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?

 

[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

 

[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

 

[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

 

[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

 

[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.

 

[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

 

[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.

 

[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

 

[compboyo]

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.

yes this is what I see and I think most bookkeepers will freelance. I cant foresee bookkeeping for 1 company all year.

Plus some companies only require a few hours work per week...so you can be doing multiple books at once.

 

[compboyo]

fair enough, earn the same thing for the rest of your life and see how motivating that is

Well at 20 quid an hour is a lot as I spend no money.

I dont spend money except on food or rent, internet, thats it.

I never go out. I dont like clubs, pubs or anything liek that.

I was making 150 quid a week and saving half off it.

I dont need much money

If I made 3-400 quid a week Id prob just rent some supermodel escorts twice per week but if I had a gf then i would just end up saving it all for a rainy day that never comes

 

[compboyo]

Your the guy with the degree in sports science?

yes but as I said that is unfair reflection on my educational background.

Physics A
Maths A
Accounts A
PE B
English B

Physics 1s year university -1's

Change course...sports science.....

 

[compboyo]

Bookkeeping is just an integral part of my job. You can only realistically expect £7 - £10 per hour self employed, more when you gain experience but every man and his dog are out there doing it and you can get your bookkeeping done in India for next to nothing (though people prefer to be able to see the person handling their finances).

It is however a good string to add to your bow if you are going down the admin road, add payroll and you can start to gain a reasonable wage when experienced and it's that simple that you end up with quite a cushy job.

You'll never be a millionaire though

but is it tedious/boring? Hard to get work at 1st?

 

[compboyo]

I am also thinking about studying to be lawyer maybe this would be more fun?

Im unsure though...I dunno what the hell I wanna do?

I thought about web development as well but thats hard to get work?


Really nothing much appeals to me. I like to study different things not work a job.

 

[compboyo]

this is ridiculous time wasting, sounds like you may need to grow up a bit if you are considering law and book keeping in the same breath

Well I have graduated but no clue what to do?

Its normal to evaluate different kinds of jobs I dont see the problem?

however I have a very low boredom threshold. Thats why sticking and picking one career just does not appeal to me....

I had dreams and hopes when I went to uni, so many things to do, so many possibilities I studied various things in my times due to extra courses plus course changes.

Criminology
Psychology
Zoology
Archaeology


I applied for

Geology
civil engineering
Geophysics
architecture


Now.....seems reality of work world is dull, not much real exciting easily obtained jobs nor no idea what to do?

 

[compboyo]

Book keeping is job, a 16 year old from school can do, if someone mentors him for a few weeks. That's why its ridiculous for a graduate to do it. You're essentially logging information, not much else. You might as well go full accountant. CIMA, ACCA, ACA? Come on.

right but I dont want to commit to something such as accounts that I prob dont want to do as a career. I also dont like long hours or stress so I prefer an easier life...as you say I can pick up bookkeeping quick and if I dont like I quit no time/effort wasted.

Plus its very good pay for a simple low skilled job isnt it.

 

[compboyo]

I thought you were going to Australia for a year anyway?

well thats an option also.

So many options?

Im also thinking off doing porn but I dont know how to get into the industry but I got da tools for the job ye

 

[compboyo]

There are loads of firms offering training, large and small firms and different qualifications.

Also you get time off to study at most places so it is not that bad

really. But this is a full time 9-5 job plus study?

I really despise to work 9-5 in an office.

 

[compboyo]

Just join local accountant or as in industry accountant(CIMA), if you don't like it, quit?

Theres nothing, stopping you quitting training.

I suppose.

I just think accountants work long hours and it can be stressful job?

Im not sure though?

Plus its sitting in an office 9-5 at least right

 

[compboyo]

You don't seem to have any idea what you want. Whilst it's totally normal not to know exactly what you wish to do the way you jump between totally random ideas makes me think that perhaps you need to lower your sights a bit. What about retail?

I don't think many succesful lawyers get into law after almost doing book-keeping 'cos its easy innit'.

No i mean for law I woudl apply for graduate law training programs. But yeh it is more serious dedicated hard work so unlikely id do. Id like to study some law for personal enjoyment though.

Its just another idea

And you are correct I have no idea what I ''want'' to do

As for what I am good at/enjoy..

Maths
numbers
spreadsheets
computers
(accounts? at school as a subject anyway)
art
music
sports
psychology


As for what I am not good at/dont enjoy..

social/people skills (formal)
offices
9-5
meetings
presentations
long hours
serious work ethic



so put that all in a bag and see what jobs pop out lol


I dont know what I can do with my sports science degree. I like nutrition and sports nutrition but unsure reality off getting full time work in this field.

Dream job would be like sports nutrionist to someone like Andy Murray and Id just travel round world to tennis torunaments etc...and help him out.

I also like golf.