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Post by houstonsandy on Jan 12, 2021 1:41:58 GMT
I saw a job listing on my NextDoor site but it wants someone who knows QuickBooks. I don't....but I'm wondering how hard it is to learn? I taught myself how to use Excel pretty easily....I'm not too stupid...lol
Background on this job:
The person hiring is the owner of the business. I "casually" know the owner, as her two daughters and my daughter went to the same small private school since Kindergarten and all graduated HS together five years ago (class size of 25).
We were not in the same "circle" of friends, but we would speak, make small talk at school events, nod, say Hi in passing ect.
I think she would remember me....
The business was started when she, as a former manicurist turned stay at home mom to premature twins, needed a way to make money to help pay for the debt incurred from fertility treatment. She developed a hand cream in her kitchen that soon became very popular. She was soon "discovered" by Oprah and the rest is history. $20 million in sales in 5 years...Boom! Now multi-millionaires 23 years later. They manufacture a wide range of hand and nail products.
They have an office/distribution center (small) a few blocks from me and are looking for some accounting help. Part time to start but can increase to full time if you are good at multi tasking along with the accounting tasks (I am a Queen at multi tasking). I am very tempted to apply for the job. If I could somehow start off part time and still be able to keep my school job and hopefully go full time in the summer....and then (if the pay was enough) quit my job at the school and say goodbye to crazy!
The risk with that would be: in order to do a part time job there concurrently, I would probably have to cut my hours at the school a little bit. That would make crazy pretty happy, because it would save them money. But then they would know that I don't really need to be scheduled 35 hours a week in order to get all my work done...and it would be hard to get the hours back if things didn't work out the way I hope.
Also,I have never done anything with QuickBooks! I do budget spreadsheets (in Excell and Google Sheets)...so I am good at keeping the numbers straight.
Ugh...what would you do? Is it worth a shot?
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mimima
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Post by mimima on Jan 12, 2021 1:44:49 GMT
Have you used Quicken? I'd be honest that you don't know it, but have taught yourselves other programs.
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Post by peasapie on Jan 12, 2021 1:58:20 GMT
I know excel, but there was a very different learning curve for learning quicken. And if you screw up someone’s books, that’s a pretty big headache.
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Post by karinec on Jan 12, 2021 2:54:19 GMT
I took a book keeping course several years ago as part of my re entry into the workforce after being a SAHM for 13 years. It was challenging, and I do have a BA in Business Administration. The last phase of our course was supposed to be how to use Quickbooks, but unfortunately the school went out of business.
Anyway, what I’m getting at here is, maybe it’s better to learn the foundation of book keeping before jumping into using a book keeping program, especially for a large company. Just a thought.
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Post by elaine on Jan 12, 2021 3:03:28 GMT
I took a book keeping course several years ago as part of my re entry into the workforce after being a SAHM for 13 years. It was challenging, and I do have a BA in Business Administration. The last phase of our course was supposed to be how to use Quickbooks, but unfortunately the school went out of business. Anyway, what I’m getting at here is, maybe it’s better to learn the foundation of book keeping before jumping into using a book keeping program, especially for a large company. Just a thought. Yes. houstonsandy , if you don’t know much about book keeping and accounting, that is what should cause you to rethink the position. Not that you don’t know QuickBooks or that it would affect the hours at your other job. If you knew how to do accounting and keep the books for a business, learning QuickBooks on the job would be doable. If you’ve never been an accountant, nor kept the books for a business, you would need to learn a whole realm that people get degrees in, while also learning a new program, on the job. It will be harder and take more time than you may be anticipating. If you decide to go for the job, be honest about your experience. |
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Post by librarylady on Jan 12, 2021 3:27:30 GMT
IDK, but a novice messed up our church books in a big, big way because he didn't know---and then forced the bookkeeper to do what HE said to do.
We now have a Quickbook expert from the church working to get everything straightened up.
I suggest learning the program before applying for a job that needs that program.
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caangel
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Post by caangel on Jan 12, 2021 3:28:30 GMT
I have served as a treasure for several volunteer organizations over the years with $20k-200k+ budgets. I have learned a LOT about accounting/bookeeping over the years and have considered it as a career. I wouldn't take on a job like that with out proper education.
It's not just knowing the program but being responsible for $$$$$$ I'd want to make sure I knew what was needed regarding liability on my side as well as the business's.
