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manual or computerised??

  • 9 posts
  • # 53974

Hi Everyone

I've done levels 1 and 2 manual and 2 computerised and now I want to do level 3 but I'm unsure wether to do manual or computerised. I've trawled the various companies that offer training, though not many of them seem to offer both. One seemed to imply that you had to do both.
Hopefully somebody out there can shed a bit of light and help me make my mind up.
Thanks

  • Companion Fellow PM.Dip
  • Practice Licence
  • 1137 posts
  • # 53975

Hi Andrea

I am not a 100% sure but at the London conference 2009  .  I remember something been  mentioned that in the future you would need to do both, as you have to understand Manual accounting to be a good bookkeeper.   Hopefully James will respond on Monday

  • 180 posts
  • # 53976

The position regarding manual vs computerised accounts was referred to by Garry Carter at Conference in 2009. One of the points he raised was that software can (and does) fail and throw balances out of step.

If you cannot understand manual bookkeeping, relying only on modern technology , then it will be nigh on impossible to locate and resolve any issues arising from these failures.

There will be occasions when instead of using regular accounts software (Sage, Quickbooks etc) you will be using spreadsheets  for your bookkeeping. Spreadsheets are really manual accounts where the keyboard takes the place of the pen.

You may be adept enough to set up cross references so that a debit entry automatically creates a like credit entry - but this relies on you entering the correct formulae rather than specific program code.

So again if you are not adept at manual accounting you may struggle to resolve issues when, for example, the Trial Balance doesn't balance.

Geoff Smith
MICB, CB Dip, PM Dip
accountsLEGAL
www.accountslegal.co.uk

  • Member PM.Dip
  • Practice Licence
  • 115 posts
  • # 53991

Geoff said:

“The position regarding manual vs computerised accounts was referred to by Garry Carter at Conference in 2009. One of the points he raised was that software can (and does) fail and throw balances out of step.

If you cannot understand manual bookkeeping, relying only on modern technology , then it will be nigh on impossible to locate and resolve any issues arising from these failures.

There will be occasions when instead of using regular accounts software (Sage, Quickbooks etc) you will be using spreadsheets  for your bookkeeping. Spreadsheets are really manual accounts where the keyboard takes the place of the pen.

You may be adept enough to set up cross references so that a debit entry automatically creates a like credit entry - but this relies on you entering the correct formulae rather than specific program code.

So again if you are not adept at manual accounting you may struggle to resolve issues when, for example, the Trial Balance doesn't balance.

Geoff Smith
MICB, CB Dip, PM Dip
accountsLEGAL
www.accountslegal.co.uk

  • 273 posts
  • # 54005

James @ ICB said:

“Hello all,

Yes you would need to complete both manual and computerised, and I am pretty sure that most courses are now combined.

However, you don't need to do a course as such, only the final examination/assessment. So if you have experience you can just take the Level III without a course.”

Hi Andrea

I had several years experience prior to joining ICB and wanted to take a course to get rid of any bad habits for levels 1&2.

I was advised to get a hold of the book for the first two levels and see if I could self study without paying for a course.  The book was great and I passed with flying colours (after taking past papers just in case)

Try manual first as this gives a good basis for bookkeeping. Then bash on with Computerised for full membership.

But do this first before you waste your money on the courses........

 

  • 9 posts
  • # 54023

Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom. I've just ordered a book as a starting point, I'll let you all know how I get on.
Thanks again

Andrea

  • 50 posts
  • # 54026

Hi Andrea   When i sought my course i found them really expensive and then found training link which was great for me because i got all three of manual and 2/3 comp plus payroll management just over £1,000 compared to one company who wanted more than that just for one course.

Like everyone says you need both man and comp.
Its ok we will soon be sorted
Good luck

  • 50 posts
  • # 54096

Hi there Personally i am doing both manual and comp think we should understand both.  Just in case we do have to do manual at some point

  • 160 posts
  • # 54130

Hi Andrea,

You may be better off doing the level 3 manual book-keeping first, and then the level 3 computerised. You will know more about it then,

Kind Regards

Paula Welsh 

  • Fellow PM.Dip
  • Practice Licence
  • 115 posts
  • # 54150

paulawelsh said:

“Hi Andrea,

You may be better off doing the level 3 manual book-keeping first, and then the level 3 computerised. You will know more about it then,

Kind Regards

Paula Welsh ”

Can't agree more, I've just passed my Level 2 computerised and about to take Level 2 manual in a couple of days, then plough ahead with Level 3 manual.

Of the two courses I've learned so much more about bookkeeping from the manual rather than the computerised. I can understand how both courses have developed seperately over time, but perhaps they ought to be combined into one exam.

  • 11 posts
  • # 54152

The Manual courses are so much more important.  You really learn about bookkeeping, not about how a particular software package does it.  With the manual course behind you, you should be able to pick up and understand any accounting software system out there. 

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