What's your best practice shortcut or 'hack'?

What's your best practice shortcut or 'hack'?

Didn't find your answer?

We've all got tips and tricks up our sleeve to make life that little bit easier. From Excel shortcuts to knowing what to say to the automated HMRC answering system to put us through quicker - we know what works for us. 

This question is inspired by a post I've recently read on Life Hacks - useful tips and practical solutions to everyday problems!

So have you got any other shortcuts, tips or tricks for practitioners?

One of my favourites from the post, is to take a picture of a business card while networking when you're handed it in case you lose it later. 

Replies (39)

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By Steve Kesby
12th Sep 2014 13:04

I'm just choking on my Nutella and ice-cream...

... over the idea of photographing your friends, so that you remember them! I expect that helps if you lose them too!

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By Rachael White
12th Sep 2014 13:40

While Nutella and ice-cream and photographing your friends are interesting hacks (especially if you have goldfish memory syndrome) they're not really ones that can help you in practice.

Does anyone have any others?

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Stepurhan
By stepurhan
12th Sep 2014 13:42

"While" networking?

Other business owner : Why are you taking a picture of my business card?

You : In case I lose it later

Other business owner : I'm not sure I feel confident using an accountant that thinks it likely they will lose something before getting home.

I'm never quite sure what constitutes a "life hack". I keep stuff where I'm waiting for replies in in-trays, and have done most of my working life. Keeping it out of the way but within reach is useful, but is it a life hack?

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Replying to davidwinch:
RLI
By lionofludesch
12th Sep 2014 18:43

Or .....

stepurhan wrote:

Other business owner : Why are you taking a picture of my business card?

You : In case I lose it later

Or .....

You :  So that I always have it to hand.

Other business owner : I'm immensely flattered.

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Replying to Vile Nortin Naipaan:
Stepurhan
By stepurhan
13th Sep 2014 07:23

Smooth

lionofludesch wrote:

stepurhan wrote:

Other business owner : Why are you taking a picture of my business card?

You : In case I lose it later

Or .....

You :  So that I always have it to hand.

Other business owner : I'm immensely flattered.

Truly thou art a master of network-fu.
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Replying to psimonparsons:
RLI
By lionofludesch
13th Sep 2014 11:13

Ah but .....

stepurhan wrote:

lionofludesch wrote:

stepurhan wrote:

Other business owner : Why are you taking a picture of my business card?

You : In case I lose it later

Or .....

You :  So that I always have it to hand.

Other business owner : I'm immensely flattered.

Truly thou art a master of network-fu.

To be fair, I'd never do it.  But it's important to put the right spin on your PR.

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By Rachael White
12th Sep 2014 13:45

Stepurhan: I meant on the train home or some such, good point !

A life hack is anything you do that makes life that bit easier. For example any good Excel shortcuts? Any tips for getting self assessment returns done quicker? Or anything more office-oriented, such as these ones?

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Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
12th Sep 2014 14:03

I always carry an indelible marker pen

When people introduce themselves to me, I write their name on their forehead. Now I never forget a face.

It makes for a great party game, as well, when you are all totally sh**-faced.

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By mrme89
12th Sep 2014 13:53

Your question has gone

Your question has gone unanswered on AWeb?

Post the question again, but this time include accounting or tax facts that are incredibly wrong. Shortly after, someone will come along to put you straight.

 

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By pindercd
12th Sep 2014 14:09

Windows Updates

As soon as you see that window updates need to take place, update NOW !!

 

Or wait until you are in a rush to go somewhere, close your mahcine down and then wait for 1 of 147 updates to process while you mutter under your breath about not doing it earlier !!

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By mrme89
12th Sep 2014 14:14

Another one I have come across (by accident) is that if you swear whilst on the phone to Apple which is a voice recognition system, it will put you straight through to a human.

 

 

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By Tim1
12th Sep 2014 14:15

When interviewing prospective employees always throw half the CV`s you get in the bin - that way you avoid employing anyone who is unlucky.

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Replying to Tax Dragon:
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By User deleted
15th Sep 2014 12:16

But what if ...

Tim1 wrote:

When interviewing prospective employees always throw half the CV`s you get in the bin - that way you avoid employing anyone who is unlucky.

