Accountancy practices - are you closed over Christmas or do you let your staff take it off?

Accountancy practices - are you closed over...

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I think Accounting Web should do a poll of whether we are closed over the Xmas period - bloody boss is making us work 29-31st and the 2nd!

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By carnmores
19th Dec 2014 09:11

most will be open i expect

i would insist Mr Crachett that you work more

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By rjoconnor81
19th Dec 2014 09:18

Closed

We close from Tuesday this year until Monday the 5th.  Everyone has to keep the days back out of their holiday, so it is not "free" holiday.

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By Vaughan Blake1
19th Dec 2014 09:23

Closed, but

My old firm used to close as far as the clients/outside world were concerned, but give the staff the option to either take the days as annual holiday or come in.

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
19th Dec 2014 09:23

.

We are officially closed from 6pm tonight, until the 5th.

Unofficially I will be working on Monday probably the whole day and possibly into Tuesday finishing off stuff and will be preparing email replies for anything that comes in over the break, but not pressing send until the 5th, unless its a new enquiry.  Then I will reply and let them know I will be back in a few days.

Staff wise my PAYE employee is on zero hours contract anyway so its no odds. They are free to work from home if they want to, or not if they dont. I have paid them a bonus to cover the weeks lost wages in any case.  

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By nogammonsinanundoubledgame
19th Dec 2014 09:23

Ahh, bliss

No telephones

No fighting porcupines in a salt mine

(Dilbert, 09 Dec 2014)

With kind regards

Clint Westwood

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By Ken Howard
19th Dec 2014 09:36

Working on and off

I used to get royally annoyed when I worked for firms which enforced a 1 or 2 week shut down and made staff take it out their annual holiday allowance.  It's fine if you've got loads of family/friends coming and going or you're going away, but otherwise it's dead time wasted.

Luckily a couple of my employers had a more enlightened approach and allowed us to come into work if we wanted and take our holidays at another time - quite a few of us did and we got a lot of work done without phone calls and clients popping in.  Given the proximity to the SA deadlines, I think it's a good idea to work as productivity is a lot higher without disturbances.

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paddle steamer
By DJKL
19th Dec 2014 09:37

As the total staff at present...

As the total staff at present my holiday will be determined by either telephone calls or e mails from clients.

I only have one remaining 31st December deadline issue to deal with, it is currently awaiting some client records to complete.

So, if they can get these to me by say Sunday/Monday I can get accounts for the company completed, signed and lodged before the 25th, if not then I will be working between Christmas and New Year and cannot give myself a full holiday. (Above assumes nothing else arises with other clients over this period that cannot wait)

All the above being said, I have a prospective meeting I have been trying to arrange  for months with an extended family re their business; given how long I have been chasing the meeting if they come back  and offer any day over the holidays except the 25th I will grab it- my wife puts up with my wayward timetabling throughout the year, returns home at 10.00 p.m. etc when not really highlighted in advance and a ruined meal out in the bin ,but even she would draw the line if I worked on the 25th)

Do those who work for themselves ever really get a guaranteed holiday or are all holidays provisional?

 

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By ShirleyM
19th Dec 2014 09:43

We close down

The shop shuts at 12 noon on Wednesday 24 Dec, and re-opens Monday 5th Jan.

Christmas is family time.

 

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By Maslins
19th Dec 2014 09:57

"We" (the firm) are open. 

"We" (the firm) are open.  Staff were of course allowed to use holiday if they wanted.  On the one hand I can see the appeal of doing so (as when combined with the bank holidays you can get a couple of weeks off without using that many days) but also I think some people want to work.  Partly because it's inevitably not the hardest days of the year (ie save your holiday for busier times!), but also many like the excuse to get away from family!

Our role does go quite a bit beyond just preparing year end bits though, with us answering lots of client queries throughout the year.  I think clients wouldn't be that impressed at asking a Q on (say) 23rd Dec and potentially having to wait until 5th Jan for a response.

...but yeah, those days won't be uber hard slogs (I hope!).

