Is a bookkeeping certificate worth it? Here’s what recruiters say

In a competitive job market, it can be nearly impossible to stand out from the swath of people applying for the same role. You may have heard about online training certificates you can get to beef up your resume, but what do they really give you? Certificates independently verify your skills in the workplace. But the training needs to be relevant to your work. In the accounting industry, there are options for becoming certified tax preparer, bookkeeper and more. But is a bookkeeping certificate worth it, really? What about other useful certifications?
Let’s dive in:

Is a bookkeeping certificate worth it?

Part of the difficulty that recruiters face in hiring employees is that they can’t really be sure that the skills someone learned at their last job will actually transfer to the role they’re hoping to fill. This can be especially difficult in the world of accounting, where companies use a number of different software and systems for tracking expenses, creating financial reports and filing tax returns.

 

Certifying your skills as an accountant, or in any other field, eases the mind of recruiters and sets applicants up for success when seeking a job. A recent survey by Microsoft Certifications found that 91% of hiring managers consider certification as part of their hiring criteria. And 64% of IT hiring managers rate certifications as having extremely high value in validating the skills and expertise of job candidates.

 

But getting certified isn’t just about impressing employers. In fact, 91% of certified professionals say certification has given them increased confidence to do their jobs, per the 2021 Pearson Vue Value of Certification survey, and 74% of the certified pros surveyed say they have greater work autonomy and independence.

 

So, is a bookkeeping certificate worth it? The answer is pretty emphatically, YES. For more confidence in your job, and to impress the 94% of decision-makers worldwide who say that certified team members provide added value, (again, per Microsoft Certifications) consider certifying your skills with an independent program.

 

How to get certified?

Universal Accounting Center provides the perfect solution for professionals seeking certifications to strengthen and verify their arsenal of workplace skills. The Job Placement Assistance Program, offered through short video instruction, teaches you how to leverage your talents and resources (like resumes, cover letters, networking, and interviews) to make your career a success as you choose to define it.

 

In the program, Universal Accounting President Roger Knecht uses his expertise from sitting on both sides of the interviewing table to give you confidence in seeking better employment. Knecht will help you identify your career goals, learn powerful techniques for making a first impression, and show you the power of planning with his Vision Board Training. There’s also actionable advice for how to navigate job interviews and how to negotiate compensation with employers to ensure you get paid what you’re worth.

 

Sign up for the course today at this link.

 

Certifying your bookkeeping skills

OK, now that we’ve discussed the general skills you can learn from the Job Placement Assistance Program, let’s look at specific certifications in the accounting industry. These certifications are useless if you can’t talk about them when you land interviews, so don’t miss out on the tips at the above link.

 

There are a number of certifications you can get as an accountant but a great place to start is with Universal Accounting’s Professional Bookkeeper system. All of Universal Accounting’s certification courses are self-paced and taught online. You can watch the videos again and again and complete exercises on your own schedule. In this course, you will learn the language of accounting and its basic concepts with the Color Accounting program. Then, you’ll dive into how to process payroll for a business, create financial reports, and how to apply what you learn to specific industries. After between 4 to 6 weeks of instruction, you’ll be ready to take the test and become certified as a Professional Bookkeeper.

 

QuickBooks, Tax prep and beyond

 

Becoming certified as a Professional Bookkeeper will make the day-to-day tasks you complete as a bookkeeper feel like second nature. It’s a great way to stand out to recruiters, but the course also teaches you how to market and price your services if you decide you want to run an accounting firm of your own one day. Every Universal Accounting student is assigned an academic coach to walk them through complex concepts when they’re stuck. It’s not just instruction with Universal. You’ll have support from coaches and a network of other students at every step along the way.

 

Another great resume builder is to become certified as a QuickBooks Specialist with Universal’s QuickBooks Online Bootcamp. This course teaches you the ins and outs of the most popular accounting software in the world. With such a powerful tool, it’s best to learn the essentials from a Top 10 ProAdvisor so that you get set up properly, from the beginning! And who puts the “fun” in fundamentals more than QBO Rockstar Alicia Katz Pollock?

