where are all the book keepers?

where are all the book keepers?

Didn't find your answer?

Is it just us, or have book keepers beome a rare species? We have recently advertised for an employed one-not one applicant. We have telephoned 20 plus from yell or yellow pages to see if anyone would work for us self employed, no one will leave their home/child/dog.

I am in South Hampshire. Is this a local problem or nationwide?

Lastly, we only charge our clients £17.50 per hour for book keeping as the local market will not pay more. Two people who would work for us wanted £25 per hour. That is not viable for data entry. We are not requesting any higher knowledge or qualifications.
anon

Replies (40)

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By User deleted
07th Feb 2008 10:09

Thanks for your offer. Despite all the negative postings and people claiming we should pay £75 per hour, we are now sorted for now. We have persuaded one of our existing book keepers to do more for us.

We are in Portsmouth and do really need someone within a 20 mile radius when work expands again to necessitate more book keeping.

Once again, thanks for your offer. I will forward it to a friend of mine who may be interested.

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By susangriffiths
06th Feb 2008 11:16

Book Keeper Available
Hi

I have just read all your comments. Are you still looking for a book keeper. I live in South Wiltshire and am a member of the IAB - qualified with Sage and Manual book keeping. Where abouts are you based?

If you are still looking for a book keeper please contact me.

Susan

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By AnonymousUser
13th Dec 2007 14:05

Simple
- move to Bedfordshire.

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By NeilW
13th Dec 2007 14:35

Wrong advert
If you want a data entry clerk, advertise for one. Your problem is equating bookkeepers with data entry clerks.

These days a bookkeeper is actually more of an accountant that doesn't do auditing or fancy stuff.

NeilW

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By AnonymousUser
13th Dec 2007 14:50

Right place to advertise
We advertised on Gumtree.com recently and received over 70 replies when we advertised for a book keeper. The lady which we recruited is part qualfied AAT and is paid £9 per hour in South West London. Hope I have helped.

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By User deleted
13th Dec 2007 15:27

not always the accountant at fault
The book keepers we need are certainly not accountants. The book keepers we have had are not either. We just need people happy to enter invoices and reconcile a bank (ticking one number to another) and know which vat code to use on sage. The reason we haven't had any takers is nothing to do with the work involved as no conversations have got that far.

As a qualified accountant of 23 years and member of the tax institute I do not see that my skill level is comparable with that of someone who may have completed an 8 week sage course. Before people are up in arms I am looking for the latter, not the former. We do all the payroll , vat, accounts and tax back at the office. We are looking for inputters to go to client's premises.

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By User deleted
13th Dec 2007 15:36

gumtree
I think London is possibly a different market. We have advertised in the local evening paper which is read by most people here and also on job centre online. In addition I have also personally phoned every self employed book keeper listed in yellow pages and yell.com. A lot didnt return my call, even though my messgae stated I was an accountant offering work and those that did all wanted to owrk round their children or pets and would not work on client's premises.

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By AnonymousUser
13th Dec 2007 16:32

Pay peanuts, get monkeys.
Of course all you need is a data entry clerk, but most of this type of people now work in call centres/help desks etc.

Those of us left have worked a lot harder than an 8 week sage course to become competent bookkeepers.

I am employed at £9 p/h - and my employer gets a bargain, he only uses the 'proper' accountants for year end now. They are happy with this.
I also receive an excellent package of beneifits for this p/t post.

I also work s/e, for which I charge btween £12 & £16 per hour.

I am based in West Yorkshire, I imagine the rates are higher where you are.

Why not advertise for a school leaver and send them on an 8 week sage course?

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By frauke
14th Dec 2007 08:41

They are there......
I'm in North Hampshire and there are lots of book-keepers here. You have them too - and some charge a lot less than £25. ph! It depends on the "package and the work".

The problem is you advertised and need to "employ" them! Are you offering a full time job? That type of employment is very rare these days. Self-employed book-keepers (I think book-keepers in general) don't have the time to look through adverts - and the employed ones tend to be already employed in "good jobs".

Contact a few other accountants in your area, most will know of a few book-keepers that may be interested in extra work. (If you can find me and let me know where you are, I may be able to put a few people in contact with you).

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By User deleted
14th Dec 2007 10:51

I take great exception
I am afraid that I take great exception to some of the things levelled at me in this posting. I do not pay peanuts or want monkeys. I have had two book keepers leave me in the lurch n the last month. One left for completely non work related reasons and the other got an employed job nearer to home. Both were S/E but had regular programmed work. Both let me know they were finishing via email and gave no notice period. I had been nothing but fair to these people. I have just spent two non chargeable days correcting some work one of them did, which she has been paid for.