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By claudialowe
19th Dec 2014 10:02

Just me in my shop.....

and officially the shop shuts this evening until Monday 5th.  Unofficially I have promised to run a last payroll on Monday morning, and will anything urgent that crops up in between.  In previous years I have worked between Christmas and New Year, but this year I have got my clients sufficiently organised that it isn't necessary - unless I want to escape :-)

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Image is of a pin up style woman in a red dress with some of her skirt caught in the filing cabinet. She looks surprised.
By Monsoon
19th Dec 2014 10:09

Closed!

I've always had 2 weeks off at Xmas. Since having an office and staff that hasn't changed. It might be 1 week, might be 10 days, might be 2 weeks depending on the dates xmas falls (ok, so yes, it has changed!). I don't see the point for opening for 2 days then having another few days off. Last day is 23rd Dec, back Mon 5th Jan.

I like to think it's a refreshing break until January madness!

 

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By Portia Nina Levin
19th Dec 2014 10:13

Personally

I think Christmas is a very good time for having it off.

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Replying to Red Leader:
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By Euan MacLennan
19th Dec 2014 10:20

What?

Portia Nina Levin wrote:

I think Christmas is a very good time for having it off.

Only once a year?

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By martinscutt
19th Dec 2014 10:15

Closed

Office closes as far as clients are concerned from 1pm Wednesday till the 5th. If staff really want to do some work they are free to do so should they wish to save their holidays but I have rarely seen it happen. I personally finish today officially but may need to pop in next week, we'll see.

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Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
19th Dec 2014 10:27

No, no, no

One should have it off as regularly as one can. I just mean that Christmas is a particularly good time to do so.

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By JSK
19th Dec 2014 10:33

Open!

To get some real work done.

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By morgani
19th Dec 2014 10:40

Closed

We close as far as clients are concerned from around 3pm today.  Some staff will be in on Monday and Tuesday to tidy up a few things.  We are then officially back 5th January.  I'm stealing a few extra days for my daughters birthday so will be back on the 7th.

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Jennifer Adams
By Jennifer Adams
19th Dec 2014 11:17

Too much to do..

I would love to take time off. I've nagged on a monthly basis but a number of clients still havent sent in their stuff yet. I have put a deadline which the usual ones have ignored so its going to be tight. Husband says I should let them suffer the penalty.

I think the ones outstanding will be spending the hols preparing their figures.

I emailed every client and told them the office is closed from 22nd Dec at 5pm and not open again until 5th Jan.

They are bound to ignore it and send emails.

 

 

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By User deleted
19th Dec 2014 11:45

2 weeks

I officially have two full weeks off. But unofficially I finished Wednesday this week and the last two days of this week are spent getting everything sorted on the home front. Then it's two whole weeks of nothing unless I choose otherwise. Bliss, sheer bliss.

Clients have been warned and I'll be ignoring anyone who attempts to interrupt me!

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By refs8
19th Dec 2014 12:18

2 weeks

We close on Tuesday and are back on the 2nd January.

It means our staff re charge the batteries and we normally have a positive January. I work when I want to from home using a link into the office or sometimes come in an evening for a few hours. It is nice not to have to think about the business for a couple of weeks only if I want to. I love these two weeks

 

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By puzzel
19th Dec 2014 15:21

3 left to do

and if they can not be bothered, then nor will I.

The first time in six years, I am not working between Christmas and the New Year.

I have one of my daughters visiting over the new year period, and the pub calls.

Ain't it great when they grow up.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all on AW

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
19th Dec 2014 16:15

im off

from tonight until the 5th January officially.

However will be knocking out the last few SA returns I have in that period.

Went out with some clients on Wednesday ended up landing home at 4am and still hung over now so will be taking it steady over the holidays.

 

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By ArsalanShah
19th Dec 2014 19:32

Definitely

closed.Why you would bother to work on Christmas day and make your staff suffer along with you.

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By marks
20th Dec 2014 00:17

just christmas day and new years day off

Will just have christmas day and new years day off.

To much to do for the end of January.

Have one employee and he finishes up on Monday night for a few days but then back the following Monday.

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RLI
By lionofludesch
20th Dec 2014 09:49

A good time for work

You can get a lot done between Christmas and New Year.  There are fewer distractions.

I'd rather have time off when the weather's nicer.

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By petersaxton
20th Dec 2014 12:43

It's crazy!

I know it's an extreme case but if people think it's not worth working on 22-24 December, 29-31 December and on 2 January then the holiday starts on 20 December and ends on 4 January. That's 16 days!