 

Alicia has designed this QBO Bootcamp course to be approachable and absorbable so you gain a solid understanding of how QuickBooks software works. With easy-to-follow step-by-step guidance, Alicia will cover everything you need to quickly get up and running.

 

Tax planning and preparation are invaluable skills to small business owners and large accounting firms, so what better way to certify your value to an employer than earning the Professional Tax Preparer designation with Universal Accounting Center? Just like the Professional Bookkeeper course, this training empowers what you can offer to recruiters, but also sets you up to start a firm of your own, if you choose to someday.

 

How to get started

 

Universal Accounting Center programs are delivered through informative videos and easy-to-follow workbooks. You can review the tapes as much or as little as necessary to complete your assignments. Our programs have been designed to allow you to gain skills, experience, and the support it takes to advance your career, without disrupting your life.

  • Flexible training you complete on your own schedule
  • Rich and engaging training videos you can view again and again
  • Hands-on instruction and practice sets through which you will gain much-needed experience
  • Valuable follow-up support even after you complete your course
  • The opportunity to earn professional certification

 

So, one last time, let’s answer this definitively: is a bookkeeping certificate worth it? We’ve seen that recruiters highly value certifications when considering employment candidates. Surveys show that being certified gives professionals confidence in their skills. And with powerful, easy-to-manage, and supportive programs like Universal Accounting Center ready to provide those training, how can the answer be anything other than YES?

 

To get started on the path to certifying your skills, call 877-801-8080. Or, set a time when it’s convenient for you HERE.

Avoid these digital marketing mistakes at your accounting firm

In our experience training accountants to start their own successful firms, we at Universal Accounting Center have seen our fair share of marketing missteps.

 

While many students excel with training and can crunch numbers and provide valuable financial guidance to their clients, they sometimes struggle when it comes to marketing their own services. In this post, we’ll cover 10 common marketing mistakes that accounting firms make, so you can avoid them and start growing your business more effectively.

 

1. Not having a clear target audience: Without knowing who their ideal clients are, accounting firms might struggle to tailor their messaging and outreach efforts to the right people.

 

2. Inconsistent branding: Inconsistent branding can lead to confusion and lack of recognition among potential clients. Choose consistent colors, slogans and text. Consider hiring a graphic designer to improve your visual appeal.

 

3. Relying solely on word-of-mouth referrals: While word-of-mouth referrals are valuable, relying solely on them can limit a firm’s growth potential. Lean on friends and family at the start, but have an eye on building beyond that circle of people.

 

4. Not utilizing digital marketing channels effectively: Accounting firms may not be taking advantage of online platforms such as social media, email marketing, or search engine optimization (SEO) to reach new clients.

 

5. Failing to differentiate themselves from competitors: Many of the firms we work with fail to highlight their unique value propositions or differentiators that set them apart from competitors. Your clients want to know you. Tell them your story and why you choose to offer the services you do.

 

6. Not having a defined sales process: Without a defined sales process, accounting firms might not be effectively nurturing leads or closing deals. What’s your marketing going to lead to? Consider the flow chart your clients will follow if they see your marketing materials.

 

7. Focusing on price rather than value: Accounting firms might be competing on price rather than highlighting the value they provide to clients. Many accountants charge similar rates for their services. Focus on the value you’ll provide to clients.

 

8. Not measuring their marketing efforts: Without measuring and analyzing marketing data, firms may not know which efforts are working and which aren’t. Keep a pulse on the presence of your social media content and measure how often the people who interact with your materials lead to sales calls.

 

9. Neglecting client retention: Accounting firms might not have a process in place to retain and upsell existing clients, missing out on potential revenue. Consider implementing different stages to your marketing strategies. If a client sees an ad you’ve placed regarding your bookkeeping services, develop materials to also offer your tax planning, as an example.