I have tried recruiting an employed person and contacted EVERY self employed person within 10 miles in my yellow pages/yell.com.

We have people to do higher level work so I am not looking for that. Just someone who can go to client's premises with paid mileage for £12 per hour. I can't pay more than that as I only chrage £17.50 and the difference covers my time, and the risk that I will pay the book keeper and the client won't pay me, which has happened several times.

I feel like I am some sort of villain. I am only trying to offer work.

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By AnonymousUser
14th Dec 2007 11:48

It's not just you
I speak to firms every day all over the UK and your issue is not uncommon.

I have some suggestions for you about your approach both operationally and your pricing strategy.

If you'd like to talk this through give me a call 0800 915 4225.

Bob

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By AnonymousUser
14th Dec 2007 13:53

Sorry anon...
I didn't mean to imply that you were in any way wrong, just that unskilled data entry type positions do not pay as much as call centres and that type of thing - hence why anyone at this level will go off and work for some big company on an inflated wage for their skill set.

I understand that you cannot afford to pay a proper bookkeeper for work that really isn't at a level of bookkeeping.

I also hoped that my suggestion of training a school leaver to do the type of work you require may be an option to you.

Actual bookkeepers these days will not work at that level because we can & do so much more, and people are happy to pay for it.

If you want to blame anyone for lack of entry-level applicants, i believe that it lies with the banks, media co.'s etc, who instead of having proper branch/customer facing staff, take on hundreds of would be entry-level candidates and train them to answer phones and have no autonomy. These people will then spend years doing the rounds of all such employers because the wages can be anything up to £16k (here in w.yorks) for work that really a monkey could do..... they all win, but the economy as a whole loses out.

Sorry again if I offended you, and merry christmas.

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By User deleted
14th Dec 2007 15:09

Dragon's Den
Anon, Let me tell you where I am on this: I think you are way below market rate if you are charging your clients £17.50 per hour. The average going rate even for a basic (ie Trial Balance) full-time employee bookkeeper in your area is cheap for the South, according to Hays' 2007 salary survey, at £21k pa.

source
http://www.hays.com/library/pdf/accountancy/comm-07-acc.pdf

The cost to your clients of hiring a basic TB bookkeeper, when you factor in ER NI, Hays' recruitment fees, slack time, training time, etc has to be 25% -30% higher; so let's say £27k. So an employee who never skips a beat sick-wise might be on the premises 1700 hours pa costs your clients £16 per hour.

The bookkeepers you are trying to hire for £12 an hour know this, and those s/e will themselves charge the going rate of at least £16 an hour; more if they provide flexible or part-time cover; and even more again if they are wise to the fact they are in short supply or are able to find the on-button for Sage.

Yours is not a viable business, anon; more of a lifestyle hobby. You are taking orders from your clients that you cannot fulfil at a profit. For that reason, I am going to declare myself out!


footnote: coming soon - Gordon Ramsey

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By User deleted
14th Dec 2007 16:00

Undercharging.
If you do not charge a full rate, you will not be able to pay competitive wages. Try charging your clients £75 per hour and paying your freelancers £25. My top tip is to base your charges on a unit rate of £18.75. A unit, being naturally 1/4 of an hour.

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By User deleted
16th Dec 2007 11:23

Are we beginning to appreciate bookkeepers?
I think there are bookkeepers and bookkeepers! If you're looking to employ someone directly there is a good chance you'll find a data entry clerk if that's what you want. But to assume that self employed bookkeepers work from that limited skill set would be very wrong.

A good bookkeeper is worth their weight in gold to a client who wants to know what's going on with their business. And they become quite close to that business in a way which the more modern and proactive accountants with an interest in small businesses, are now doing. I've worked with many businesses who see their accountant just once a year and less if they possibly can. Clearly that's not the best relationship and I am aware that an increasing number of accountants work quite differently and are proactive in working with their clients. So for many the bookkeeper fills the gap.

A competent bookkeeper will have a good understanding of PAYE and benefits, VAT and be versed in the dark art of producing management accounts. A data entry clerk won't.

An experienced 'bookkeeper' can step into a finance manager type role in industry at £30K per year. A self employed bookkeeper has to factor in non billable time and CPD just as acountants do. Based on yearly billable hours of 1600, £30K translates into £18.75 per hour. And then there's overheads of course.

