Hi I have recently passed my exams needed to start up on my own, I have sent out a few letters to accountants to see if they would be willing to put me on their books and I have also put adverts in the local newsagents etc. I was contacted by an indiviual who saw my advert and wants to out source some work to me, I met up with the her and there was a few concerns that arose from the meeting. First of all she did not tell me any of her qualifications if she was registered with anybody etc which may not seem much, but then she told me about a client that she would pass over to me to do the books for, she has had this client a while and she said that there were some payments that show up on the bank statement but have not been entered into the system as there was no invoices for, and that we would have to make something up ie number wise to tally with the statement. I then showed her all my qualifications and certificate of practice and insurance so that she knows that I am qualified and have all the paperwork in place, and she just stared at me blankly like she did not know what I was talking about, I gave her a business card with the ICB crest on it and all my other details but I did not get one from her.
The points I have talked about don't seem much on their own but when I add them up something does not feel right. Am I being over cautious???
Is there a way that I can double check her qualifications without a membership number or her thinking that I am a complete nut job!!
I would go with my gut feeling on this, it all sounds a bit strange and clearly not straightforward, missing invoices, making up something just to reconcile a statement. Is this something you want to get involved in ??
I would try to check out her `Company`, is she registered etc.,
Somethimes it is best just to walk away from a situation, particulary if, as you say, it does not feel right !
Thanks for the advice, someone else said the same thing! I will go with my gut on this one, but first I will try and check out the company if I knew what she called it!!
I concur... with Macson here. I think I would walk away from this .... no Business Card hmmmm yeah to many things not right here, seems they conducted them self in a wholly unprofessional manner. I would give it a miss personally... Good Luck..
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Anyone who isn't confused here doesn't really know what's going on.
unfortunately i have nothing to add to what the other replies have said, only that i agree with them. There are a lot of dodgy people out there.
I noticed as i was reading the thread that you were a member of the icb? I've had a look at the web site but is it something you would recommend? I am about to set up a new business in book-keeping whilst i am training and then i plan to go as a qualified accountant.
I have found the ICB to be very helpful and they are always ready to answer any queries etc that I have, I can't fault them so far. I have also heard that the IAB is also very good, so I think it comes down to personal choice. Sorry I could not be of more help.
I'm really not so sure on this one... as a few too many unanswered questions - and the person met with you to outsource work to you, not so much provide you information on their own qualifications (if any).
Did you ask, or she state a business name? Did she say whether she was a bookkeeper or accountant?
What does it matter to you if she is qualified or not?
Showing her all this info on ICB and bookkeeping qualifications might have taken her by surprise... since many bookkeepers aren't qualified and simply have the knowledge and experience to do the job. Just that from practices I've worked with I've never know any to seem too concerned about bookkeeping qualifications, and she may have simply been looking to give you a trial run to see how it went.
Personally I'd just ask about her business first and simply find out. Your only real concerns should be doing a proper job and getting paid (the oddest thing you've said is about making something up which really isn't appropriate).
Thanks for the replies, since I started this subject I did work for the lady and it did not work out at all, she never responded to any of my messages when i needed information. I did do all that I could have done with the books with the information that I was given and I handed it all back to her with a back up of what I did, and she was happy with that I even got paid the same day!!! But I will listen to my gut next time. Thanks for all your support.
Yes you guessed right, there was something else, she wanted me to make payments and receiepts up for things we did not have, to make the figures work. There were also a lot of invoices, where some had the VAT and others from the same company that did not account for VAT even though the figures were higher for example there was an invoice for £345 and the VAT on that £60.37, then there was an invoice for £3600 and no VAT on that when asked the lady just said just put them through in all one figure ie all the sales as one figure and all the purchases in one figure and any payments will just come off the totals. This may be ok for some people to do but for me I like to see what has been paid by whom and what VAT should be paid etc.
