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What is a Bookkeeper?
Bookkeeping is a growing profession - it is demanding, exciting, challenging and above all, rewarding. It is about understanding how a business works and then providing accurate figures that enable the business to know exactly how well it is doing. For men and women of all ages and from all backgrounds it provides outstanding career opportunities.
The basic system of double entry bookkeeping was invented more than five hundred years ago by a Cistercian monk called Luca Pacioli. His system still endures today and is used throughout the world, making bookkeeping a truly international profession. This website will give an understanding of how to train to become a bookkeeper and how to become a member of ICB. It will also help those who already have a qualification or have been working as a bookkeeper for many years but now want the support of a professional organisation to enhance career prospects.
A CAREER IN BOOKKEEPING
Every business, no matter how large or small, is required by law to 'keep books'. This involves the recording of the financial transactions of a business, whether manually into ledgers or by entering everything onto a computer. So, if you are well organised and methodical, like working through documents and enjoy seeing a set of figures add up properly, bookkeeping could be the career for you.
People of all ages are becoming bookkeepers: Young people fresh from school or college can achieve a professional qualification that opens up a whole new world of business to them or may become the first step to becoming a qualified accountant. More mature people bring years' of experience to their role and are in great demand from businesses who want a safe pair of hands. Many are mothers wanting to find a well-paid career running a bookkeeping business from home whilst still bringing up their family.
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| "You could work for virtually any type of company in every business sector, or in the public sector for organisations such as local councils, educational establishments like colleges/universities and the NHS.
"You might also be a self-employed
bookkeeper for a number of small businesses.
"Opportunities exist throughout the UK. Some organisations have small teams, where duties will be quite varied, possibly extending with experience to accounts payable/receivable, payroll and credit management.
"Large administrative and operational centres may have specific bookkeeping, accounting technician and professional roles.
"There are opportunities for bookkeepers to work overseas although having a second language as well as an awareness of any regulatory or cultural differences will be important."
The Financial Skills Partnership (formerly FSSC) is a strategic, independent, employer-led organisation which aims to enhance professionalism and talent for finance, accountancy and financial services across the nations and regions of the UK.
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Download Bookkeeper Job Profile.pdf published by the FSP
for general information about working in the industry
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Working as a
self-employed bookkeeper
WHAT ICB MEMBERS SAY
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It's so easy, once you're in there and you've got the confidence, your business will grow just by word of mouth.
Suzanne Kaufman MICB CB.Dip
Download Job Profiles
from these self employed members
Claire Packham MICB CB.Dip PM.Dip
Amy Ayton MICB (Comp) PM.Dip
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Working as a bookkeeper
within a company
WHAT ICB MEMBERS SAY
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The ICB qualification helped me get the job, and the ICB technical support line gives me the confidence to do the job.
Wendy Shallcroft AICB MICB CB.Cert
Download Job Profiles
from these employed members
Roberta Woodcock FICB
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Bookkeeping will take you as far as you want
Derek Silk FICB
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