In talking with the gal who did one organization's taxes and was a bookkeeper she said that I definitely had a knack for bookkeeping/accounting and recommended taking classes, getting a job with a large company to learn for a few years (less liability) and then look for work I could do from home.
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Post by redshoes on Jan 12, 2021 4:49:25 GMT
$20MM in sales and they are using Quickbooks? I would expect a more sophisticated accounting software for a company that size and with inventory to manage.
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Post by houstonsandy on Jan 12, 2021 5:23:54 GMT
I don’t get the impression that they are looking for a full on book keeper or accountant. Her post on next door says they are a small skin care manufacturer looking for part time help, must know quickbooks , and could be full time if you can multitask along with the accounting tasks.
So it’s not really clear what the job would actually entail other than hinting at some form of accounting tasks. I know where the location of the business is and it’s small. They must outsource everything.
I seem to have a knack for getting jobs for which I have no experience in. Lol... the only job I had that I was properly trained for was as a pharmacist. From there I went to substitute teacher... to working in a library... and then to receptionist/accounts receivable/budget keeper/registrar/school nurse/state records reporter all rolled in to one.
I love a challenge but I never claim to be able to do things I cannot. I am usually able to find ways to connect or correlate what I do know how to do with jobs I do not know how to do.
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Post by ameslou on Jan 12, 2021 12:48:28 GMT
They’re looking for someone with QB experience, which also implies bookkeeping experience. They’re not looking for someone who has no experience with either. If those two things are integral to the job, I wouldn’t even interview someone who didn’t have the right background. I’m a CPA. Bookkeeping is more than just entering invoices and cutting checks. You need a certain amount of training to know how to classify things properly in the right buckets. If you’re interested in accounting or QB then go take a couple of classes and then look for a bookkeeping job. Otherwise you’re setting yourself up for a frustrating work experience for both you and your employer.
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miyooper2b
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Post by miyooper2b on Jan 12, 2021 13:15:40 GMT
Quickbooks has a learning curve. If you understand accounting principals you may be okay. If you don't then you might want to rethink the job. There are a number of youtube videos that may help. I've done our company books for years and still had to take a class to learn all the finer points of QB when we switched software.
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Dalai Mama
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Post by Dalai Mama on Jan 12, 2021 13:19:22 GMT
Given the number of clients that I have that really have no idea what they are doing with it, I would say surprisingly difficult? My experience may be skewed though.  |
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Jan 12, 2021 15:43:50 GMT
The reason so many small businesses use Quickbooks is it's very easy to use. I had no very few problems learning it or using it, but I also had many years of experience before tackling QB's. You still need to know the basics of accounting: debits/credits, assets, liabilities and equity, income statements, cashflow statements, accruals, etc.
IMO, you should take a QB's class at your local community college. Then if you "get it" (QB's, that is) look for a part-time job at that point. I would not recommend getting the job first, especially for a $20M company.
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SweetieBsMom
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Jan 12, 2021 16:00:00 GMT
They’re looking for someone with QB experience, which also implies bookkeeping experience. They’re not looking for someone who has no experience with either. If those two things are integral to the job, I wouldn’t even interview someone who didn’t have the right background. I’m a CPA. Bookkeeping is more than just entering invoices and cutting checks. You need a certain amount of training to know how to classify things properly in the right buckets. If you’re interested in accounting or QB then go take a couple of classes and then look for a bookkeeping job. Otherwise you’re setting yourself up for a frustrating work experience for both you and your employer. This is what I took from it as well. I'm an accountant, have a degree in Accounting. When DH was sick, I took a second job working for a bookkeeping company. I have zero experience in QB but learned on the job however I had the accounting background that allowed me to code transactions/create journal entries properly. I think without the accounting/bookkeeping background/experience, not knowing QB is not your biggest issue. You said you causally know this woman, maybe set up a coffee date with her. She may be willing to go with someone she 'knows' and do some training vs. an unknown person. You never know. |
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quiltz
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Post by quiltz on Jan 12, 2021 16:07:00 GMT
the only job I had that I was properly trained for was as a pharmacist. You went to school, have a BSN Pharm degree? Or were you a pharmacist assistant. HUGE DIFFERENCE! |
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Post by happiest.raincloud on Jan 12, 2021 16:07:29 GMT
It also really depends if it's QuickBooks online or the Desktop version. Very, very different. We use the desktop version in my office and it is one of the most troublesome points in training a new team member. The online version is easier to learn.
