In my last role as an administrator I became involved in some of the book keeping for the companies accounts, I found I had a natural aptitude for this and more importantly really enjoyed it. Whilst at home on maternity leave, I have embarked on the computerised accounting for business course with the IAB, through the Home Learning College. I've completed my Level one and I'm part way through my level 2 and I have started applying for some part-time book keeping roles.
I've spoken to a couple of Accountants and 2 recruitment agencies and neither have heard of the IAB, they all talk about AAT, which has been disappointing.
I thought the AAT courses were aimed more at those who wanted to become qualified accountants, my ambition at the moment is to become a good book keeper/accounts assistant with an accountants firm. I would also like to qualify in payroll.
Once I've completed the Level 2 with the IAB, should I embark on an AAT course? If so what course should I do and would the IAB course mean I could apply to do a higher level with the AAT rather than start from the bottom?
for employment the lowest level that you should look at is as you are being told AAT.
IAB and ICB are aimed more at people who are looking to set up in self employment.
The reasoning behind this is historical. Many accountants (ACA's and ACCA's) started out their careers in accounting by doing AAT before being moved up to the higher accountancy qualifications so they know that qualification and expect others to follow in the same footsteps even where those who follow have no intention of moving up to the higher qualifications.
As you state, at MAAT that is an accountancy qualification but to get there you will have gained all of the same bookkeeping knowledge that you have with either IAB or ICB.
The bookkeeping qualifications seem to be moving away from bookkeeping and trying to be real alternatives to AAT but thats not really making a difference as for every job there are a lot of applicants so some qualifications are excluded from agent searches in order to reduce the number of CV's they need to look at to find suitable candidates.
I know, that's unfair in that we have brilliant and awful people with every qualification and a peice of paper does not on its own neccessarily make an AAT person better for a job than say and IAB or ICB one... Its simply a way of keeping the numbers down when filling a role.
Your IAB level 2 alone would not get you exemptions... BUT!!!... AAT have something called a skillscheck which is a set of questions to determine whether you should start at level II or III.
You would be able to get a good grade on the skills check and save yourself quite a bit of money by skipping level II.
Good distance training providers for AAT are First Intuition (Contact Nick) and Premier (contact Neil).
Even having an AAT qualification is no guarantee of employment but your bookkeeping experience in your last role puts you ahead of many others with the same qualification.
Just to emphasise though that nothing that you have done to date has been a waste. Everything that you learn, no matter which body that is with is important and to be a success in this field there is a LOT to learn and you will be learning forever, it's not simply an up front set of exams but rather constant investigation, revision, CPD, reading newswires and of course being here and answering the questions of others will in itself often be a learning experience.
Welcome to the forum Sara and hope to chat again soon.
kindest regards,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I have had a look at the AAT website. If you go to this link https://www.aat.org.uk/find-a-course/exemptions . If it is not already open, click on the top option on the page entitled "Check your elibility and contact AAT". Within that section click on the pdf link entitled "Exemptions for AAT qualifications". If you scroll to page 2 of the pdf you will find some information on what exemptions from AAT exams you can get if you have completed IAB Level 2. You will then need to contact the AAT if you wish to apply for student membership.
As Shaun said, at bookkeeping level the main qualification for employment is AAT.
As a point of interest, in my part of the country (North East England), it is possible to get a finance manager job paying £25k to £30k, typically in small companies or charities with AAT Level 3.
David Ballantyne wrote:As a point of interest, in my part of the country (North East England), it is possible to get a finance manager job paying £25k to £30k, typically in small companies or charities with AAT Level 3.
Really!
I suspect that your agents are likely to be carpet bombed with CV's tomorrow of people willing to relocate, lol.
Hi David,
my impression has always been that until you had passed level IV it was only really lower level positions that were open to AAT students.
Even ACCA students quite far into their qualification would find it difficult to get to interview for finance manager roles in this area.
Of course, there's always the experience override where the qualification doesn't really come into the equation. But as a straight qualification based getting to interview I'm not seeing it... Or maybe thats simply because that wouldn't happen in the Midlands. All really a matter of supply and demand when it comes down to it. Do you have a shortage of qualified accountants up North? There's certainly no shortage here and we still have hundreds applying for every advertised position.
I've not seen anything to the scale of the 900+ applicants within an hour for an accounts assistant role in Wolverhampton that we had a couple of years back but we are still talking a lot more applicants than positions available.
The question now then is why would the North East be out of reccession but the Midlands isn't? Generally in the past growth has crept northwards from London but this time from what you are saying we've been leapfrogged which is a little worrying (for us, not for the North East).
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Thank you for replying. After my post this morning I found the AAT skills test which recommended I start at level 2, however I then found Premier Training who also offered a skills test and was advised that I could start at level 3?
Wouldn't have been able to complete the skills test without the knowledge I have gained on my IAB course so I've been given confidence in what I have learned so far.
Should I go with what the AAT say and start at Level 2 or Premier Training and start at Level 3?
😊
There is nothing in AAT level II that you have not already done with the IAB. I would skip it, join at level III but still buy that book that I suggested above in order to hone your basic skillset.
AAT level II is really an introductory level. Level III is where you want to be.
Who did you talk to at Premier? Was it Neil? (He's SpamKebab on this site).
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
i haven't spoken to anyone as yet. After completing the skills test I had a feedback email from Peter Clarke advising that I could start at level 3 which was pleasing
Eagle training get a good review and I would have a look at their site. They also have quiz's you can do to asses every level (only you see the results). They also give excellent value.
I think like Premier they would advise you to start at level 3 (as per above link).
They also offer IAB payroll courses.
Like yourself, I started out doing some home based studying in the depths of winter after an xmas. I wasn't sure what to do either. I did my MICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) with Training Link and some IAB Payroll courses at the local college (as I was distance learned out). It is disappointing that recruiters only understand AAT. I also have a friend that did all her IAB bookkeeping manual and computerised level 2 courses (at night school) and is just about to start doing AAT Level 3 (day release) at the local college - She refuses to do home learning and needs to attend a class. Also, she only wants to work as a self employed bookkeeper.
As Shaun says you have wasted nothing and its the way forward for you that counts. The thing that put me off AAT home studying was the exams - you have to find an assessment centre near you, book and then attend (I think it can be costly and time consuming) - I think there may be six exams on level 3.
I look at jobs on http://www.indeed.co.uk/ and some adverts say AAT bla or equivalent or working towards AAT bla or would be expected to study for AAT bla.
About getting Finance Manager roles at AAT Level 3. I should have qualified my answer by stating that you would need the necessary experience for such a role. These roles typically come up in organisations with turnover of £2 to £5 million. They are usually either charities with uncertain incomes and thin margins or family owned businesses run by hard nosed business men/women.
These jobs typically mean that you are running an accounts department with one or possibly two staff, or even just you.
I have attached a copy of a web page for a Finance Manager role for one of our local charities. It's for a fixed term contract, but there is no question that it is a full on finance manager role with input into strategic planning. No salary is quoted but I would be very surprised if it was paying less than £25k pa.
Regarding the North East employment market. I have to say it is good at the moment. There seems to be a good supply of roles at all levels at the moment.