Subcontracting to local firms of accountants is known to be an easy source of regular work. But it tends to pay less than working for the client directly. So the bookkeeper has a judgement to make.

Some of those working at home will have made a lifestyle choice based around other committments with money a secondary factor.

I've just taken on a client who was paying £35 per hour in London and not even seeing a P&L. I wish I'd known that before I quoted!

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By User deleted
14th Dec 2007 18:42

Am I on another planet?
£75 per hour for book keeping? We do regular local surveys and people in our area (freelancers and accounting firms) are charging between £13-£25 per hour. We did our last survey 3 months ago.

As for this being called a lifestyle business I find that a complete insult.

We have been going for several years and have created employment for people. I make enough profit to raise two children on my own, have a 4 bed house, a prestigious make of car and holidays to Florida. I am sure for some big shots on this site that is nothing but I am very happy with it and it is solely provided by this 'lifestyle' business.

We do all the usual services as well as book keeping and my original thread was to say we are finding this particular are a pain in the neck and unprofitable.

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By User deleted
14th Dec 2007 23:19

Blame Peter Jones
Er.. the stuff about lifestyle business and declaring myself out was just borrowed from the style of the Dragon's Den. The fact remains however that the bookkeeping arm of your business is simply not viable, unless it serves some wider purpose eg a loss leader to attract clients for your expensive expertise.

You say that, according to your surveys, bookkeepers in your area are charging between £13 - 25 per hour. Why then are you surprised that you have no takers at £12? And I wouldn't hold your breath if you offer marginally above your base market-rate of £13 ph - any takers will use you as a stepping stone and move on to something mid-rate (£19?) if they are the slightest bit capable (which is what seems to have happened to you already).

The earlier poster had it right with peanuts and monkeys - by your own admission you recently spent 2 non-chargeable days correcting simian work. How much did that lose you in your own "opportunity cost" fees?

I'm sorry to be blunt, but if you really have worked your way through yellow pages, advertised, etc as you say and have still not been able to find any takers then that can only confirm that you are not offering the market rate. Since the Northern Rock crisis, I myself have noticed a steady increase in the number of calls we receive from people in need of bookkeepers, many of whom ask to be put directly in touch with a s/e bookkeeper; and all willing to pay £18ph upwards.

Put simply, £17.50 an hour should be your buy-in rate, not your sell rate. For that reason, I wish you well but am going to declare myself out.


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By User deleted
15th Dec 2007 08:27

I blame you
Sorry, it was you who called mine a lifestyle business, not Peter Jones. You seem to just be antagonistic. My survery was on what people are charging clients, most of these were accounting firms hence by default they are paying people who do the work less than those rates.

I am quite frankly sick of getting insulting comments on here from people who have not got a clue about my local market. The people I have used were AAT finalists with Sage qualifications. They were getting £24k pro rata. Perhaps to some people on here that is peanuts but here it is a reaonsonable wage.

I don't know quite how many times I have to state this in this series of posts, but most conversations I have had with these people did not get so far as to even discuss money, it was the fact people only wanted to work at home and not at client's premises. I have two good book keepers who do all my work that is not on client's premises but can find no one who will work out of their own home.

Its so good to be in a profession where people use forums aimed to assist peers by making continuous insults and patronising comments.

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By User deleted
15th Dec 2007 13:13

Anon.....
you're extremely sensitive, aren't you.

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By User deleted
15th Dec 2007 13:38

Anon is understandably touchy
because there are no bookkeepers!

Agree with Phil - move.

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By User deleted
15th Dec 2007 21:36

To Acedemic. How did you do it?
Can you let us know how many clients pay your £75 per hour for bookeeping and how you got them? On this basis your consultancy fee should be around £450 -£600 per hour ( for the new client first unit fee ,that is 15 minutes). You would of course at a later stage add 15 minutes plus mark up of 1 hour to recover this.

Are you a partner in one of the big 4 firm?
Nice work if you can get it.

My firm charges between £25-35 for bookeeping depending on the volume of work. We are careful and not be greedy because their are many bookeepers who cound work directly for our clients at a lower rate . Our main source of revenu is the higher grade work following bookkeeping.

I wish we could charge our £75 per hour for bookeeping. I could reduce the stressful high risk work

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By User deleted
15th Dec 2007 21:47

Why should I
spend my childrens hard earned inheritance on bookeepers?

Because it will free up my time to earn even more for my children and Gordon Brown.


