What is an accounting technician, is it a fancy word for an accountant?
i was thinking of doing a 2 year evening course with IATI, are their courses reputable? would i be a qualified accountant afterwards?
Other - Education - 3 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Best to ask the course co-ordinator, but my guess is it may be someone who simply inputs data into accounting software.
Answer 2 :
an accounting technition is not an accountant. I have never heard of IATI - you would need to check them out first becuase you might find there course worthless
Answer 3 :
I am an 'Accounting Technician' i am not a fully chartered accountant, it means that i have completed AAT NVQ level 4 To be a proper chartered accountant you will need to go to university and complete a course like ACCA or ICAEW
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
what is the difference really between an accountant and a book keeper?
what is the difference really between an accountant and a book keeper?
do accountants do basically what a book keeper in business has always done? or when, how branched off this necessary job to the role of an "Accountant"? why accountants make so much money and need so much education? how compare their incomes to others? and are they often making more money than advertisers, etc? why , how again? thanks fo ryour answers!
Financial Services - 1 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
a bookkeeper has taken enough courses to perform the basic, day to day, record keeping. Bookkeeper's work is usually inspected by an accountant or CPA. A 4-year degree in accounting, plus 5 years of working in PUBLIC accounting, Plus taking the State CPA Exam, and passing, makes you a CPA.. Accountants and CPAs get much more involved in a lot of detailed work, than bookkeepers.
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do accountants do basically what a book keeper in business has always done? or when, how branched off this necessary job to the role of an "Accountant"? why accountants make so much money and need so much education? how compare their incomes to others? and are they often making more money than advertisers, etc? why , how again? thanks fo ryour answers!
Financial Services - 1 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
a bookkeeper has taken enough courses to perform the basic, day to day, record keeping. Bookkeeper's work is usually inspected by an accountant or CPA. A 4-year degree in accounting, plus 5 years of working in PUBLIC accounting, Plus taking the State CPA Exam, and passing, makes you a CPA.. Accountants and CPAs get much more involved in a lot of detailed work, than bookkeepers.
Read more other entries :
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
How do I become a chartered accountant once I have a AAT level 4 diploma?
How do I become a chartered accountant once I have a AAT level 4 diploma?
I want to become a fully qualified chartered accountant. What is the most direct route of achieving this once I have accquired an AAT level 4 diploma in accounting?
Other - Education - 1 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Check with the Institute itself.
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I want to become a fully qualified chartered accountant. What is the most direct route of achieving this once I have accquired an AAT level 4 diploma in accounting?
Other - Education - 1 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Check with the Institute itself.
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Thursday, November 1, 2012
How do you become an accountant?
How do you become an accountant?
Im 27 and looking for a new job after working in the millitary. I would like to become an accountant and im willing to take on home studying but would rather not go to uni. Anyone know the best way to get into the industry?
Other - Careers & Employment - 7 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Get a degree and take the steps necessary to become a CPA. There are no shortcuts.
Answer 2 :
Do your friends think you are the most boring person on earth? If not, accountancy may not be for you.
Answer 3 :
the best way is to become an accountant is to get a 1st class degree from there you will have companies begging to employ you. But if you havent got such a degree then write to all the top accountancy firms; PWC, KPMG, Delliots etc and asking for jobs. Usually you get replys and inteviews there are ok employment prospects but not brilliant. If all that fails you should get a degree at the open univeristy and repeat the last step.
Answer 4 :
1. Buy a grey Suit 2. Learn to count. More seriously - check out your local college or uni for an open learning course. They are the type you can do at home in your own time. If you have no experience start lower with a diploma course rather than a degree. Once you have the all important bit of paper go job hunting. You will probably be expected to sit your proffessional exams once you are in a position at an accountants, as for example an accounts clerk. Once you have studied for and got them- not easy by the way, then you can be more picky about jobs / salaries. Its not a quick career to get into properly, you might want to think it over.
Answer 5 :
You can go to college either full time or day release and study for your diploma. Then once you get this, probably after 2 years, you will then have to it your professional exams whilst gaining 3 years practical experience. There are no shortcuts here, you must gain three years practical xperience before you can qualify. This is how l did it, got a HND then started the ACCA exams. By the time l qualify it will have taken me 5 years. Good luck p.s i never wanted to go to uni either.