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Post by aprilfay21 on Jan 12, 2021 16:25:57 GMT
If I'm being completely honest, no matter how intelligent you were, I wouldn't hire you to do THAT particular job without Quickbooks experience. Quickbooks is pretty user friendly, but depending on how in depth their use of it is, it's also fairly easy to screw up. And fixing Quickbooks screw ups is a nightmare that I've had to do more than a few times by hiring people that claim they know it and didn't.
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Post by houstonsandy on Jan 12, 2021 16:51:55 GMT
the only job I had that I was properly trained for was as a pharmacist. You went to school, have a BSN Pharm degree? Or were you a pharmacist assistant. HUGE DIFFERENCE! Yes, I have a BS in Pharmacy...does that surprise you? I was a Pharmacist for 17 years. I worked retail for a short while, but did most of my 17 years in hospitals. I also was the Pharmacy manager/Head Pharmacist for a home health care agency and then finished up my career as a Clinical Pharmacist for a major tocolytic health care company where I was responsible for monitoring and dosing the tocolytic medications for high risk pregnancy patients in five states. I "retired" from pharmacy when my daughter was born (I was 40) and no longer have a license to practice. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 12, 2021 18:04:23 GMT
Quickbooks has a learning curve. If you understand accounting principals you may be okay. If you don't then you might want to rethink the job. There are a number of youtube videos that may help. I've done our company books for years and still had to take a class to learn all the finer points of QB when we switched software.  I have used it for my business (and also for DH’s business) for over 25 years. The learning curve is pretty steep. Not impossible, but steep. There are actions you can do in Quickbooks that cannot be undone and things can get really screwed up really fast. If I had to hire someone to replace me in DH’s office, I personally wouldn’t hire someone who couldn’t already do what I do. I think for a business with that level of sales, they really need a bookkeeper who can step in immediately and know what they’re doing right off the bat. |
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quiltz
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Post by quiltz on Jan 12, 2021 18:53:19 GMT
You went to school, have a BSN Pharm degree? Or were you a pharmacist assistant. HUGE DIFFERENCE! Yes, I have a BS in Pharmacy...does that surprise you? I was a Pharmacist for 17 years. I worked retail for a short while, but did most of my 17 years in hospitals. I also was the Pharmacy manager/Head Pharmacist for a home health care agency and then finished up my career as a Clinical Pharmacist for a major tocolytic health care company where I was responsible for monitoring and dosing the tocolytic medications for high risk pregnancy patients in five states. I "retired" from pharmacy when my daughter was born (I was 40) and no longer have a license to practice. Doesn't surprise me at all. The pay for being a Pharmacist is very good. Have you thought about renewing your license? You would probably have to take refresher courses and take an exam. I have a friend who just sent thru this process. So many jobs available especially for working for a mail-out company.
Good luck with whatever you decide. Ooops, I did some math and realized your approximate age. Good luck with your job search. |
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Jan 12, 2021 19:59:25 GMT
If I'm being completely honest, no matter how intelligent you were, I wouldn't hire you to do THAT particular job without Quickbooks experience. Quickbooks is pretty user friendly, but depending on how in depth their use of it is, it's also fairly easy to screw up. And fixing Quickbooks screw ups is a nightmare that I've had to do more than a few times by hiring people that claim they know it and didn't. THIS ^^^ Especially after they have already tried to fix it themselves. Thank goodness for the Audit Trail report. |
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Post by houstonsandy on Jan 12, 2021 20:11:12 GMT
Yes, I have a BS in Pharmacy...does that surprise you? I was a Pharmacist for 17 years. I worked retail for a short while, but did most of my 17 years in hospitals. I also was the Pharmacy manager/Head Pharmacist for a home health care agency and then finished up my career as a Clinical Pharmacist for a major tocolytic health care company where I was responsible for monitoring and dosing the tocolytic medications for high risk pregnancy patients in five states. I "retired" from pharmacy when my daughter was born (I was 40) and no longer have a license to practice. Doesn't surprise me at all. The pay for being a Pharmacist is very good. Have you thought about renewing your license? You would probably have to take refresher courses and take an exam. I have a friend who just sent thru this process. So many jobs available especially for working for a mail-out company.