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By User deleted
17th Dec 2007 10:13

to continue the Dragon's Den theme-I'm out!
I am fed up wtih people making inaccuarate judgements about me , my qualifications and my personality.

Go and scare kittens for fun instead.

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By User deleted
17th Dec 2007 11:22

Christmas Comes But Once A Year....
...And when it comes it brings good cheer!

Anon, please accept my sincere apologies if we or, heaven forbid, I have offended you in any way. If people are making inaccurate judgements about you, I can quite see why you would be fed up. (Although I'm not certain where the inaccurate judgements about your qualifications comes from - you did divulge your quals on your 13th December posting).

I would be genuinely interested to know whether the bookkeepers you are seeking are expected to be au fait with any or all of:

inputting foreign currency transactions;
coding for job or project costing (say in Sage);
analysing extras on hotel expenses, for VAT & P11d purposes;
dealing with reverse charge VAT (say on Google invoices);
calculating and inputting fuel scale charges;
claiming VAT on employees' meals;
POP & SOP;
and finally, month-end routines & backups etc (say in Sage).

Personally, I'd expect a "TB Bookkeeper" (the lower-level - see my link to Hays' pay report earlier) to be capable of at least some, if not most, of the above. The problem we've found is with the number of newbie "bookkeepers" who give up their minimum wage admin job elsewhere and hold themselves out as a bookkeeper, being only too happy to work for a tenner an hour.

Is your work lower level than this? It would be interesting to know what others, yourself included, expect of a bookkeeper.

And good luck with your search.

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By User deleted
17th Dec 2007 15:58

?
I was referring to the post which said I was an FCA. I am not and have never said I am. Then again, who cares about the facts when you can just make endless judgemts and assumptions in order to assist your character assimation. You have still missed the whole point of my post which is I CAN get book keepers but they all want to work from home.

Also the comment of not having an elemenary understanding of economics is very insulting. It is stupid to say that people will not work for any sum when could cut out the middle man (woman) and earn more. If that was the case there would be no such concept as employment.

We pay to be members of various associations and take advertising that gains us these clients and also take the risk that the client wont pay, even though the book keeper is paid immediately in receipt of invoice. I personally meet all new clients and do any selling. Not everyone wants these risks or likes having to generate new business so there will always be some people who want to be a sub contactor or employee. I find you very offensive and your comment regarding Poles (in your words) was extremely offensive and I will be reporting it.

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By User deleted
15th Dec 2007 17:21

Well if you behave like Deborah Meaden....
...it's no wonder nobody will work for you! Try not to be so over-sensitive ("I am quite frankly sick", "I am afraid that I take great exception" etc).

I'll have one more bash at being helpful:

Your comment:....
"My survey was on what people are charging clients, most of these were accounting firms hence by default they are paying people who do the work less than those rates."
.....belays the fact that you are an FCA rather than an FCCA. Specifically, because you display not even the most elementary understanding of economics. People, with the possible exception of Poles, simply will not line up to work for you at £12 so that you can recharge them at the market rate. Instead they will work directly for your clients, at the market rate (say £16) and cut out the middlewoman.

Your comment:....
"I don't know quite how many times I have to state this in this series of posts, but most conversations I have had with these people did not get so far as to even discuss money"
......is out of the blue! What you said earlier was:
"The reason we haven't had any takers is nothing to do with the work involved as no conversations have got that far."
...which of course is a wholly different matter.

You would have a useful understanding of ergonomics/workplace psychology had you studied "Certified": specifically, Maslows theory about the heirarchical needs of your "employees". If you are eg unbending, uncaring or even bad tempered with them, they will swan off to another job ("these people" are evidently in high demand).

Nona, why not try Pitmans Southampton who no doubt churn out an abundant supply of 8-week graduates capaple of working at the level you require? http://southampton.gumtree.com/southampton/37/14548337.html

Good Luck

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By User deleted
17th Dec 2007 16:51

Just a suggestion
Why not arrange things with your clients so the work can be done off-site? That way you can use your existing people & not have to hunt high & low for someone cheap.
And I'd have to agree with some of the previous postings about your attitude. If its not the issue of money or work content that's putting people off then perhaps they're picking up on your attitude & deciding sensibly to go somewhere where they won't need to tread on eggshells for fear of offending!
And for the record I won't work at client premises, I work from home as it suits me & turn down work quite happily that won't fit with that. (And I won't accept a penny less than £20 minimum)
Finally, you should put your chargeout rates up!

