How do you become a reporting accountant?

[bluewednesday]

Does anybody know what requirements you have to fulfill to get the AAT's backing to become a reporting accountant. Does that mean you can sign off limited company accounts (but not audit)?<BR><BR>Annette

[NeilH]

Hi<BR><BR>The reporting accountant status granted by the AAT will only be applicable to certain charities, depending on there trunover. It wont 'qualify' you to sign off company accounts, but what does qualify you to sign them off depends on who is going to be reading them. For accounts filed at Companies House it is the directors of the compnay who are responsible for signing the accounts, the auditors sign the audit report. For accounts presented to a bank/building society, it will depend on what qualifications the bank/building society require.<BR><BR>Have a look at <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.aat.co.uk/members/mip_how.cfm?id=42">www.aat.co.uk/members/mip_how.cfm?id=42</a><BR><BR>Neil

[bluewednesday]

Thanks for that Neil, I'd seen the web page but it was quite a lot to wade through.<BR><BR>When I say sign off limited accounts I mean really to have the support of your educational body to do so i.e. be able to hold yourself out as qualified and supported to do so.<BR><BR>It's not something I'll be able to do for a while yet but it's something to think about.<BR><BR>Thanks again, how's your study going? Are you waiting for results and have you decided on your next course?<BR><BR>Annette

[NeilH]

Hi<BR><BR>On the issue of holding yourslef out to prepare accounts etc, I think it depends on who you are a student or member of. I think the AAT have a rule that youcant refer to your membership (or potential membership in the case of students) unless you are under their self employed scheme. If you are a full member you must be registered under the self employed scheme unless your turnover is under a threshold, in which case you can apply for exemption. I recall that you aare studying ACCA? Their rules are a little tighter - no holding our or preparing final accounts without thieir practsing certificate.<BR><BR>Study is fine thanks, everything completed AAT wise just waiting for my final skills test to be reported to the AAT. Definitely want to carry on, just deciding on ACCA or CIMA...<BR><BR>Neil