Do you believe in Santa Claus, or more precisely the spirit of Christmas?
Do you believe in Santa Claus, or more precisely the spirit of Christmas?
Do you give your time freely to those in need, help others, and treat everyone with kindness. Or are you more like the infamous “accountant” Scrooge, only out for what you can get?
Accountancy as a discipline teaches us to behave more like Scrooge than Father Christmas, so are all accountants doomed to Scrooge's fate, or do you believe that the Christmas spirit is how we should live our lives every day, not just one day a year, and that Dicken’s “Christmas Carol” is, perhaps, the ultimate morality tale?
Consumermas
Flash Gordon PM | Sun, 11/12/2011 - 15:05 | Permalink
I totally disagree that 'accountancy as a discipline teaches us to behave more like Scrooge than Father Christmas' - maybe that says more about you? I always thought it was about helping clients, even if we are telling them they have tax to pay.
Helping clients can mean not helping their employees. How many times have you advised a client to get rid of some staff, or reduce their hours. How often have you had to advise them to restrict pay rises to less than that actually needed by their staff.
Do you ever restrict what clients claim in expenses to less than they could perhaps get away with thereby costing them more tax than they strictly need to pay.
What about your own time? Do you charge charities for auditing their accounts, or do you do them for free?
Outside of work, if you were walking into a store with £500 in your pocket to buy a new TV and you saw a homeless person sheltering in a shop doorway, would you ignore them and buy the TV, or would you pay for a bed for the night for the homeless person and buy a smaller or cheaper TV ?
I can't help feeling that Christmas should be renamed Consumermas.
@ Santa 2 thanks
Helping clients can mean not helping their employees. How many times have you advised a client to get rid of some staff, or reduce their hours. How often have you had to advise them to restrict pay rises to less than that actually needed by their staff.
Do you ever restrict what clients claim in expenses to less than they could perhaps get away with thereby costing them more tax than they strictly need to pay.
What about your own time? Do you charge charities for auditing their accounts, or do you do them for free?
Outside of work, if you were walking into a store with £500 in your pocket to buy a new TV and you saw a homeless person sheltering in a shop doorway, would you ignore them and buy the TV, or would you pay for a bed for the night for the hom,eless person and buy a smaller or cheaper TV ?
I can't help feeling that Christmas should be renamed Consumermas.
Never. Never.
I would restrict expense claims to what is legit. 'Getting away with' isn't a concept I follow.
I don't audit charities.
I wouldn't waste £500 on a tv.The one I've got will last me for donkeys.
Not everyone spends a fortune pointlessly at Christmas.
The most ridiculous Christmas song ever
Scrooges in 2011 2 thanks
Dave & George, isn't that how things have to be now, got to be cruel to be kind, austerity & all that.
All init together?? some things don't change.
you better watch out 3 thanks
you better not cry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pauxfOgZe0A
He's making a list,
Checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice.
I love ferrets and am so tempted to get some 1 thanks
Have you seen the way they bounce up and down on all four legs like they are on a trampoline? They are such playful little creatures and great fun ... and they would fit in with my flat cap, whippets and ferrets image of Yorkshire :)
Suggestion for Shirley 1 thanks
I was going to suggest that you ask Santa Claus for some but then he seems to have left us already - and I hadn't even given him a carrot for Rudolph! Maybe he has the same problems these days with getting deliveries made on time as Royal Mail et al and thought making an early start would ensure that there were no disappointed little children :)
If you're watching Santa could you leave my ferrets their presents outside the front door - the builders blocked the chimney up indoors and I'd hate to come down on Chrimbo morning to a pile of bits of wall instead of a pile of presents... Thanks awfully!
Bite 1 thanks
Have you seen the way they bounce up and down on all four legs like they are on a trampoline? They are such playful little creatures and great fun ... and they would fit in with my flat cap, whippets and ferrets image of Yorkshire :)
I've only met two ferrets, I agree they are playful and fun.... but they bite!!
Ah, but ... 1 thanks
... do you know why they put ferrets down their trousers?
To keep them warm, of course ;)
Ony kidding .... I know it is some sort of macho (or masochist) game, OGA.
It would be a good game for I'm a Celebrity, except some pleasant creatures (the ferrets) may get hurt in the filming!
I get soooooo annoyed by the people on that program getting so scared of tame rats! Those poor rats have such a lot to put up with, and they didn't volunteer, or receive loadsa dosh either!
I think you are wrong there ...
... my understanding was that as poaching was then a capital offence, the poacher out rabbiting would slip the ferrets down his trousers to conceal them from the gamekeeper - the macho contests devolved from that!
I'll settle for being alive, healthy and having my little furry 2 thanks
ones around to cuddle.
Here you go Flash
I concede, OGA :)
I am sure the end result was the same, though ;)
Someone has to post this Youtube clip, so it may as well be me :)
Thank you Mouse!!!
That is sooooo sweet :)
I love the way his little face goes from sad to happy!
Ho ho hum 3 thanks
I totally disagree that 'accountancy as a discipline teaches us to behave more like Scrooge than Father Christmas' - maybe that says more about you? I always thought it was about helping clients, even if we are telling them they have tax to pay.
It all comes down to the type of person you are, not the training you receive. Most of the people I've come across on here are the sort I'd happily take on Ming the Merciless to protect, but there has been the odd one (if every sense of the word!) that seem to behave with Ming's contempt and arrogance despite claiming to help out all & sundry. They're the ones who Santa won't be visiting this Christmas!
As for me, I don't need presents on Christmas Day, I'll settle for being alive, healthy and having my little furry ones around to cuddle. Though if Miami Dolphins could have a kick-ass win in their game on Christmas Eve I wouldn't complain!