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By User deleted
17th Dec 2007 17:40

Pollocks Then!
Anon, I'm absolutely astounded at your aggressive attitude - what is their to be offended about in referring to the Polish labour force as "Poles". What on earth is there to report me about? Has the name become politically incorrect in the years since I studied modern history?

Your lack of graciousness in accepting an apology, not to mention your taking offence when none is meant, leads me to the conclusion that you can only be in dire need of a holiday.

Kindly withdraw my application for the position.

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By User deleted
17th Dec 2007 18:05

agree with some of Lee
Lee, the people i have working here are already fully occupied. The key is to put up charge out rates or decline work. I totally agree with you on that. I have also tried getting some of the clients to have their work done away from their site, but they won't budge. I have now given them up.

I am usually a very laid back person but some of the posts on here are very inflammatory and also keep making out I have said things I haven't or by making large assumptions. I should just ignore them but when the comments get personal it is hard to. I have shown all of this to my employees who are pretty amazed and arent recognising the person I am being described as.

I am sorry if I have come over as aggressive. I am certainly not, things sometimes dont convey well in print.

Good luck to everyone and a merry xmas.

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By User deleted
17th Dec 2007 21:09

My employees...
... when I showed them all of this all agreed that I am not offensive, and don't recognise the person I am being described as. Just as well, or I'd have cut their Christmas bonuses!

Apology accepted, nevertheless.

Wesołych Świąt

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Dennis Howlett
By dahowlett
18th Dec 2007 21:37

A different approach
Have you thought about moving your business model to one where the routine work is outsourced? I know Bob Harper's model and it can work well. But it puts the onus on the client to get work done they may not be prepared to undertake. I know Bob is producing some top flight support materials so it could be worth trying.

Without wishing to pimp too hard, I have a small stake in a service aimed specifically at contractor style organizations that is almost wholly self service. Check out: FreeAgent We of course suffer from the same problem as Bob but we're looking at a relatively fine slice of the whole market, have developed for that market and so far it's gone down very well. We think the solution removes many of the costs that are being driven downwards.

I'd recommend reviewing the portfolio so that you can figure the value of these clients. Remember that with a charge out of £25 and input of £17.50, you're leaving very little room for any attendant overhead in administering the book-keepers. It might be the profit margin is almost nil and therefore a rethink is required. Solutions such as Bob's and ours could solve that problem for you.

Hope that helps

AccMan

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By AnonymousUser
19th Dec 2007 07:59

Risk Management AND Improving Service
Bankers (my former colleagues) start taking a serious interest in their customers/clients once the TO is in excess of £1M. We cannot afford the luxury of their economy of scale. However:

We are all aware a client needs varying levels of service, which may include:

1) outsourced data processing skills (low level and low volume bookkeeping).
2) Bank reconciliations and TB (senior level bookkeeping)
3) POP and SOP training and support
4) EPOS automation for small wholesale, retail and hospitality enterprises.
5) Remote access OR "Software as a Service" facilities.

Cash Management and On-line Banking Services

From a bookkeeping point of view, life has become a touch more complicated with the introduction of Debit Cards, Electronic Point of Sale and Internet Trading. E.G.

a) When a client pays ten or more suppliers and/or employees per month, writing cheques or making on-line payments can become time-consuming and expensive.
b) Bank and EPOS reconciliation is essential for level of accuracy and error monitoring
c) Debtor management and Factoring controls are key to a speedy Year End TB!

Worth the time and effort? Read my case study and than make up your own mind!

Case Study

One of my newer clients decided to open a trade counter in South East England (2004). Their chosen accounting software was installed, but because it was a fledgling business they were discouraged from training and technical support, due to exorbitant consultancy fees.

In April 2007 I was called in to help them prepare for the opening of a second trade counter and introduce the client to new remote access technology.

My original recommendation involved an electronic till software which is capable of "end-of-day" downloading into the accounting software. There were further complications, due to "lack of expertise" management of the accounting software.

The client has found a new office manager and we have set in motion a fast track learning program and redevelopment, scheduled for completion before the next year end on 31st May 2008.

If substantial growth in business and cash flow is achieved, it won't be long before a part time CFO service is required.

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By User deleted
19th Dec 2007 09:43

Willing Hands
Hi Anon,
There's a few affordable Sage part-timers registered with accountabilityrecruitment. I know the agency fees are a pain in the rear, but at least they'll weed out the jokers. Ask the agency to take 50% of their fees if after 3 months their candidate measures up - they'll be desperate for any pre-Christmas business.