 

10. Neglecting to showcase their expertise: Accounting firms may fail to showcase their expertise in a specific niche or area of specialization. By highlighting their knowledge and skills in a particular industry or service area, accounting firms can differentiate themselves from competitors and attract clients who need their specific expertise. This can also help firms move into the CFO and advisory space, providing more value to clients and increasing revenue potential.

 

Entrepreneur and marketing strategist, Matthew Banker shares specific strategies for building a powerful digital marketing system on the latest episode of Building the Premier Accounting Firm podcast. Banker dives into solutions for the 10 mistakes listed here and highlights must-haves for any successful accounting website.

 

 

By avoiding these common marketing mistakes, accounting firms can develop a turnkey sales and marketing process to find their ideal client and increase revenue. Taking the time to focus on marketing may feel like a distraction from the day-to-day tasks of managing clients, but it can pay dividends in the long run. By investing in professional development and taking a more strategic approach to marketing, accounting firms can move into the CFO and advisory space in addition to tax and accounting work, providing even more value to their clients and securing their own financial futures.

The end of tax season? Or, the start of tax preparer training season

The Internal Revenue Service’s April 18 filing deadline has come and gone — a big sigh of relief for accounting professionals. But the needs of clients in today’s economy makes tax preparation a year round job. It’s a great time to get tax preparer training to offer to small businesses who just dealt with the headache of filing a business return on their own.

 

This time of year presents a fantastic opportunity to expand the services you offer to your clients and sharpen up on the ever changing waves of tax code. Universal Accounting has the tax preparer training you need to attract quality clients.

 

Why now?

Accountants are especially busy this time of year, and you definitely deserve a break (if you can take one) as the filing deadline passes. But, once you’re ready, it’s good to consider new sources to add to your reservoir of expertise in the accounting industry.

 

The loss of institutional expertise is one of the ten most critical issues the accounting field is facing, Accounting Today reports. That is a critical issue for big firms, but also opens up a wind of opportunity for small businesses. Why not increase the value you can provide your clients by becoming an enrolled agent or offering consultant services?

 

As tax preparation accountants, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest changes in tax laws, regulations, and software. One way to do this is by taking advantage of the less busy season to receive additional training. This downtime provides an opportunity to hone your skills, learn new techniques, and explore new areas of expertise that can benefit your clients.

 

By investing time and resources in training, you can increase your value as an accountant, expand your knowledge base, and improve your efficiency during the busy season. It also allows you to offer a wider range of services to your clients, which can lead to increased revenue and improved client satisfaction.

 

In addition to technical skills, training can also help develop soft skills such as communication, time management, and client relationship management. These skills are critical for building long-lasting relationships with clients and establishing trust and credibility in the industry.

 

Overall, taking the time to invest in additional training during the less busy season can provide numerous benefits to tax preparation accountants. It can improve your technical and soft skills, expand your knowledge base, and ultimately benefit your clients and your business.

Learning proven processes

Universal Accounting Center has a dearth of training courses that guide you through all levels of expertise in tax preparer training, from filing individual returns all the way to offering outsourced CFO services and consulting work. Since 1979, Universal’s team of coaches have helped accounting professionals become the premier accounting firm in their area.

 

Becoming an enrolled agent is a fantastic way to improve the quality of the services you provide because you can represent your clients before the IRS in the case of an audit. To further maximize the value you can bring to clients, consider enrolling in Universal Accounting’s Business Builder program to confidently work as an outsourced CFO and consult small businesses on their key decisions.

 

 

How to start learning

Getting the tax preparer training you desire can be a bit of an intimidating prospect if you’re on your own. While there are a number of free videos out there to learn the basics of accounting, there’s nothing that can lift your accounting business like the expertise of a fellow professional.

 

Universal Accounting’s mission is to help accounting professionals achieve their ideal lifestyle by making the most of their time working with clients. This means providing quality services beyond filing returns. A great place to start learning for free is with Universal Accounting’s Lead Generation & Automation Webinar where you can learn how to leverage artificial intelligence to attract new clients while you’re working on other projects.

