My journey: From chicken and chips to Accounting Professional!
I moved to the UK alone back in 2006 at the age of 22.
My first job was working for a well-known fast food outlet selling chicken and chips.
I always wanted a career in Finance and started with a Part Time Sage Accounts course. I completed my Sage Accounts Level 1 & 2 course with First Class Pass.
Meanwhile, I changed my job from Team Member to Security Officer at Milton Keynes College back in 2009. I spoke to a career advisor at Milton Keynes college who gave me some great advice. By the end of 2012 I had qualified at Level 3 while holding down both part time and full time jobs.
During my studies I had some difficult personal issues to overcome and suffered acute stress and anxiety for almost a year, but I continued with my studies while getting counselling to help me through a difficult phase of my life.
I became an IAB and IAAP member in 2018 and also hold a Practising Certificate with the IAB.
I am growing my business picking up new clients and hope to make this my full time career in the near future.
I would strongly advise IAB and IAAP membership to anyone wanting to work as a bookkeeper or run their own practice.
I have more confidence in myself now and am proud to have been accepted as a Fellow of both the IAB and IAAP, the highest grade of membership.
I have plans to enter the IAB 2018 Awards and am hoping to win! I would also like to become an IAB Council Member in the future.
Fahad’s practice is called Gateway Accountants – https://www.gatewayaccountants.com/.