P/T Bookkeeper (04534) £10-11 per hour 20 miles radius Petersfield Hampshire
Using Sage Line 50, this lady currently runs the sales, purchase and nominal ledgers; raising customer invoices, coding and entering supplier invoices, entering and processing payments via cash, cheque and credit card. She carries out the banking and bank reconciliation, prepares VAT returns, and completes the financial year-end, in addition to handling all aspects of the Sage Payroll processing (including the payroll year-end), and the credit control. Available for between 20 and 30 hours per week.

P/T Accounts Clerk (02565) £8-9 per hour Portsmouth Areas Hampshire
Ref. 02565 is a highly experienced Accounts Clerk who has amassed more than 20 years experience of running the accounts and admin function of small to medium-sized companies. She is able to run your sales and purchase ledger, look after your cash book, do the bank reconciliations, maintain the petty cash, and prepare the VAT returns, all on Sage Line 50. With a particular strength in payroll, this candidate is able to prepare weekly, monthly or fortnightly payrolls on Sage for up to 400 per week.

There are one or two other possibles registered there too.

http://www.accountabilityrecruitment.co.uk/candidates.php

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By User deleted
19th Dec 2007 10:18

Reply to Martin
No, not from a Big Four firm, but I did start in a top 50 (where we were charging out £25 per hour for bookkeeping in the early '80s, I should add).

The tip is to sell the service, and the end product and then the price actually becomes secondary, as the client is so impressed with what he/she is getting. An experienced bookkeeper can work at least, if not more than double the speed of an inexperienced one, and experience is what you sell.

This just follows the "Pay peanuts, get monkeys" line of argument. Over the years we have seen so many businesses who spend a fortune on substandard services, if you can impress how good yours are then, the client will be happy to pay more.

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By User deleted
19th Dec 2007 10:50

accountability
Hi, thanks for this posting. I know these are the local rates, although no one on here seems to believe me. We have actually been mailshotted by the above with two good sounding CVs. I am totally snowed under at the moment but will pursue it in the new year.

What sort of percentage do agencies tend to add on? We have used them for admin staff but not accounting.

I told myself I would never come on here again as i have found some postings quite upsetting and personal.

Many thanks for your help.

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Dennis Howlett
By dahowlett
19th Dec 2007 10:51

But
I see nothing in Aernout's comments that show the original questioner's problem is addressed. But then accountants are very poor listeners.

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By User deleted
19th Dec 2007 12:12

Employment Bureau Commissions
Dennis, I too am in the dark as to what Aernout is pitching.

Anon, commissions range 10% - 20% usually. These Employment Bureau people are professional hustlers. I suppose to outwit them you could employ their candidate at absolute minimal hours, until such time as they, the bureau, buzz off.

Accountability charge 12% of annual salaries up to £8,500 and 14% of annual salaries between £8,500 and £20k. They will give you a pro-rata rebate if you and your employee do not stay the 13 week course. Not cheap, but I guess if that gets you someone at £3 - £4 per hour cheaper than your max then you'll recover your fee after a few months.

Personally I wouldn't dream of paying that fee - I might instead target the £10 - £11 per hour lady by writing a job advert with a description that matches exactly her Accountability description: experience, age, and aspirations etc (with a few extra hooks: flexible hours; relaxed atmosphere; excellent prospects; all that) and putting a postcard in every shop window in Petersfield. Make your description match her dream job and she'll be sure to bite for an interview.

Oh, and zero-hour employment contracts work well if you want to cut out non-working time. They're what some of the temp agencies tend to use.

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By User deleted
19th Dec 2007 13:28

same Andrew ????
Many thanks for that useful info Andrew. Are you the same Andrew who said on the 15th no one but poles would work for £12 and now concede there is a good candidate at £10-£11 per hour or is that a different poster?

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By User deleted
19th Dec 2007 15:20

Same Difference?
Absolutely not. Must have been the other Andrew.

Anyhow, I expect the candidate's name's Róza or Wanda.

I still reckon you should put your prices up a bit for the New Year - people expect you to put on a few pounds over Christmas.

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By jm2153
15th Dec 2007 18:11

£12/hour - you cannot be serious
QUOTE "Just someone who can go to client's premises with paid mileage for £12 per hour" ENDQUOTE

I'm in a coastal town in North Yorkshire, so I imagine hourly rates up here will be slightly less than in Hampshire. Even so, I would not contemplate accepting the rates you mention.

I won't set foot over the doorstep for less than £15/hour plus mileage (and am regularly turning down new work).

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