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Born Dull?! seeks Britain's most stressed accountant

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8th Apr 2005
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Who would be an accountant? In an effort to soothe the profession's seething resentments Born Dull?! has teamed up with The Spa at Chancery Court (right) to offer a de-stressing day out for one of our deserving members.

It takes years of study and application to get where you are today. You spend your life absorbing and interpreting arcane technical detail that no one else cares about - except for other accountants. And what thanks do you get?

If you're working in business, everyone resents your "beancounting" interference. Then there's the red tape. Tax deadlines, quarterly VAT returns, PAYE and whatever else is going around - health & safety, accessibility etc etc - it always seems to end up on the accountant's desk. Because obviously you're not tackling front-line business priorities, are you?

Speaking of which, how about cash flow and credit management? Talk about hassle! And then there's the accounts program, which always seems to go on the blink when you're trying to close the monthly accounts and give the executive team their sodding monthly reports.

Then, when anything goes wrong, what do they do? Blame the messenger. Have you ever noticed that when big listed companies fail to meet their sales targets and issue trading statements, it's always the FD who has to fall on their sword?

Phew it's stressful just reading about it. And who said life in practice is any better? A major source of stress occurs if you are not able to control factors that affect your environment - did someone mention clients? Oh, and what about Practice Assurance, monitoring visits and all the new fuss about training needs assessments for CPD?

Here at Born Dull?! we reckon that if anyone needs a chance to step back from the rat race and get a chance to set their worries aside and focus on more meaningful things, then its accountants.

We're looking to find deserving accountants to take part in this week's community prize draw. The Spa at Chancery Court (winner of British Beauty Awards best day spa in 2002 and 2004) has put together a special stress-busting package to help you unwind. The accountancy package includes a "life-saving" back massage to release tension with aromatherapy oils, followed by a warm mud mask.

You can also get a deep oriental scalp massage to reduce tension and instill a sense of well-being.

To enter the prize draw for this stress-busting treatment, post a comment below this article including your name and correct email address when you submit your comment. Everyone who replies will be entered into the prize draw.

We also reckon that it sometimes helps to relieve stress and frustration by sharing your cares. Why not let off some steam and tell the rest of the community what really gets your goat? Or why not describe some of your professional war stories - you might feel better for it.

The Spa at Chancery Court, 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN.

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Replies (34)

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By darren.austin
12th Apr 2005 11:10

I nominate any equity partner in Ernst & Young
See above

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By User deleted
13th Apr 2005 09:58

Of course most of us get stressed
Anyone working in tax having to speak to call-centre staff who understand very little, won't put you through to the district and then you cannot get any information from the Revenue anymore as they ignore your requests -of course we are stressed.

I think instead the prize should be donated to Donna Anthony - I think any stress one of us has suffered is minute compared to her.

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By sarahclarkson.numberwork
12th Apr 2005 16:54

Stressed
I am all moaned out and currently resigned to dealing with the mounting additional admin that has come from increased regulation etc

The promise of a day away from it all, however, was enough to tempt me to rearrange my priorities and find time to respond.

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By User deleted
12th Apr 2005 17:17

Give me a break!
You know I have enough to be doing without you sending me emails needing a response about some blasted de-stressing day. I mean, where on earth would I find the time to catch up after a day off?

Jeez!

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By juliecooke
12th Apr 2005 20:06

stressed, new role with heavy work-load, boss on holiday, awaiti
Having been in my current role for nearly 8 months after being made redundant from my first (proper) permanent role in nearly 18 years, and still loving it, I tend to give it my all.

I work for MFI and have been thrown into dealing with all the problems associated with last years SAP issues (I still love SAP!), difficult Logistics managers, 4 changes of managers in as many months, 4 week periods (ie 13 month end's a year!), my boss currently on Holiday and I'm waiting for a minor Op whcih will mean 3 days off (or working from home after a Genreal Anaesthetic?). So today - what did I do? Offered to be the Business Continuity Plan owner for Logistics and two sites!!! Am I mad?

A day at a spa won't take the work-load away, but will help me switch off from it for a day - OK not 24 hours including a night, but at least a day!

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By AnonymousUser
12th Apr 2005 14:15

Super Super Stressed!!
I have had the worst few months of my life - broke my leg 2 weeks before the Tax Return deadline in January - only had a couple of days off work for hospital appointments and managed to hobble around the office on my crutches! Decree nisi last Friday and now a single full-time working Mum. I seriously need a pampering!!!!!!!!

