To embark on her new career, Ann selected the following courses of study:
The ICB Career Path, one of our self employment course package options.
Level 4 Certificate - FRS105

A Northumberland mum is hoping to “help those who make a difference” after getting a second lease on life that has allowed her to set up her own business.

Based in the village of Longhorsley, just north of Morpeth, Pay It Forward Bookkeeping began trading earlier this year providing bookkeeping, payroll, tax returns and company tax to individuals, not-for-profits and small businesses in Northumberland and Newcastle upon Tyne. Its founder, Ann Edwards, set up Pay It Forward after earning her MICB, plus self-assessment, payroll management and FRS 105 through Ideal Schools.

With partial CIMA qualifications after coming out of school, Ann worked for a few years as a management accountant before family commitments led her to drop back into part-time finance and administration work. That she continued to do for the next few years while also raising her two children.

 In 2015, she was diagnosed with a serious illness that took a further year out of her life before her return to full health.

She began her training with Ideal Schools in 2018 after extensive online research to determine how best she could achieve her ambition of setting up her own business. With her practice licence secured, she is now signing on clients from across the business spectrum, but has a particular interest in working with those from the Third Sector.

“I really want to help those who make a positive difference in this world,” Ann said.

“I feel like I am here for a purpose, and I also feel very strongly that this is the right thing to do. I have been blessed, and I want to share those blessings with others in a practical way.”

 Ann said the flexibility of studying with Ideal Schools allowed her to progress at a pace that suited her. She also praised the various types of support available.

“I did the Open University before, but that was nothing like this,” Ann said. “You have got the Facebook groups for one thing, and the tutors all know you by name, which is pretty much unheard of.

“They will come back to you with answers and assistance on a weekend or in the evenings, which was great for the way I needed to study.”

Services available from Pay It Forward include: bookkeeping to trial balance for companies and not-for-profits; bookkeeping for personal households and country estates; payroll for 1 to 250 employees; self-assessment tax returns; VAT returns; and HMRC agent services.