I have a lot (32) of company accounts to do along with the associated director's personal tax returns to do by 31/12/14. If I don't get them all done I will change the ARD by one day and do them early January. Then I will have 25 personal tax returns to do by 31/01/15 which shouldn't be a problem.

I invoice after submission so that will be a tidy sum coming in during January and February.

My plans for February and March are as follows:

Tidy up all admin

Review paper files and electronic records

Rewrite my website including introducing a client portal for data transfer and informational purposes

Prepare for a social media presence on LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Make better use of Digita Practice Management

Inform and discuss auto enrolment with payroll clients

Discuss with new clients whether they need a payroll in March.

Request P11D dispensations

Run March annual payrolls (I only have a few monthly payrolls)

Review Clear Books data with the six clients I presently have on Clear Books

Learn Clear Books!

Discuss with many clients the possibility of keeping their accounts on Clear Books

My plans for April onwards:

Payroll year end

Chasing clients for data - especially those who want to use Clear Books

Send email reminder for data after one month followed by phone call a month later

Aim to turn round accounts and tax within two days (subject to queries) rather than putting them in a pile (either paper or electronic) until I get round to it

Change my invoicing to issue and get paid soon after preparation of accounts and tax and before submissions to Companies House and HMRC

Have time for regular holidays - either long weekends in Britain and Europe or longer for further afield

The above is very ambitious so I can understand scepticism!

 

 

 

 

 

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By marks
20th Dec 2014 22:46

same as Peter

Like Peter I have a long list of things to do in Feb that has been getting put back over the last 6 months.  Off the top of my head they are 

1. Review IRIS and Digita about possibility of moving to them (currently use Taxcalc)

2. Review MBPracticeManager and Logical Office as PM function to run alongside Taxcalc.

3. Learn about Freeagent and Kashflow (we use Xero and have about 30 clients using it) but like to learn about another 2 cloud packages so give client recommendation based on what is best for them.

4. Get SAGE certification up to date

5. Learn all about payroll with the view of bringing it inhouse rather than outsourcing.

6. Go through manuals I have to learn advance functionality about Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook.

7. Start do some active networking

8. Go to the gym at least 3 times a week.

9. Look at taking on additional staff member (choice of either another experience accountant v trainee).  

10. Look at taking on office junior for a couple of days a week to do all the admin stuff that I currently do eg filing/shredding/scanning old files/social media marketing/engagement letters.

11. Learn about VT.

12. Get TPS tax course notes from ICAS to get my basic tax knowledge up to date.

Again mine is a long list that will probably get put back and back as work starts to come in.

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By petersaxton
20th Dec 2014 23:34

My opinion

"3. Learn about Freeagent and Kashflow (we use Xero and have about 30 clients using it) but like to learn about another 2 cloud packages so give client recommendation based on what is best for them."

I put three clients on FreeAgent/Iris Openbooks and then I learned that Clear Books and Xero were better! I feel that it's very difficult to make a decision on what is best because that can change.

I don't think it's a good idea to try to match clients to software. I would prefer to use flexible software and then configure it in the way that is best for clients.

I like Clear Books not only because I think it has more features than other software but because it is managed by a UK accountant who seems to have the right attitude. This leads me to believe that Clear Books will improve in the way that I agree with. I get the feeling that some cloud software companies seem to change direction in one way or another too frequently.

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RLI
By lionofludesch
21st Dec 2014 13:07

Lazy employees

I can't be doing with lazy employees wanting summat for nowt.

If you want two weeks off at Christmas, get it booked in out of your 5.6 week holiday entitlement.

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
21st Dec 2014 13:59

closed

Hi 

we go out of our way to make sure our clients are okay prior to Christmas.  There is no reason to be open .  About 6 years ago we made the decision not to do tax returns for any client that did not have the info to us end of October .  We did it a few times and did the books and those clients became very abusive when they got the bills, even though we would have worked through Christmas for them,  Never again ironically they all seemed to be on holiday themselves at that time.

 We give 110% as they say in xfactor all year round. Time with my family is way more important. I am not talking about good clients but good clients do not expect you to work over Christmas.

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By 0098087
22nd Dec 2014 13:48

No chance when weekly payroll people cant be bothered to send 2 weeks wages. in.

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