I am studying bookkeeping, thoughts?

[compboyo]

So as I graduated and unsure what to do I recently started studying bookkeeping (though anyone can you dont need a degree or any qualifications) for the formal exams for certificate of bookkeepers. I am self studying from home.

I had A results in school for accounts and everything so far is like a recap not hard at all and nothing new.



Some Q's:

The pay seems good 10-25 quid per hour? And jobs always available? Potential to work from home and be self employed?


Any bookkeepers here?

I hear the job can be repetitive and boring?

They look for people with experience in ads for bookkeepers so thats bad as how can you get experience if no one employs you? Do voluntary work to get your rep up?


Is this a good move by me? I forsee myself passing the exams and obtaining certificates easily enough. However im unsure how easy or hard it will be to get decent constant work?

 

['Wes]

Studying bookkeeping, is this a Monday joke?

 

[willhub]

Accountant?

 

[compboyo]

Studying bookkeeping, is this a Monday joke?

I dotn get it?

Accountant?

nope its different...but similar.

Accountants take the work from bookkeepers and make accounts

its like this

paper work/invoices----> bookkeeper puts into order, organises figures/data etc------>accountant then puts data into financial accounts/statements to evaluate business


bookkeeper gets 10-25 an hour
accountants 20-60 an hour


However I can be fully qualified bookkeeper in 3-12 months dependign on speed I study.
To be fully qualified accountant can take 3-4 years.


Also, Accountants have more work and stress.....I dont need extra stress for extra money

 

[Pudney]

I know people who self studied the AAT. Couldn't get a job with it. Lack of experience always let them down. Find a company who will sponsor you to do it rather than self study.

 

[compboyo]

I know people who self studied the AAT. Couldn't get a job with it. Lack of experience always let them down. Find a company who will sponsor you to do it rather than self study.

thats accounting.

But yeh same story.

Dont wanna waste my time studying to then never get work.

I dont see many sponsorships for bookkeepers either. And I dont personally want to be an accountant

 

[Crowort]

I think the Monday joke bit is maybe something about bookmaker? I ain't sure but only thing I could think of.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Why would you do this as a graduate? Basic book-keeping is almost an unskilled job?!

 

[compboyo]

I think the Monday joke bit is maybe something about bookmaker? I ain't sure but only thing I could think of.

maybe I could get a job as a bookmaker?

I have no idea...I need a job

 

[Raymond Lin]

You got to love double entry

 

[compboyo]

Why would you do this as a graduate? Basic book-keeping is almost an unskilled job?!

It is but

1. Its not a particularity stressful job yet pays well. As a graduate with a good education and the regular bookkeeper paying 10-25 an hour I would for sure be on the higher scale at least 15-20 quid an hour once fully experienced.

2. I can work for myself and from home

3. I can chose when I want to work and how many hours.

4. Everyone will need a bookkeeper for infinite so should always be work.

5. Not many fully qualified graduate bookkeepers therefore I should have an edge at getting decent work.

6. I find it quite easy compared to what I have been studying. Therefore though not overly challenging I can do it relatively easy.

7. I dont see or know many other jobs going about atm, theres loads of graduates

8. If I like I can study accounts

9. I could prob be fully qualififed in 3-6 months. however to get work needs experience which is an issue

 

[[TW]Fox]

£20 an hour for book-keeping? I somehow doubt it! Thats £36k a year pro rata, why would anyone pay that for a book-keeper!?

 

[Pudney]

thats accounting.

But yeh same story.

Dont wanna waste my time studying to then never get work.

I dont see many sponsorships for bookkeepers either. And I dont personally want to be an accountant

No, they sell it as accounting but is no better than bookkeeping. But that isn't the important part, I've posted many times on my disdain for that particular qualification

Either way I think you will struggle to begin with without experience. Especially if you want to work for yourself, it's not a skilled job really and anyone can do it. Hell, I taught my gf's mum how to do it quite quickly.

 

[compboyo]

£20 an hour for book-keeping? I somehow doubt it! Thats £36k a year pro rata, why would anyone pay that for a book-keeper!?

do job searches minimum I have seen is 10 an hour, usually 15per hour...some as high as 25 per hour.

My Auntie is an accountant she told me these figures are right.

 

[Skidder]

Undertaking a degree is often in part to avoid repetitive, dead-end work isn't it? If you like figures and you are reasonably bright (not for me to guess) consider accountancy.

 

[compboyo]

No, they sell it as accounting but is no better than bookkeeping. But that isn't the important part, I've posted many times on my disdain for that particular qualification

Either way I think you will struggle to begin with without experience. Especially if you want to work for yourself, it's not a skilled job really and anyone can do it. Hell, I taught my gf's mum how to do it quite quickly.

yes I seem to be selling myself short and could easily get bored as the job is simplistic but there are not many jobs going about that suit my fancy.

I like the idea of future self employment, working from home etc..

However, it could be boring

 

[iraiguana]

Fox is correct on this one book-keepers are typically ~ £18K upto ~£25K from my experience.

Just do the Accountancy training with a local firm or one of the big ones. You get paid reasonably well during your training (as much as you would earn as a book keeper) and then you can earn big money at the end of it doing easy work somewhere else.

 

[compboyo]

Undertaking a degree is often in part to avoid repetitive, dead-end work isn't it? If you like figures and you are reasonably bright (not for me to guess) consider accountancy.

True but whilst accountancy may be more challenging it may still be as boring and slightly repetitive, number crunching etc...and it will be a lot more hours and work, deadlines, pressure and stress.

Though I may be intelligent I am not a very work orientated person. I like to study but Im not so keen on working. And I dont like offices or office work much ironically.

 

[Pudney]

Fox is correct on this one book-keepers are typically ~ £18K upto ~£25K from my experience.

Just do the Accountancy training with a local firm or one of the big ones. You get paid reasonably well during your training (as much as you would earn as a book keeper) and then you can earn big money at the end of it doing easy work somewhere else.

Fox is correct from a permanent employee but this isn't what the OP is talking about. He's talking about 20p/h freelancing which is easily achievable. Pro-rating it up is silly.

 

[compboyo]

Fox is correct on this one book-keepers are typically ~ £18K upto ~£25K from my experience.

Just do the Accountancy training with a local firm or one of the big ones. You get paid reasonably well during your training (as much as you would earn as a book keeper) and then you can earn big money at the end of it doing easy work somewhere else.

Im not sure if there are many firms offering training?

tbh Im not sure I want to be an accountant either? And it would take 3 years to be fully trained?

Bookkeeping appealed as I could self study in 3-6months I imagine and see if I like it or not. Accountancy is much more of a commitment especially if working+study