Answer 6 :
Contact CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) enrol as a student get a job in a finance dept of a company and work and study hard and you'll do it if you really want to. Depending on your starting point it will take a few years but CIMA members get the most interesting jobs and are the best paid Chartereds included! Its far from easy but I did so why not you?
Answer 7 :
Defense Finance Accounting Service(DFAS) is hiring big time! having been in the military you should know what company that is. If you have a day of accounting/budgeting/bookkeeping experience or a pulse, you are qualified.
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Im 27 and looking for a new job after working in the millitary. I would like to become an accountant and im willing to take on home studying but would rather not go to uni. Anyone know the best way to get into the industry?
Other - Careers & Employment - 7 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Get a degree and take the steps necessary to become a CPA. There are no shortcuts.
Answer 2 :
Do your friends think you are the most boring person on earth? If not, accountancy may not be for you.
Answer 3 :
the best way is to become an accountant is to get a 1st class degree from there you will have companies begging to employ you. But if you havent got such a degree then write to all the top accountancy firms; PWC, KPMG, Delliots etc and asking for jobs. Usually you get replys and inteviews there are ok employment prospects but not brilliant. If all that fails you should get a degree at the open univeristy and repeat the last step.
Answer 4 :
1. Buy a grey Suit 2. Learn to count. More seriously - check out your local college or uni for an open learning course. They are the type you can do at home in your own time. If you have no experience start lower with a diploma course rather than a degree. Once you have the all important bit of paper go job hunting. You will probably be expected to sit your proffessional exams once you are in a position at an accountants, as for example an accounts clerk. Once you have studied for and got them- not easy by the way, then you can be more picky about jobs / salaries. Its not a quick career to get into properly, you might want to think it over.
Answer 5 :
You can go to college either full time or day release and study for your diploma. Then once you get this, probably after 2 years, you will then have to it your professional exams whilst gaining 3 years practical experience. There are no shortcuts here, you must gain three years practical xperience before you can qualify. This is how l did it, got a HND then started the ACCA exams. By the time l qualify it will have taken me 5 years. Good luck p.s i never wanted to go to uni either.
Answer 6 :
Contact CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) enrol as a student get a job in a finance dept of a company and work and study hard and you'll do it if you really want to. Depending on your starting point it will take a few years but CIMA members get the most interesting jobs and are the best paid Chartereds included! Its far from easy but I did so why not you?
Answer 7 :
Defense Finance Accounting Service(DFAS) is hiring big time! having been in the military you should know what company that is. If you have a day of accounting/budgeting/bookkeeping experience or a pulse, you are qualified.
Read more other entries :
Sunday, October 28, 2012
What is the going rate per hour for hiring an accountant ?
What is the going rate per hour for hiring an accountant ?
What should I expect to pay per hour for an accountant to do personal, small business taxes, and perhaps financial advice? I am in Los Angeles.
Small Business - 3 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
.. no sorry, this is still the UK board - posting the same Question to UK twice will not get you a better answer :-)
Answer 2 :
Bookkeepers charge about £ 10 per hour plus traveling. Chartered Accountants about £ 60 per hour. Why do need one anyway?If you run a business best to get an Auditor whom will check and verify your figures for £200 per annum.
Answer 3 :
Too F'ing much. This year I had to pay more to the Accountant than to the Tax Man! And my company wasn't Trading.......
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What should I expect to pay per hour for an accountant to do personal, small business taxes, and perhaps financial advice? I am in Los Angeles.
Small Business - 3 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
.. no sorry, this is still the UK board - posting the same Question to UK twice will not get you a better answer :-)
Answer 2 :
Bookkeepers charge about £ 10 per hour plus traveling. Chartered Accountants about £ 60 per hour. Why do need one anyway?If you run a business best to get an Auditor whom will check and verify your figures for £200 per annum.
Answer 3 :
Too F'ing much. This year I had to pay more to the Accountant than to the Tax Man! And my company wasn't Trading.......
Read more other entries :
Sunday, October 14, 2012
what's the difference between an accountant and a chartered accountant?
what's the difference between an accountant and a chartered accountant?