Good luck with whatever you decide. Ooops, I did some math and realized your approximate age. Good luck with your job search.  Yeah...no secret....I'm 63....  ... the age where nobody is gonna want to hire me unless I have some sort of "in"... |
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jan 12, 2021 20:33:27 GMT
I think a whole lot depends on what exactly they're looking for - I can't imagine they aren't working with an actual accountant at that size of business. So may have very specific tasks they are looking for someone to do that is pretty easy to train - thinking a/r and a/p and if you stay in your lane it's possible. The biggest problem with Quickbooks - especially the desktop is that it is a pretty powerful tool and you can pretty easily muck things up.
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tracylynn
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Post by tracylynn on Jan 12, 2021 20:55:41 GMT
They’re looking for someone with QB experience, which also implies bookkeeping experience. They’re not looking for someone who has no experience with either. If those two things are integral to the job, I wouldn’t even interview someone who didn’t have the right background. I’m a CPA. Bookkeeping is more than just entering invoices and cutting checks. You need a certain amount of training to know how to classify things properly in the right buckets. If you’re interested in accounting or QB then go take a couple of classes and then look for a bookkeeping job. Otherwise you’re setting yourself up for a frustrating work experience for both you and your employer. I agree. A basic knowledge of credits and debits at minimum (and no, a debit doesn't work like your debit card). I work with new customers to our systems and the customers coming from Quickbooks are the hardest to work with honestly. I'm amazed by how many people in accounting have no understanding of even basic principals. It's sad really. |
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jan 12, 2021 21:34:52 GMT
They’re looking for someone with QB experience, which also implies bookkeeping experience. They’re not looking for someone who has no experience with either. If those two things are integral to the job, I wouldn’t even interview someone who didn’t have the right background. I’m a CPA. Bookkeeping is more than just entering invoices and cutting checks. You need a certain amount of training to know how to classify things properly in the right buckets. If you’re interested in accounting or QB then go take a couple of classes and then look for a bookkeeping job. Otherwise you’re setting yourself up for a frustrating work experience for both you and your employer. I agree. A basic knowledge of credits and debits at minimum (and no, a debit doesn't work like your debit card). I work with new customers to our systems and the customers coming from Quickbooks are the hardest to work with honestly. I'm amazed by how many people in accounting have no understanding of even basic principals. It's sad really. I'm going to play a bit of devil's advocate and say sometimes a bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. The last thing I'd want for someone with no real accounting experience to do in Quickbooks is start messing with the journal entries. I think this only works if they basically need some straight forward data entry. Cut some checks, prepare some invoices, in a system that's already set up and with appropriate categories. I do think you can train someone to do that pretty easily without it being a trainwreck. |
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Post by swtpeasmom on Jan 12, 2021 21:44:01 GMT
I made that mistake recently. I'm pretty quick to learn new things and took some free 'training' on Quickbooks online. Applied for a combo bookkeeping/ other stuff job. Made it to 2nd interview, was nailing it. Nailed the Excel test. She had me take an online test to test my knowledge of Quickbooks. I did badly. I knew it before I finished. I bowed out gracefully.
Unless you work in Accounting regularly and recently and are familiar with the terms (It's been 15 ish years since I had been and forgot a lot), I wouldn't suggest applying for any bookkeeping position until you get training.
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Post by ameslou on Jan 13, 2021 2:43:30 GMT
I do have another suggestion, though this one would take a lot more training and isn’t immediate. H&R Block and maybe a couple other tax prep services have training courses on prepping tax returns - and those courses lead to jobs. I’m not familiar with the details of the program, but it is an option to consider.
FWIW, both of my in laws were pharmacists and worked well into retirement on a part time basis.
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SweetieBsMom
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Jan 13, 2021 13:46:50 GMT
It also really depends if it's QuickBooks online or the Desktop version. Very, very different. We use the desktop version in my office and it is one of the most troublesome points in training a new team member. The online version is easier to learn. I had the opposite opinion. I liked the desktop version better than the on-line version. |
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I have used it for my business (and also for DH’s business) for over 25 years. The learning curve is pretty steep. Not impossible, but steep. There are actions you can do in Quickbooks that cannot be undone and things can get really screwed up really fast. If I had to hire someone to replace me in DH’s office, I personally wouldn’t hire someone who couldn’t already do what I do. I think for a business with that level of sales, they really need a bookkeeper who can step in immediately and know what they’re doing right off the bat.
Yeah...no secret....I'm 63.... 
... the age where nobody is gonna want to hire me unless I have some sort of "in"...
