To achieve her goals, Tracey studied the following courses:
ICB Levels 2 & 3 Bookkeeping & Accounting
ICB Level 3 Diploma in Self Assessment Taxation

After more than 20 years’ experience working in the charity sector, maximising value of donations, no-one would argue Tracey Crewdson hadn’t earned the right to work for herself, rather than for others.

Her epiphany came on January 4, 2016, when she was visiting a client suffering with brain cancer. He was with his disabled wife, who was soon to be alone. Soon after, Tracey was crying in her car, in the January rain, thinking “I can’t do this anymore.”

That was her moment to start the path to working for herself and, with her background in business and finance, bookkeeping seemed a natural fit. Looking at residential colleges, she decided the process would be too slow, and online study would allow her to work at her own pace.

Tracey said: “I was trying to work out what I could do, and I thought, ‘well, I can add up!’ So I looked into bookkeeping, thinking it would be easy for me, since I had the HND in Business and Finance, but it was a lot harder, and more regulated, than I expected.

 “When I was trying to decide between the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), I came across Ideal Schools, and really admired the clarity of the website. I got in contact, and they were quick to get back to me, no pressure selling, and very good value for money.”

She set up her practice, TML Accounting Services, in October 2016, and already has a dozen clients, including 3 limited companies. She is currently running the practice part time, but is looking forward to going full-time soon.

Tracey said: “I found the work fantastic, and really enjoyed the puzzle nature of it. When I’d been at college, I struggled with the material, but this time round, it was a pleasure. I even got rid of my television after a while. I was having more fun doing the assignments than I was watching the box.

“The Self Assessment add-on was a great offering from Ideal Schools, and self-assessments have been a big part of my business so far. I’m growing slowly, organically, and I want to go full time next year.”