I have an accountant at the moment, he's a chartered accountant. I'm thinking of changing. My accountant is lovely but I just cant take much in that he tells me, it goes in one ear and out the other, nothings simple and straight talking. I have been talking with another guy that really knows his stuff, and talks in my language, I've learnt so much and had some brilliant advice from him, even found out that our business will need to be audited (if thats the right term) and our company will have to pay for it, Ive never heard of an audit before now. Only he's not a chartered accountant, does that make any difference in the world of the tax man? Veritas - you are spot on.... I am very unexperienced with managing a company. We have only been set up 7 months. It is a Limited company, myself and partner have an equal sharehold. Thats why I feel I need to be able to understand my accountant, because I hate feeling vulnerable. The audit thing was because we have almost 5 million turnover within 7 months, so it looks like its a probability we'd have an audit, not sure if thats true, like I said, Ive never heard of audit before. Not sure what it will cost neither. But as for simple things like the tax implications on taking out dividends etc, when I ask my accountant, I cant take in what he says, like you, he uses terms that I cant understand ie oxym something? Thats not even in my queens english dictionary :-) So to refrase my question. Being so new to managing a business, should I go with the accountant that I understand more clearly ? or mine that I dont? but trust him to get me through because he is more qualified.
United Kingdom - 8 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
none, both will rip you off
Answer 2 :
about thirty quid an hour
Answer 3 :
if he's not a chartered accountant, for a start, he can't do the audit. Only a CA can sign up for the (additional) ticket needed to do audits. "Chartered" means he met the standards to join his Instution, which means he's a trained professional. Not chartered means you can't rely on him alone, though if you can afford both that might be the best mix. On the other hand your non chartered friend might be a smooth-talking busker, and you might be best getting rid of him. Beware and move SLOWLY in this matter. Charlatans usually reveal themselves over time. All accountants have a problem communicating what they mean to humans. This can be remedied partly by a trip to your local bookshop ("Accounts Demystified" is the one that worked for me) and partly by placing your hand on his forearm while he's holding a pencil, and starting a sentence with the word "Look...". So I vote for keeping your CA but beating him into shape. A non-C A is too big a risk. The tax man (and worse: the VAT man) doesn't care who advises you, but he does care if you break the law. Unfortunately the law is fiendishly complicated. You need a serious professional with you.
Answer 4 :
a chartered accountant has taken additional qualifications, which places them at the top of their profession... which is why you pay more for them...
Answer 5 :
use both of them- use the non chartered for you normal business needs since he knows what he is doing then you take the books that are filled in properly by your accountant to the chartered one for it's final audit since there is less for him to do it will be cheaper for you than using the chartered for everything - in most chartered accountants offices they will charge you the full chartered rate but get an accountant to do tidy up the books before the chartered accountant looks it over but they charge you as if the chartered accountant did all the work
Answer 6 :
I think that you need to be careful, you seem to be very inexperienced. If you are a sole trader, ie, not a Limited Company, then you do not need an annual statutory audit carrying out on your business. Public Limited Companies, do require an Annual Statutory Audit and the majority of non-PLC Limited Companies will require an Annual Audit, but there are exceptions. Lets be clear though, an Audit is not technically the same thing as a firm of Accountants keeping your financial books for you, including perhaps, preparation of annual accounts, 'Tax Return', and 'VAT' returns'. It is not brilliant advice to be told that a business needs an Audit, if that is true in your case. That is very basic. I suspect that the term Audit has been used very loosely, and what is really meant is, assistance with accounting records. Again, any properly qualified accountant, would have known about the Audit requirement without having to find out, as you put it. Remember, Accountants will only do what you engage them to do. Your headline question is an oxymoron and betrays a lack of knowledge on your part. This lack of knowledge could be exploited. A Chartered Accountant, IS an Accountant. Those who are in 'Public Practice' will have been approved by their Professional Body, in this case, the ICAEW to carry out Statutory Audits and other Accounting Services. Moreover, members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, whose professional body is the ACCA, may also, if aproved by their professional body, act in the same way as the ICAEW. There are two other approved accountancy bodies, but you don't need to concern yourself with them. As far as the Customs & Revenue (tax man) are concerned, they don't particularly care who actualy completes your tax return, because you remain responsible for the accuracy of the figures. It is possible, however, that if a firm of Accountants with a recognised qualification carries out the work, you may be subject to less hassle and enquiry. Because they may feel more confident with their work. As I said before, you sound very inexperienced and easily impressed. How do you know, therefore, that your (other man) knows what he is talking about? You tell us very little about your business, what its legal status is, or what accounting work you want carrying out. Nor do you say what, if any, are the qualifications of your 'other man'. We know he isn't a Chartered Accountant, but we don't know if he is a member of any recognised Accountancy body, and if he is, whether he has been authorised to carry out the work you require. Again, with your current accountant, who is properly qualified, you don't say what it is that you don't understand, do YOU need to understand it, what work is he doing for you? I have just noted that you have used the word -WE- when referring to your business, that means it could be a partnership. The partnership agreement might call for an annual audit. One thing is for sure, your Chartered Accountant will know what he is doing, and you would have recourse to his professional body if he doesn't. Your other man is an unknown, who may simply be exploiting your ignorence.
