As students of Universal Accounting Center, UAC, complete their studies and are certified in their areas of interest it is only natural to then have them join associations such as ICB, AASBC, and IPBC that allow them to build additional relationships with peers and stay engaged in the accounting profession.  So what is the natural progression that a student may experience:

• Specialized Training – often after years of experience doing accounting at various levels and perhaps some schooling such as earning degrees many find value certifying their skills or specializing in the accounting profession.  Many choose to expand their employment options as well as start or build their accounting practice earning specific designations such as becoming a:
  • Professional Bookkeeper, PB
    • The PB designation states they are proficient in the day to day accounting procedures in small business
  • QuickBooks Specialist, QS
    • The QS designation represents proven skills in the use of QuickBooks as a bookkeeper for small business
  • Professional Tax Preparer, PTP
    • The PTP designation certifies an individuals expertise in the preparation of individual and business returns
  • Profit First Professional, PFP
    • As a certified PFP you are trained to work with clients to use specific processes and strategies to prioritize the flow of revenue to insure profits
  • Value Builder provider, VB
    • The VB designation shows that you understand the 8 drivers that determine the worth of a business and know how to work with a client to develop them within the company to build value that can be used to lines of credit, to generate capital or to ultimately merge or sell and get the most value of the business.
• Certifying Skills
  • Completing and earning the related certifications to the training.
• Applying their learning’s
  • Employment – taking advantage of Universal Accounting’s Job Placement Assistance Program
    • Getting the promotion or pay increase they deserve after demonstrating their commitment to the accounting profession
    • Getting the job they’ve wanted
  • Self-Employment
    • Starting their own successful accounting, bookkeeping & or tax practice
      • Part Time – as a supplemental income with a handful of clients, working a few nights and weekends.
      • Full Time – as a primary income as a sole practitioner or with a staff.
    • Building a firm with new clients
      • Finding new clients using a proven marketing program
      • Retaining clients and getting referrals
      • Offering additional accounting related services such a:
        • Benchmarking using BizBench
        • Financing Consultant
        • etc.
• Joining an accounting related association
  • Canada – Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (IPBC)
    • Roger Knecht, Universal’s President says, “IPBC and UAC agree that bookkeeping is more than a job or career but a profession that needs to be recognized as such. With proper training, support and experience, bookkeepers can have a profitable impact in any business.”
  • USA – Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB Global)
    • “Within the United States there is a need for a bookkeeping community that helps bookkeepers rise to a new level of professionalism and gain respect within the accounting line of work and ICB USA is the organization to do just that” said Roger Knecht, president of UAC.

Here are some examples of the benefits available to UAC alumni that choose to join and participate with ICB:

Joining ICB means becoming a member of the largest community of bookkeepers in the world, which has registered over 150,000 students and members in over 110 countries. Membership means being able to contribute to ICB’s voice as we champion the bookkeeping profession to the accounting firms and software companies, small businesses, and relevant governmental organizations of the USA.

Being a member of ICB also demonstrates a commitment to continued learning and professional development, along with independent, internationally recognized certification. Members will be able to use ICB’s own internationally recognized crest as a stamp of approval. ICB sets a benchmark for the bookkeeping profession to live up to in the various countries in which it has been established.

Joining now as an early member means being able to play a part in shaping ICB’s aims and activities here in the US as we focus on our motto of ‘local focus; national accreditation; global recognition.’ ICB encourages and facilitates networking with other bookkeepers, small businesses and accountants, and keeping up to date with industry knowledge, and provides access to regular CPE opportunities through educational webinars and articles.

Comments from our 2015 members feedback (UK) survey:

• “I love the ICB they are like an extended family”
• “ICB is a great support”
• “Keep up the good work!”
• “Proud to be a MICB” (Member Level of ICB)
• “I have found the whole experience (of being an ICB member) excellent”
• “(ICB does) a brilliant job”

95% of students and members who responded to the survey would recommend us to someone thinking of joining. Most commonly reported benefits of membership include a ‘feeling of community’ and a ‘boost in confidence’ among students, and ‘keeping up to date with the industry’ for long-time members.

For this and other reasons Universal Accounting Center (UAC), an accounting school for small business professionals announced their partnership with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) as they launch their association in the United States.

More information about Universal can be found by calling 1-800-343-4827 or visiting www.universalaccountingschool.com.

For further information about ICBUSA, call Jan Haugo on 1-310-917-1044 or visit the ICBUSA website at www.icbusa.org

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