... it is you who is the unlucky one Tim1?

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By andy.partridge
12th Sep 2014 14:23

ML

I find that ignoring anything related to money laundering frees up a great deal of practice time. Being old-school if I see a dodgy character I ring 999. It's a number most people can remember without writing down.

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By User deleted
12th Sep 2014 14:36

The best hack

 

- disregard all training, forget everything ever learnt. Just use aWebbers to assist me all day...

 

Ahh the simple life

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
12th Sep 2014 15:23

.

Ignore any legislation that does not result in a fine or penalty for non-compliance for a first offence. Chances are it is not very important, and you can do it if you are asked to.

 

 

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By A-TS
12th Sep 2014 15:48

A to do list in notepad.exe that pops up every time I start windows.  Always adding to it, it's always there.  And very satisfying marking off jobs done and knowing when you are sat around bored, of what you can be doing!

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By whitty_2k
12th Sep 2014 15:50

Excel
Have a standard template where all the sheets interlink and is easily adjusted for each client.

Saves a shed load of time. Sorted

Thanks (2)
John Stokdyk, AccountingWEB head of insight
By John Stokdyk
12th Sep 2014 17:33

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions

This one has definitely taken on a Friday feel - so much so that some of the suggestions have made their way into our weekly Editor's notebook.

Thanks for keeping us entertained - but as we mention in the jokey blog post, it would be nice to get some sensible suggestions like the ones from A-TS and whitty_2k too.

Have a good weekend all!

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Stepurhan
By stepurhan
12th Sep 2014 17:36

Upside of 20% VAT rate

If you want a client to pay a monthly direct debit for their bill, then the monthly amount is 1/10th of the net annual figure. The 20% VAT on top gives the extra two "months" to make calculating the monthly VAT-inclusive figure easy.

Didn't work as well under 17.5%  ;-)

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By carnmores
12th Sep 2014 19:10

i still use word
And auto text allows me to knock out letters and templates in a jiffy and excel simple sorting and subtotaling of data tidied up client files

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By carnmores
12th Sep 2014 19:11

and of course
Handyscan

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Jennifer Adams
By Jennifer Adams
12th Sep 2014 20:42

CIS refunds...

I know many of you will already do this but I have come across some (dare-I-say) of the more old fashioned accountants who dont but any clients refund goes straight into my Client account.

This is written in my LOE so any quibbles...

 

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Replying to johnhemming:
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By thomas34
13th Sep 2014 08:14

Old Fashioned

JAADAMS wrote:

I know many of you will already do this but I have come across some (dare-I-say) of the more old fashioned accountants who dont but any clients refund goes straight into my Client account.

This is written in my LOE so any quibbles...

 

Less of the old fashioned please Jennifer. I think you meant experienced. I've never had a client bank account since I won't accept monies due to a client.

It's one less piece of book work to do and I wouldn't feel comfortable with for example taking my fees out of the said account. It's much easier to finance the business properly and to not worry about cash flow. Likewise I don't get involved with monthly fees, direct debits and other upfront payments because I'd hate to get run over before I'd completed the accounts. It also avoids the need for constant reconciliations between what's been received and what value of work has been actually carried out.

Actually I suppose it is old fashioned.

 

 

 

Thanks (1)
By mrme89
12th Sep 2014 22:17

Not accountancy related but...

When in an electrical shop like Curry's and I need some help from sales staff for something inexpensive, I go stand near the biggest, most expensive TV they have. You have their attention immediately! Go stand near the toasters and you're waiting forever for someone to see you.

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By Penfold
12th Sep 2014 23:12

getting the client

to do ALL the work, without them realizing it ...

 

 

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By ShirleyM
13th Sep 2014 08:39

Perception of old-fashioned

"I know many of you will already do this but I have come across some (dare-I-say) of the more old fashioned accountants who dont but any clients refund goes straight into my Client account."

My perception is that it's the old traditional accountancy practices that take the clients refund and then extract their fees before issuing the remaining refund to the client.

I think most modern practices get payment as soon as the job is finished, or sooner.