Answer 7 :
one will sort money and the other departs it
Answer 8 :
Accountant = Dumb Chartered Accountant = Dumber
Read more other entries :
I have an accountant at the moment, he's a chartered accountant. I'm thinking of changing. My accountant is lovely but I just cant take much in that he tells me, it goes in one ear and out the other, nothings simple and straight talking. I have been talking with another guy that really knows his stuff, and talks in my language, I've learnt so much and had some brilliant advice from him, even found out that our business will need to be audited (if thats the right term) and our company will have to pay for it, Ive never heard of an audit before now. Only he's not a chartered accountant, does that make any difference in the world of the tax man? Veritas - you are spot on.... I am very unexperienced with managing a company. We have only been set up 7 months. It is a Limited company, myself and partner have an equal sharehold. Thats why I feel I need to be able to understand my accountant, because I hate feeling vulnerable. The audit thing was because we have almost 5 million turnover within 7 months, so it looks like its a probability we'd have an audit, not sure if thats true, like I said, Ive never heard of audit before. Not sure what it will cost neither. But as for simple things like the tax implications on taking out dividends etc, when I ask my accountant, I cant take in what he says, like you, he uses terms that I cant understand ie oxym something? Thats not even in my queens english dictionary :-) So to refrase my question. Being so new to managing a business, should I go with the accountant that I understand more clearly ? or mine that I dont? but trust him to get me through because he is more qualified.
United Kingdom - 8 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
none, both will rip you off
Answer 2 :
about thirty quid an hour
Answer 3 :
if he's not a chartered accountant, for a start, he can't do the audit. Only a CA can sign up for the (additional) ticket needed to do audits. "Chartered" means he met the standards to join his Instution, which means he's a trained professional. Not chartered means you can't rely on him alone, though if you can afford both that might be the best mix. On the other hand your non chartered friend might be a smooth-talking busker, and you might be best getting rid of him. Beware and move SLOWLY in this matter. Charlatans usually reveal themselves over time. All accountants have a problem communicating what they mean to humans. This can be remedied partly by a trip to your local bookshop ("Accounts Demystified" is the one that worked for me) and partly by placing your hand on his forearm while he's holding a pencil, and starting a sentence with the word "Look...". So I vote for keeping your CA but beating him into shape. A non-C A is too big a risk. The tax man (and worse: the VAT man) doesn't care who advises you, but he does care if you break the law. Unfortunately the law is fiendishly complicated. You need a serious professional with you.
Answer 4 :
a chartered accountant has taken additional qualifications, which places them at the top of their profession... which is why you pay more for them...