 

Enrolling Universal Accounting’s Professional Tax Preparer course will put you on the path to providing expansive services to your clients, and you’ll be paired with academic and marketing coaches to help you apply what you learn with clients. To learn more about how you can get started, call Universal Accounting Center at 877-801-8080. Or, set a time to discuss how you can achieve your professional goals when it’s convenient for you HERE.

 

start an accounting business

What you need to start an accounting business

Accounting firms are among the most profitable small businesses in America, according to Thomson Ruetuers, making starting an accounting business very attractive option for entrepreneurs of all levels of accounting experience.

 

But, like with starting any business, establishing an accounting firm requires a lot of sweat equity and patience. And it brings heaps of questions. Many of which can only be answered with, “It depends.”

 

The good news is Universal Accounting Center offers solutions to nearly every question you may see as obstacles before you can start an accounting business, though certain quirks of the industry can only be learned by working directly with clients.  Let’s dive in.

 

Is starting an accounting business right for you?

Before we approach the somewhat intimidating list of all the tasks needed to start an accounting business, remember the nuts and bolts lifestyle improvements that operating your own firm can have. There’s no price you can put on the freedom of being your own boss. Hours, work location, the amount of work you take on — it’s all up to you.

 

Accountants and other professionals are increasingly choosing to work independently rather than as employees, per Maryville University, but accounting professional are in high demand right now, period. Accounting Today’s survey of its top 100 firms in the country found that hiring is the the most difficult challenge large firms are facing, so there are great employment opportunities for those with training in bookkeeping and tax preparation. That being said, working for a big firm isn’t for everybody.

 

If you want to start an accounting business, you’ll need to take some time to ponder on what exactly you’re hoping to achieve in the industry. Do you want to work alone and directly serve a small pool of clients? Are you envisioning yourself hiring employees and running a larger firm? There are a number of services you can provide clients depending on your level of expertise (more on this later). It comes down to what you feel you have the time, skill and passion to handle.

 

What do I need to get started?

Just like with any other business, you need to write a business plan. Reuters Thomson recommends that you start by figuring out your purpose, goal, and market. This will influence many other decisions, including the function of the services you provide, whether you want a physical or virtual location, your target demographic, and the location of your business. Universal Accounting Center offers a turnkey model for developing a business plan for free. It’s a great place to start.

 

You don’t necessarily need to be a Certified Public Accountant to provide accounting services, but you will need training on the basics of accounting. An accounting firm can do almost everything a CPA firm can do with one exception – audits and assurance services, according to Reuters Thomson. However, if you are looking to focus on the multitude of other services accounting firms provide, it’s likely not a necessary credential to start. Here’s what Accounting Today’s Hugh Duffy recommends as far as obtaining training:

 

“To effectively market your services and price properly, you should enroll in a practice marketing and development program to learn marketing, pricing, selling and practice management. You should also be fluent with QuickBooks, which is how many small businesses manage their bookkeeping function.”

 

Universal Accounting Center’s online video courses are designed to train you to work directly with small businesses — be that as a Professional Bookkeeper, a Professional Tax Preparer, or QuickBooks Specialist.

 

As Duffy mentioned, enrolling in a development program like Universal Accounting Center will give you a huge leg up when it comes to the more squishy areas of running an accounting business, like pricing and marketing your services. Universal Accounting’s coaches have helped professionals start an accounting business since 1979 and work one on one with entrepreneurs to answer their questions.

 

You’ll also need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Tax ID number through the IRS website if you’re planning to hire employees. Deciding on the legal structure of your business (S-Corp, L-Corp, LLC, Partnership, LLP) is an important step as well (if you’re going it alone you’ll most likely pay yourself as an employee through an S-corp) and looking at business insurance isn’t a bad idea either.

