Forum

• # 83994
• Sun 15 Jul 2012 08:38 PM

Hi I am thinking of joining the ICB as I would like to start working for myself. I have 12 years post ACCA qualification experience (varied in a practice covering all tax/man accts/accts prep etc).

My questions are:
(a) how quickly could I qualify (I am wanting to study at home whilst still working in full-time employment)
(b) would I be able to give tax advice under the ICB as I have so much experience?
(c) would the advice be to just operate as ICB and not continue with my ACCA membership (would reduce my costs and I would think the ICB qualification is more relevant for offering bookkeeping and tax services)?

Many thanks for any advice given - I am still in the early stages of thinking about this career move.

Chicka

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• # 84003
• Mon 16 Jul 2012 07:14 AM

My best suggestion would beto ring the ICB and ask.  You might be able to get exemptions for some or all of the levels (by fee I think, though I could be wrong).

As to tax advice - sorry, no idea but you could ask about that at the same time.

Should you give up your ACCA - probably no!  Bookkeepers only take things to trial balance and draft final accounts - you have the ability to offer a fuller service using your ACCA qualifications.  If you give them up you will not be able to legally offer those additional services - which is a bit like shooting yourself in the foot, surely?

ICB membership might be a route to self employment (ACCA not being all that keen on the self employed from what I have been told) but why limit what you can do?

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