Answer 5 :
use both of them- use the non chartered for you normal business needs since he knows what he is doing then you take the books that are filled in properly by your accountant to the chartered one for it's final audit since there is less for him to do it will be cheaper for you than using the chartered for everything - in most chartered accountants offices they will charge you the full chartered rate but get an accountant to do tidy up the books before the chartered accountant looks it over but they charge you as if the chartered accountant did all the work
Answer 6 :
I think that you need to be careful, you seem to be very inexperienced. If you are a sole trader, ie, not a Limited Company, then you do not need an annual statutory audit carrying out on your business. Public Limited Companies, do require an Annual Statutory Audit and the majority of non-PLC Limited Companies will require an Annual Audit, but there are exceptions. Lets be clear though, an Audit is not technically the same thing as a firm of Accountants keeping your financial books for you, including perhaps, preparation of annual accounts, 'Tax Return', and 'VAT' returns'. It is not brilliant advice to be told that a business needs an Audit, if that is true in your case. That is very basic. I suspect that the term Audit has been used very loosely, and what is really meant is, assistance with accounting records. Again, any properly qualified accountant, would have known about the Audit requirement without having to find out, as you put it. Remember, Accountants will only do what you engage them to do. Your headline question is an oxymoron and betrays a lack of knowledge on your part. This lack of knowledge could be exploited. A Chartered Accountant, IS an Accountant. Those who are in 'Public Practice' will have been approved by their Professional Body, in this case, the ICAEW to carry out Statutory Audits and other Accounting Services. Moreover, members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, whose professional body is the ACCA, may also, if aproved by their professional body, act in the same way as the ICAEW. There are two other approved accountancy bodies, but you don't need to concern yourself with them. As far as the Customs & Revenue (tax man) are concerned, they don't particularly care who actualy completes your tax return, because you remain responsible for the accuracy of the figures. It is possible, however, that if a firm of Accountants with a recognised qualification carries out the work, you may be subject to less hassle and enquiry. Because they may feel more confident with their work. As I said before, you sound very inexperienced and easily impressed. How do you know, therefore, that your (other man) knows what he is talking about? You tell us very little about your business, what its legal status is, or what accounting work you want carrying out. Nor do you say what, if any, are the qualifications of your 'other man'. We know he isn't a Chartered Accountant, but we don't know if he is a member of any recognised Accountancy body, and if he is, whether he has been authorised to carry out the work you require. Again, with your current accountant, who is properly qualified, you don't say what it is that you don't understand, do YOU need to understand it, what work is he doing for you? I have just noted that you have used the word -WE- when referring to your business, that means it could be a partnership. The partnership agreement might call for an annual audit. One thing is for sure, your Chartered Accountant will know what he is doing, and you would have recourse to his professional body if he doesn't. Your other man is an unknown, who may simply be exploiting your ignorence.
Answer 7 :
one will sort money and the other departs it
Answer 8 :
Accountant = Dumb Chartered Accountant = Dumber
Read more other entries :
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Can i get an accountant to back date my books?
Can i get an accountant to back date my books?
I've been running a small business for 5 years in the UK and have always done my own books. I've paid a reasonable amount of tax each year and havent hidden anything but i'd like to find out for sure that i'm paying the correct amount. Is it possble for an accountant to go back over 5 years of books with me and correct any mistakes or will they only do it from now onwards? How much would this kind of service cost?
United Kingdom - 3 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
An accountant will do anything you ask them to. They will charge for their time. I don't know what the going rates are but I would guess it would be something like £75 - £300 per hour depending on the experience and skill of the accountant and where you are. If you have all your books, receipts, statements etc filed in good order that will make the job much easier and quicker - IE cheaper. If you have paid a lot of tax and you think you may have overpaid you might find that having an account do this will make you more money than he costs. You can only reclaim tax for the last 6 years, so you need to move quickly if you paid too much at the start.
Answer 2 :
you'd have to talk to a local accountant
Answer 3 :
Just to clarify what SimonC said. Accountants will NOT do anything you ask them to. For example, I will NOT undertake contract killings on a Sunday, and dog walking is absolutely verboten! You don't say what the business is or what records are held, but unless you've made a real cock up, it's unlikely to be a worthwhile exercise as it's going to cost you at least £2000.
Read more other entries :
I've been running a small business for 5 years in the UK and have always done my own books. I've paid a reasonable amount of tax each year and havent hidden anything but i'd like to find out for sure that i'm paying the correct amount. Is it possble for an accountant to go back over 5 years of books with me and correct any mistakes or will they only do it from now onwards? How much would this kind of service cost?
United Kingdom - 3 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
An accountant will do anything you ask them to. They will charge for their time. I don't know what the going rates are but I would guess it would be something like £75 - £300 per hour depending on the experience and skill of the accountant and where you are. If you have all your books, receipts, statements etc filed in good order that will make the job much easier and quicker - IE cheaper. If you have paid a lot of tax and you think you may have overpaid you might find that having an account do this will make you more money than he costs. You can only reclaim tax for the last 6 years, so you need to move quickly if you paid too much at the start.
Answer 2 :
you'd have to talk to a local accountant
Answer 3 :
Just to clarify what SimonC said. Accountants will NOT do anything you ask them to. For example, I will NOT undertake contract killings on a Sunday, and dog walking is absolutely verboten! You don't say what the business is or what records are held, but unless you've made a real cock up, it's unlikely to be a worthwhile exercise as it's going to cost you at least £2000.
Read more other entries :
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