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Hello everyone,
I became MAAT in 2010 and also ICB in 2011.
I have not had a lot of luck on the job front in the last few years. My last job which was as an Accounts Assistant I was practically forced out of due to the bullying of my boss.
I now work at a book keepers self-employed since march 2012. I started on minimum wage and this was shortly increased to £7.00 per hour. I mainly took the role in order to gain sage experience which i was lacking and seemed to be an disadvantage in interviews. When I took the role, I was recommended by a friend who has very sadly passed on, I was under the impression i would under the impression that i would be doing some basic sage entry and maybe some bank recon. however, (and I have also sent this happen to a colleage since she started) my responsiblies have increased massively in the last 4 months to bank recons, payments, wage runs, vat returns just to name a few. towards the end of the last 'heavy' month i got very stressed as the owner was out with clients and the other staff are much less experience then me and everything was left of my shoulders.
I know I should probably speak to my boss but I cant help but think about my friend saying that the boss always likes to pay as little as she can before she died. Also I am not the best at singing my praises and the boss keep saying that the workforce are not working quickly enough yet. Bear in mind that all the workforce have been there 10 months or less.
I cant help but think the only solution is to look for another job as i always thought this would only be a 'stop gap'. my last job i was on £9.00 per hour and I am finding it hard to make ends meet. I am starting to think I have made a terrible mistake and I only want the payback for my MAAT and ICB status
I would like any advice people could give me as the situation is really getting me down
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- Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 258 posts
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Hi Kristina,
I'm sorry to hear about your awful situation. It sounds as if you need some legal advice. I would suggest either phoning the ICB legal helpline or perhaps having a chat with the Citizen's Advice Bureau as they can best advise you on the bullying and also your current situation.
If you are working for your current boss full time, on their premises and using their equipment then it sounds as if you should be employed rather than self-employed. But please don't take my advice as gospel!
I think the next step for you would be to seek legal advice as I'm not sure any of us on the forum can properly advise you on this situation.
Sorry I couldn't help further.
Regards,
Meena
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Thank you Lady M,
I know that people on the forum cant advise me legally but I was hoping for a bit of advice on the salary front.
Thank you very much for the email.
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Thank you Lady M,
I know that people on the forum cant advise me legally but I was hoping for a bit of advice on the salary front.
Thank you very much for the email.
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kristina1980said:
“Thank you Lady M,
I know that people on the forum cant advise me legally but I was hoping for a bit of advice on the salary front.
Thank you very much for the email.
”
Hi Kristina 
I can help you with a perspective, as I thought through the pay policy for my eventual staff, i intend to pay on a sliding scale depending on experience, qualification, and dedication upto £11.50 /hr. The way I have worked this out, is on myself taking no less than a 30% slice of the invoiced time/fee. My rate for bookkeeping/VAT returns etc is £16.50, and that is what i base my quotes on.
I think out in industry if you were to get a job doing a range of activities with moderate responsibility you should be earning between £15k and £25k p.a. The more repsonsibilty or becoming a manager in your field could push that to £30k+. You have to be thinking your qualifications and experience are worth at least £15k, which is circa £8.00 /hr.
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thank you Stevie boy,
My employer currently charges £20.00 per hour for book keeping services/Vat returns so is currently making 65% or £13.00 per hour margin on my services. I am part time but my full time wage equates to £12740.00 per annum.
thanks you very much for your advice, I think I will continue to seek another position that is more fairly paid.
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- Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 86 posts
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Hi Kristina
From what you've said, I would say that you are being paid well below the industry average - it depends to a degree on whereabouts you're based, but I would broadly agree with the range of figures mentioned by Stevie Boy. Your qualifications and the level of responsibility you've been given suggest to me that you're worth quite a lot more than slightly above minimum wage.
If I were in your situation, the first thing I would consider is speaking to the boss. There's always the chance that he or she might not realise what the going rate is, or how much responsibility you're actually handling, and you might be able to renegotiate. If you don't feel that you can do that, I would certainly be looking at other jobs, or self-employment. There's no harm in seeing what's available, and if you're struggling financially, it might be your only option.
I'm not surprised you feel very down about the situation, but do remember that you can take control of it - you've worked hard to get the qualifications you have, and this deserves proper recognition. Do let us know how you get on, and give us a shout if you need any moral support!
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Dear Kate,
Thank you for the kind words which have made me feel a little better.
The friend who used to work for her before started on £8.00 per hour and ended up on £10.00 per hour after 4 years service. I cant obviously let her know that I know this as my friend has now passed on. I am sure that she knows she is taking advantage of me. She did receive my CV prior to me starting so she knows what I was on previously.
All of the staff are on the minimum that they can be on and futhermore she is not adverse to slagging colleages off behind their back and obviously the same is probably happening to me. As she is out visting clients most days, I find I often have to 'teach' a couple of the less experienced staff members even though I have only been on Sage four months my self.
I fear that the only option is to find another job but I am scared as because of the recession, the competition is high. I am aware of this due to being unemployed just over a year ago for several months.
I just hope something comes up very soon. I am finding myself down at least £100.00-£200.00 per month.
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 41 posts
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Hi Kristina
I am sorry you are having a difficult time at the moment but take heart that we are here to give you moral support.
I think you are well advised to speak to the ICB. It does not sound as if you are self employed to me. There is an online employment indicator tool on HMRC which can help establish whether you are self employed or employed.
You can find this at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/esi.htm
Some "employers" try to pass employees off as self employed because they feel it saves them Employers NIC, holiday pay etc. Your "employer" should be aware of this as this is the business we are in. It is also leaving you open to having to register as self employed, complete a self assessment and pay tax and additional nics. Also if you are self employed should you be holding an ICB practice licence and be registered for AMLR? I am not mentioning this to cause you further worry but to illustrate that you really need proper advice from your professional body, the ICB, to make sure that you have protected yourself. Perhaps the business itself is not properly registered where it should be for providing bookkeeping services or as an employer.
I would give the ICB a call tomorrow if I were you. It is confidential and they are really helpful and will give you all the help you need and reassurance.
You can get some Sage training online via the Sage.co.uk at quite a minimal cost because you are already qualified and understand the bookeeping principles. You may then feel more confident about looking for a better paying position elsewhere or even getting a practice licence and insurance and taking on some private work yourself.
Good luck. Jan
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 41 posts
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Hi Kristina
I am sorry you are having a difficult time at the moment but take heart that we are here to give you moral support.
I think you are well advised to speak to the ICB. It does not sound as if you are self employed to me. There is an online employment indicator tool on HMRC which can help establish whether you are self employed or employed.
You can find this at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/esi.htm
Some "employers" try to pass employees off as self employed because they feel it saves them Employers NIC, holiday pay etc. Your "employer" should be aware of this as this is the business we are in. It is also leaving you open to having to register as self employed, complete a self assessment and pay tax and additional nics. Also if you are self employed should you be holding an ICB practice licence and be registered for AMLR? I am not mentioning this to cause you further worry but to illustrate that you really need proper advice from your professional body, the ICB, to make sure that you have protected yourself. Perhaps the business itself is not properly registered where it should be for providing bookkeeping services or as an employer.
I would give the ICB a call tomorrow if I were you. It is confidential and they are really helpful and will give you all the help you need and reassurance.
You can get some Sage training online via the Sage.co.uk at quite a minimal cost because you are already qualified and understand the bookeeping principles. You may then feel more confident about looking for a better paying position elsewhere or even getting a practice licence and insurance and taking on some private work yourself.
Good luck. Jan
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