabus before the changeover.

Even if he's only passed levels II and III by then there is no indication that the syllabuses themselves are fundamentally changing and existing levels passed would I assume be banked under the old system. (You may wish to confirm that with your training provider but can you really see them telling people that what they've done so far doesn't count! not going to happen).

I know what you mean about electronic copies of magazines. Student accountant became electronic only and I ceased reading it the moment it changed over. My copies of Accountancy Age and Finance Director are also both electronic.

Thankfully Accountant in Business magazine is still hard copy so a lot easier reading (despite its contents being a lot more complex).

Its been a few years now so I can't remember how long it took for my first PQ to arrive. Really I shouldn't get it anymore saying as I'm no longer a student but I find the content particularly useful for keeping ahead of things and the content contributes towards being able to answer professional body related questions on here. (plus the insider gossip from the industry is great).

On the bright side with Kaplan, they have really good books (I prefer them to BPP)

Talk soon,

Shaun.

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Everrrrning Shaun 

Apologies for the delay in responding as like you Ive been engaged most of the time since my original email.  Thanks for the additional info - I reckon he could have the course licked by then - he is certainly enjoying it (who wouldve ever guessed that from him doing Chemistry and Forensics!), although I always used to say he could be a forensic accountant!  

I only signed up to PQ for the goss and I havent seen any as its nor arrived. Meant to ring them today but time just vanished with the work piles.  I get so many Accountancy Age things already online - drives me nuts sometimes - I must have about 50 emails lurking waiting to be read.  I cancelled Finance Director when they wanted me to sign up to the electronic version.  In fact Ive just gone through and cancelled a few corporate news items as they seem to bounce the same info into my inbox 3 times a day!

Thanks again for the info - interesting times!

Going off on a bit of a tangent here, but the more barriers to entry that one qualifying body creates, the more market niche opportunities are created for another qualifying body.

If there were a qualifying body that allowed a modular only approach where the initial level of qualification for which you can get a practising certificate was basic bookkeeping, with separate modules for VAT, payroll, sole trader annual accounts, sole trader tax returns, then such a body would have a marketing advantage.  Members of such a body could then do further modules to develop their knowledge as far as they wanted to up to limited company accounts, corporation tax, company secretarial etc.

Limiting the number of re-sits per year will provide a marketing opportunity for a professional body that doesn't place limits on this.

I guess the nearest example of what I am suggesting is the IAB/ICB/IFA route into accounting.  Those who are only interested in going into accounting on a self employed basis may be less enthusiastic about choosing the AAT qualification and may instead opt for IAB/ICB/IFA if they offer a more flexible approach to providing a practical path to earning a living.

If the ICB are looking to turn themselves into a direct competitor of the AAT in the employment market, then I think they are making a mistake.  I think they would be better off providing a modular approach to gaining an accounting qualification, providing the most flexible learning options including as many re-sits as a student wants towards practical skills that will take a student directly towards earning a living. The impression I have is that ICB is very successfully taking market share from the IAB.  I think that if they want to position the higher level of their qualification as an accounting qualification then they should be looking to compete directly with the IFA/AAT in the self employment market.

Hmmn, perhaps I could set up the Institute of Enterprise Bookkeepers & Accountants (I'm pretty sure that one hasn't been thought of yet!) and take market share from the IAB/ICB/IFA/AAT!  Time to start a new spreadsheet I think.