Accountancy

10 questions business owners should ask their accountant

What was my turnover this month? How does it compare to previous months/years/budget? What are my main sources of income and how can I grow them? What is my gross…

Accountancy

Becoming a proactive accountant

Many accountants promote themselves as being proactive but what does that mean?  To me it entails regular conversations with our clients to ensure that they are getting the best out…

Accountancy

How to buy yourself more time

Having taken over a small practice I have been able to see the time saved by good practice management software. We use Accountancy Manager but any decent practice management software…

Accountancy

5 minutes a day keeps the accountant at bay

I’m starting an initiative for business owners to do their bookkeeping in FIVE MINUTES PER DAY rather than leaving it all to the end of the year. If you’re on…

Accountancy

Why is the tax year end 5 April?

This is such an odd date and so here is the story dating back to 1582. Prior to this time the tax year started on Lady Day, 25 March. Rents…

Accountancy

Are you multi-tasking or attention switching?

We used to be proud to multi-task. And then we were told it was wrong as we were attention switching which was less efficient rather than more. But sometimes it…

Business

Would you buy a discounted parachute?

It’s a question that Brad Burton asked which got me thinking. (So I hope it will get you thinking too) Why do we assume that we need to be cheap…

Accountancy

Less is more

Management accounts. What should they include? It depends very much on the users, their goals and their understanding of finance. Most management accounts that I have seen over the years…

Accountancy

The value of certification

There are all sorts of certifications to ‘prove’ that you run a good business. B-Corp, ISO, free range farming, CPD approved etc Getting certified for all of these can cost a…

Business

People are more important than things

This is one of my fundamental beliefs although it may sound a little odd for an accountant who primarily advises people how to grow their business and/or how to make…