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Routemaster image
By tom123
13th Sep 2014 09:06

Every so often I resolve to tackle the two 'in trays' that I have (a desk one for paper, and Outlook) starting from top to bottom - with no option to put anything back and chose something different instead.

I find that, with the passage of a bit of time, most of the stuff in the trays can be ignored or just filed - and it is nice to end up with thinner piles of 'stuff'.

Other days I chose to ignore the in trays and work on interesting project work instead.

I am 'industry' based though, so not much of my work is time/compliance/fine based.

I have separate trays for everything payroll / vat related compared to all the day to day accounts stuff.

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Routemaster image
By tom123
13th Sep 2014 09:08

Just thought of another

Start the week off with a recurring task (in my case weekly cash flow forecasting) rather than coming back from the weekend and just dealing with whatever random s**t you can see.

This breaks the week in gently.

Try to finish the week in a similar fashion - helps to 'put the week to bed' and get your out of work head on.

Of course the middle part of the week may well be complete chaos.

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By Rachael White
15th Sep 2014 09:54

Nice ideas

Thanks everyone. 

We'll be putting together an article soon featuring the best ones. So if you've got any more, get them in this week! 

 

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ghm
By TaxTeddy
15th Sep 2014 12:19

Music in the office

DON'T waste money on expensive iPods. Simply think of your favourite tune and I hum it. If you want to "switch tracks", simply think of another song you like and hum that instead.

© Viz Comic

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Replying to 2003bluecat:
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By caleycasual
15th Sep 2014 21:52

Some great tips

TaxTeddy wrote:

DON'T waste money on expensive iPods. Simply think of your favourite tune and I hum it. If you want to "switch tracks", simply think of another song you like and hum that instead.

© Viz Comic

Spend less money on coffee by drinking more tea.

Also © Viz Comic

Sherman Holter wrote:

Those 100 things pale into insignificance when I remember that blessed day when I was told that CTRL + Colon puts todays date in a cell.

Over the past five years I must have saved a total of at least five minutes.

I only discovered this a few months back but the seconds it has saved me!

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By James420
15th Sep 2014 12:43

.

Gmail combined with:

Canned response - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW6OEpeglOE

Bommerang - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud0yDhAAUVw

Outlook is so yesterday! 

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By chatman
15th Sep 2014 16:46

Canned Responses

All my canned responses disappeared from Gmail without explanation.

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The triggle is a distant cousin of the squonk (pictured)
By Triggle
15th Sep 2014 18:45

Audit teams: When you have travelled from the office to the client's premises on the first day of the audit and arrive an hour or so late because some members of the team had to do some shopping on the way, always warmly greet the client with: "Sorry we're late, but [insert name of audit partner] kept us talking."

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By Sherman Holter
15th Sep 2014 19:23

Ctrl Colon

Those 100 things pale into insignificance when I remember that blessed day when I was told that CTRL + Colon puts todays date in a cell.

Over the past five years I must have saved a total of at least five minutes.

Thanks (3)
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By Mouse house
15th Sep 2014 20:04

Direct debits
Switching clients from standing order to direct debit has saved us hours of admin time on fixed fee clients. Now we can change the amount we get once a new fee is agreed, rather than waiting for the client to get round to changing the standing order, and then having to chase them when they didn't do it.

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By ShirleyM
15th Sep 2014 20:38

I agree, Mouse House

Direct debit, and/or payment before submission has saved us endless time chasing debts, and also weeds out the ones who never intend to pay.

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By hhs
16th Sep 2014 11:29

goodbye ugly office machines

Being paperless (rah rah rah) we have been able to cut down on the usual ugly office machines, like bulky scanners, fax machines, photocopiers etc. 

We do have a very small scanner for the post and large batches but for anything else we use genius scan - an app for smartphones - which is great when you're out of the office at meetings AND we are very excited about this new product pocket scanner - geeks!

We don't have a fax machine (does anyone?!), we use soho66 which uses email to send documents to arrive at someone's fax machine and we receive a pdf of an incoming fax in our email inbox.  

We use echo sign for electronic signatures and finally gocardless for our direct debit payment system. 

Does anyone else have any more tech advances up their sleeve?  

Ooh last one I forgot - we ditched the timesheet! :-O

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