Training for When You're Starting Out

This question came in from Dawn in Michigan:

(thanks Dawn! Shared with permission)

I'm also former KPMG but with 25 years of financial services industry experience in various finance and controlling functions.  I'd like to make the jump like you did but don't have the tactical experience just yet.  For example, I am not a quickbooks user and have not done any small business accounting.  Any advice on where to start or resources to start with?

Thank you again for all that you do!

First off, I didn’t have the tactical experience I did either when I started. Permission to just move forward :o)

But here’s what I told Dawn…

I think a great way to start is to get yourself a free QuickBooks Online Accountant account. Once you get that set up, there will be some training available. (ProAdvisor > Training)

There's specifically a new bookkeeping certification available in QBO Accountant. I haven't done it, but I wish it had been around when I first started.

If you feel solid on accounting and bookkeeping and you just need to learn the accounting software, I would jump straight to QuickBooks Online Certification Level 1 (aka ProAdvisor certification).

I would ignore any QuickBooks Desktop training or certification unless you want to niche in helping companies on the legacy system or helping them convert from Desktop to Online (very different systems, in actuality).

Let me also say that based on your experience, you are wicked smart at accounting. You may feel ill-prepared to help small businesses, but you know your stuff. Learning QuickBooks will come. Knowing the accounting (what you already know) is the hard part.

Cheers,

Erica