The international gateway toyour financial career throughessential skills for business

www.iab.org.uk

President’s message

As President of the IAB, I am honoured to representand be associated with this leading UK andinternational professional and awarding body,offering a diverse range of financial and businessqualifications.

Established in 1973, the IAB now has manythousands of students and members worldwide andenjoys strong links with the accountancy andpayroll professions as well as those representingowners of small businesses and educationinstitutions.

The IAB, as a not for profit organisation sets out, asthe core of its mission:

to establish, promote and support high technical andprofessional standards in accounting, bookkeeping,payroll, and financial and business management.

As the leading professional body in its field in theUK, the IAB is now adding significantly to theeducation and training of both young people andadults globally, with members and students in morethan 60 countries.

The IAB is increasingly being seen as the gateway toa financial career, whether to become a qualifiedand Registered Bookkeeper, a Qualified AccountingProfessional, or to enter careers in charteredaccountancy or university.

Educational institutions and students are assured ofthe quality of IAB qualifications, knowing that theseare accredited and regulated by Ofqual, the onlyofficial Regulator in England, and accepted byuniversities and chartered accountancy bodies. TheIAB greatly values these hallmarks of recognitionand quality as less than 10 per cent of UKprofessional and awarding bodies have this status.

The IAB continues to represent andto support its membership, throughproviding up to date technicalinformation, continuousprofessional developmentand a wide range offinancial and otherbenefits.

I look forward towelcoming you to the IAB.

Fabian HamiltonMember of Parliament for Leeds North East since 1997

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IAB qualifications – doing the job you need to do

What features make IAB qualifications special?

● designed by practising, professional industry experts and based on UK National Occupational Standards

● provide technical skills needed by businesses and other organisations

● eligible for government funding in the UK

● accredited qualifications - regulated by Ofqual (the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator in England)

● examinations which lead to qualification and membership of a professional body, including the International Association of Accounting Professionals (IAAP) and the International Association of Book-keepers

● accepted for entry to, or partial exemption from, UK university programmes

● global recognition, with members and students in more than 60 countries

● range of short as well as larger, ‘full’ or ‘competence’ qualifications, buildingskills in bite-sized chunks

● recognised for points within the points-based Immigration System of the UK Border Agency

Student Success Story –Monika Pumprlova

Before commencing her IAB

qualifications Monika was employed

in a completely unrelated field. She

studied at West Herts College and

obtained Level 2 and Level 3

Certificate in

Bookkeeping, Level 3

Diploma in

Accounting and

Advanced

Bookkeeping and

Level 3 Diploma in

Computerised

Bookkeeping. Whilst

studying she

managed to gain full

time employment in

the Finance

Department of a

company.

Monika is now studying to become a

Chartered Certified Accountant with

ACCA.

IAB qualifications provide a structured, flexible career progression, allowing youto develop the skills that you want and at your own pace.

Entry level depends on knowledge and experience – join at the level andprogramme content relevant to you.

The diagram illustrates possible progression routes:

● IAB Level 1 qualifications

● IAB Level 2 qualifications

● IAB Level 3 qualifications

Visit: www.iab.org.uk – for latest information on progression routes, including IAB arrangementswith universities.

Achieve IAB qualifications at level 2 or above and apply for membership of theInternational Association of Book-keepers - so gaining professional recognition and support for yourcontinuing professional development.

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● IAB Level 4 qualifications

● Accountancy professional exams (ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, ICAEW)

● Certificate (CertHE) or Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)

● Bachelor degree or Foundation degree with a university

● Payroll Professional exams (CIPP)

Opening doors to finance skills, professional qualification and University progression

Helen Mitchell - Lecturer

I have been teaching IAB manual and

computerised bookkeeping courses at the

college since 1996 and before that my

father had been teaching them here for at

least 10 years.

The courses are all very student orientated

and give the students an excellent

grounding in bookkeeping, both manual

and computerised, enabling them to

progress on from each level and take with

them knowledge and skills into the

workplace and improve their job prospects.

The extensive range of IAB qualifications

The IAB has a broad range ofaccredited and specific qualificationscovering accounting and bookkeeping(both manual and computerised) andpayroll.