 

Many accountants start their business by picking up clients on the side, Duffy notes, giving them time to assess whether they’d enjoy starting a full-time practice and lowering their risk.

 

Start-up costs can range from $2,500 to $25,000, per Thomson Reuters, depending largely on whether you want to work from a home office or in a brick and mortar establishment. But that’s not the only investment you’ll be making.

 

“New businesses require sweat equity, so this move has to be at the right time in your life,” Duffy writes. “Nearly all practices are cash flow negative during the startup and development phase, so you need to have cash on hand to cover household expenses and retain insurance coverage.”

 

From the experts

As UAC President Roger Knecht explains in this video, starting a successful accounting business comes down to careful planning and being able to get the support you need when you’re confused or frustrated:

 

 

Conclusion

Universal Accounting School has helped accounting professionals become entrepreneurs since 1979 with its turnkey process for starting an accounting business. Start on the path to achieving your lifestyle goals with Universal Accounting’s courses today by calling 877-801-8080. Or, set a time to get your questions answered when it’s best for you.

Online tax preparation courses to diversify your bookkeeping business

Claiming a corner as a bookkeeping business in a competitive market of accounting firms is no small task. But pigeon-holing a business into the niche that got that corner could stagnate growth. Bookkeepers who’ve started a business and want to provide more value to their clients should consider taking tax preparation courses online. It can be a massive boon for business.

 

Running a business often leaves CEOs exhausted and adding another training to their plate may feel like too much. Universal Accounting Center’s team of accounting veterans have assembled more than 40 years of experience in tax planning into a course that will have bookkeepers and novices alike preparing returns for clients in no time. But what’s really to gain from taking tax preparation courses online?

Diversifying and expansion

Tax planning almost perfectly compliments bookkeeping. Bookkeepers assemble financial statements and report to business owners where their money is coming in and going out. As a Professional Tax Preparer, you’ll take the information you’re already compiling as a bookkeeper and look for expenses that could be claimed as a tax credit on a return.

 

Tax preparation requires additional effort to compile individual and business returns and some extra crunch before the April 15 tax deadline each spring. But that extra effort comes with an additional compensation. By mastering this one skill bookkeepers can increase your income by approximately $100+ per hour. It adds up quickly.

 

In addition to the new stream of income bookkeepers can claim, getting certified as a Professional Tax Preparer builds a firm’s reputation and gives your clients confidence. Pairing bookkeeping and tax planning services can lead to long term relationships between firms and the clients they serve. After all, who wants to look for someone new to do their taxes each year?

 

Learning to earn

So what does one learn in online tax preparation courses? The goal of Universal Accounting Center’s Professional Tax Preparer program is to prepare students to start working with clients immediately, getting them up to speed on the Annual Filing Season program (AFSP) each year and setting them up to become certified as an Enrolled Agent. Enrolled Agents are specially trained to provide tax resolution services with the Internal Revenue Service. It’s the highest credential awarded by the IRS and is considered similar to an Attorney or Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

 

Students learn the basics of bookkeeping before launching into how to navigate U.S. tax code and compliance.  The instruction explains strategies for how to minimize tax liabilities for clients and how to plan effectively to do so.

 

The courses prepare students to identify and apply tax deductions and credits to help clients reduce their tax bills as well as what to do to get your clients ready for tax audits. Students also learn the ins and outs of different business filings and professional standards to maintain client confidentiality.

 

But with Universal Accounting Center, the instruction doesn’t end with the training. Universal’s experts will help you market your services to attract new clients and teach you best practices to price your services and build long term business relationships. Students have access to academic and life coaches who can answer any question they might have about the material itself, or how to navigate the added stress providing tax planning can bring.

 

The Professional Tax Preparer course takes between four to six weeks to complete on average with the goal of serving you first client within 90 days of starting.

 

 

How to start

If you’re ready to take you business to the next step with tax preparation courses online, connect with one of Universal Accounting Center’s experts today at 877-801-8080, or schedule a time that is convenient for you online at this link.

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