ACCA qualified, working in Financial Services, want to start practice part time
Hi
I qualified with ACCA in December 2007 and am writing up my experience to get my practicing certificate.
I've been working in financial services throughout studying and beyond (asset manager, accounts assistant - bank, product control - IFA, financial controller), but my life long dream has been to run my own practice. I feel I've reached where I want to go in the corporate world and I'm now desperate to get out - the next move in my career within the corporate world just doesn't excite me and my heart isn't in financial services.
I feel now is a good time for me to start working towards getting myself able to setting up on my own. However, I don't feel I have a broad enough experience in the accountancy world in order to do it yet.
Does anyone think it is possible to find one, maybe 2 clients to "practice" with? When I say that, I don't want to give the impression that I would make mistakes with them - more just allow myself the ability to focus only on that one client, really getting to grips with what's involved in being a practice accountant. Then, as my confidence grew, taking on more clients.
Does anyone think this is a viable option? Does anyone have experience of this? Does anyone know how I would go about finding a client like that and what sort of software should I invest in?
Any comments would be appreciated, many thanks.
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Starting up and getting clients/no experience
This is a catch 22 situation. I have read so many comments similar to this in a lot of forums and have yet to find a practice who will allow someone to do this.
I have been thinking about this a lot and can't really find a solution except that if you think you are able to get your first customer then you can take them on yourself assuming you are duly authorised and licensed and I could then find you someone who can mentor for you or could take the client on for you and subcontract the work to you with an agreement that you can takeover the client when you are ready subject to the client agreeing to this.
If you were able to set up, I know that help4accountants club will promote your practice to get you clients for next to nothing.