The IAB is regularly adding to itsportfolio and seeks to support the skillsneeds of financial professionals andowner-managers of enterprises.

IAB – Leading the way inbookkeeping and payroll

The IAB has the largest range of qualifications inthese essential aspects of business and, with theFinancial and Legal Skills Partnership, has played aleading role in creating the units of the Qualificationand Credit Framework (QCF).

Most IAB qualifications are included in thisFramework, allowing learners to gain and transfercredit held in their Personal Learner Record.

Several IAB qualifications are also valid within theNational Qualification Framework, but unfortunatelynone of these qualifications within this frameworkattract funding.

The IAB has a range of over 20 QCFqualifications in:

● Manual and Computerised bookkeeping –Levels 1 to 3

● Computerised Payroll – Levels 1 to 3

● Computerised Accounting for Business (In collaboration with Sage) – Levels 1 to 3

● Computerised Payroll for Business (In collaboration with Sage) – Level 1 to 3

Please see the enclosed QCF qualifications table forfurther information.

Most of the IAB’s QCF qualifications are assessedthrough a variety of methods, including IAB set butinternally marked Knowledge Tests and Assignmentsand External Exams. The IAB’s NQF qualifications areassessed through one or two External Exams,depending on the size of the qualification.

Many courses leading to IAB qualifications are forshort IAB Awards or IAB Certificates – which can beachieved in as little as 3 months or less.

They have the major advantage of quickly providingtechnical knowledge and skills, needed to gainemployment, provide services to clients or progress tothe next level.

The IAB also has a range of larger, ‘Competence’qualifications, many of which combine both manualand computerised knowledge and skills.

In addition, many IAB qualifications are eligible forgovernment funding in the UK, subject to contractarrangements between training providers and thefunding bodies.

Visit www.iab.org.uk for the current list of IABqualifications, specifications/syllabi, fees.

You can also be updated on new IAB qualificationsresulting from collaborative arrangements withuniversities and other partners.

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Student Success Story –Deborah Gibson

Before commencing her IAB

studies Deborah was working in a

general administrative position

that also included a few finance

tasks. She developed an interest in

Finance and enrolled at

Mid-Kent College where

she obtained the IAB

Level 2 Certificate in

Bookkeeping, Level 3

Certificate in

Bookkeeping and the

Level 3 Diploma in Cost

and Management

Accounting.

Deborah feels that

gaining her IAB

qualifications “gave her

the confidence to seek a more

worthwhile career minded job

role,” and she is now employed

full-time in a management

accounting role in the Finance

Department of a construction

company.

Deborah has since gone on to

further study in accountancy.

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Join the International Association of Book-keepers

The IAB has high ethical and professional standards.

Being accepted into membership of the Association isthe ultimate confirmation to others of your technicalcapabilities and your commitment to continuousprofessional development.

Under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007,anyone in the UK providing bookkeeping or otheraccountancy services to external clients must beregistered with, and supervised by, either HerMajesty’s Revenue and Customs or an approvedsupervisory body (ASB).

The IAB is listed as an ASB within the Regulations,making it the natural home for all self-employed,bookkeeping practitioners.

Other valued membership benefitsinclude:

● an informative, printed newsletter and e-newsletterissued periodically

● specifically arranged events for continuing professional development (CPD)

● on-line CPD courses at specially negotiated rates

● Access to the members only area which includes offers on outstanding financial savings and useful and informative documents including the members’ handbook.

Membership grades and criteriaThere are three grades of professional membership;Associate (AIAB), Member (MIAB) and Fellow (FIAB).

As a guide, IAB level 2 qualifications are required forAssociate grade, level 3 qualifications (inbookkeeping/accounting) for Member grade and alsofor Fellow grade, the latter also having additionalexperience requirements and additional competencein computerised accounting/bookkeeping.

Prior achievement of comparable qualificationsawarded by other bodies is also acceptable.

To find out more details, visit:

www.iab.org.uk/membership.

or email membership@iab.org.uk.

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Tony Woodhouse FIAB

Tony Woodhouse is employed as

bookkeeper/payroll manager for several

businesses in the Harrogate area, but he

worked in arts administration until 2002 when

he decided to change career. Using intensive

distance learning, by 2004 he had passed the

full suite of IAB

bookkeeping and

payroll exams.

Not being self-

employed, he does not

need to register with

an approved body for

the purposes of the

Money Laundering

Regulations – one of

the many benefits

enjoyed by IAB

members in practice.

Nonetheless, being a member of a professional

body such as the IAB is a key part of Tony’s

professional life, for example providing

reassurance to employers and access to

important technical updates. He became an

FIAB in 2005 and secured the Diploma in

Financial Administration in 2009.

“The IAB qualifications provided the perfect

launch for my new career, and when I started

working there was very little that I had not

encountered in my studies. These days there is

an even longer ladder of IAB qualifications, and

I could study tax, management accounting etc if

I wished to extend my skills in new directions.”

How to become an IABAccredited Centre

Training providers interested in becoming an IABAccredited Centre are required to complete an IABaccreditation application form which is available fordownload from the IAB website at: www.iab.org.uk.

IAB Accredited Centres are required to pay anaccreditation fee each year, and discounts are offeredfor longer accreditation periods.

Accredited centres have access to a secure section ofthe IAB website, containing past exam papers, sampleassessment material, examination reports, and other useful resources for tutors.

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The IAB’s 40th Anniversary

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2013, theInternational Association of Book-keepers is one ofthe most globally respected bookkeepingorganisations in the world. A not-for-profit associationwith thousands of members across more than 60countries, it promotes the professional integrity ofbookkeepers and helps develop financial skills acrossthe globe.

No other not-for-profitorganisation canmatch its decades ofexpertise andcommitment to thebookkeeping profession. To mark the 40thanniversary year, a series of events were held in Juneto honour the top IAB accredited centres as well assome of the world’s best business talent at prestigiousawards ceremonies and conferences in centralLondon.

These included:

● The 2013 Finance and Small Business Awards and gala dinner, celebrating the successes of a host of highly accomplished IAB members and industry professionals.

● The achievements of top IAB Centres were celebrated at the House of Commons at a reception hosted by IAB President, Fabian Hamilton. They were recognised for their qualification achievements, high standards and longstanding commitment. Alongside the UK Centres, Top International Centres were also honoured.

● The IAB’s annual one day conference featured presentations from The Pensions Regulator, HMRC amongst others on topics including RTI, pension auto-enrolment and marketing your business/practice.

● An International Development Meeting was attended by guests from around the world including Russia, Iraq and Azerbaijan. The seminar and workshop focussed on the development of the IAB and International Association of Accounting Professionals (IAAP.)

Left IAB Finance & Small Business Award winners 2013.

Right Guests at the 40th anniversary Finance & SmallBusiness awards.

To find out more please visit the Finance & SmallBusiness Awards site: http://www.iabawards.org/.

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Celebrating four decades of success...

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Teaching and learningresources

The IAB works closely with publishers and otherprofessionals to make available text books, studypacks and online resources.

The current list of available IAB and recommendedresources can be viewed at:

www.iab.org.uk/studytexts

or:

www.iab.org.uk/shop

West Herts College

For over a decade, West

Herts College has been

offering a variety of

courses in Accountancy

and Bookkeeping.

Courses run both

daytime and evening at

it’s state of the art main

campus in Watford and

in Dacorum.

The College has

previously been

awarded the accolade of

Top Centre by the IAB for

outstanding Level 3

Diploma exam results.

West Herts College’s primary

aim is to transform lives

through learning and the many

success stories of it’s former

IAB students are a source of

great pride. Whatever their

current career, West Herts

College has the facilities and

flexibility to help students

achieve an IAB qualification.

The IAB has taken all reasonable care to ensure the accuracy of the content of this brochure as at the stated date of publication.

The IAB is unable to accept any responsibility for any damages that may arise out of reliance on information or statements made in this brochure and encourages those seeking to so

rely, to confirm with the IAB the current accuracy and relevant application.

IAB international headoffice:

Suite 5

20 Churchill Square

Kings Hill

West Malling

Kent

ME19 4YU

United Kingdom.

www.iab.org.uk

Tel: +44 (0)1732 897750

Fax: +44 (0)1732 897751

Email: mail@iab.org.uk

IAB international country/regionalrepresentatives:

Please see International representatives document