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By steve tees
12th Apr 2005 15:13

Accountants? Stressed?
Already, I have your attention! I have no chance of winning this as I'm not actually an accountant. I just wanted to say that as an ex contractor's quantity surveyor (I can hear the boos and hisses now) trying to understand all those "arcane" terms and method has been very stressful. However, the most stressful part for any contractor's surveyor is actually being made to balance the books instead of cooking them and having to explain where the money went on the contract! All's well that ends well, though, I'm now in the construction accounting software world having moved through Sage onto EVision.
Good luck to the real accountants, especially if you've dealt with surveyors and CIS. (Seriously, we are nice guys with a sense of humour!).

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By Bolebrook1
12th Apr 2005 16:07

Stressed?
Stressed to the point that I have decided to retire but I can't because that would give me more headaches than I already have, looking after the team that works for me, paying them off, sorting out the clients and then facing life with no pension!! No retirement just teeming and lading in the stress ledger. It's the red tape and the fear of coming to work that gets me!!!!

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By elainetrippett.blueyonder
12th Apr 2005 08:36

I must nominate my boss - sorry!
I must nominate my boss - Lynn. Last year our practice received an excellent report from the ACCA because of the work she has done to put procedures in place over the last few years, and she has three children, and works full time.
The last six months have been very stressful for her. She has had many staff problems to deal with, but kept the practice running smoothly. Then we've had major computer problems in the run up to 31st January,tax return deadline, and again with payroll year end and she still kept the practice running smoothly.
She deserves a day at a spa after what she's been through lately. (Perhaps I could go with her!!!!!!)

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By albogolf
15th Apr 2005 12:30

Sttrreessssssssss
Going into overload,
online filing slowed,
a spa day for me,
please make it free.

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By AnonymousUser
11th Apr 2005 12:49

Stress
I'd like to go in for this comp but too much to do.

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By cjdytham
08th Apr 2005 17:06

Stressed Mafia Accountant ?
A Mafia Godfather finds out that his accountant has screwed him for ten
million bucks. This accountant is deaf. It was considered an occupational
benefit, and why he got the job in the first place, since it was assumed
that a deaf accountant would not be able to hear anything he'd ever have to
testify about in court.

When the Godfather goes to shakedown the accountant about his missing $10
million bucks, he brings along his attorney, who knows sign language.

The Godfather asks the accountant: "Where is the 10 million bucks you
embezzled from me?"

The attorney, using sign language, asks the accountant where the 10 million
dollar is hidden.

The accountant signs back: "I don't know what you are talking about."

The attorney tells the Godfather: "He says he doesn't know what you're
talking about."

That's when the Godfather pulls out a 9 mm pistol, puts it to the
accountant's temple, cocks it, and says: "Ask him again!"

The attorney signs to the underling: "He'll kill you for sure if you don't
tell him!"

The accountant signs back: "OK! You win! The money is in a brown
briefcase, buried behind the shed in my cousin Enzo's backyard in Queens!"

The Godfather asks the attorney: "Well, what'd he say?"

The attorney replies: "He says you don't have the balls to pull the
trigger."

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By User deleted
08th Apr 2005 17:08

Sorry guys but the women win hands down
Nice try on the stress front guys but the girls win hands down. What you don't appreciate is that you go home after a hard days work, put you feet up and get pampered by a loving wife, we have to go home feed the kids clean the house do their homework walk the dog do the washing and still find time to massage the ego of the cavemen we live with!

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By M3MMM
09th Apr 2005 08:20

Stress counselling
It doesn't matter whether you are male or female (or even somewhere in between). At the end of the working day we all need to unwind.

A little wine can help. Not enough and it doesn't really help and too much and you feel rough the nxt day, but, boy (or girl) is it fun finding out just what is the right quantity.

Not my words, but those of a stress counsellor called Geoff Shattock.

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By User deleted
10th Apr 2005 21:27

I'd win if it was a competition!
I know its a tough challenge, but I'm sure I'd win if it was a competition!

In the last six months I've:

1. Moved jobs, joining a big 4 firm with high expectations.
2. Moved city, to a place where I dont know anyone except for work and girlfriend (& I don't have enough time to meet anyone!)
3. My mother's been diagnosed with terminal cancer
4. I've just got a letter from the Revenue saying a charity I stupidly agreed to be Treasurer for owes them £2,500
5. Some stupid woman drove into the back of my car on Wednesday - my back still hurts!
6. I've got a tenant in my old house who's decided to quit, so I'm now losing money until I get a replacement.
7. I do some payroll admin as a freelance work and the year end has just arrived!
8. My girlfriend is pushing me to move in together
9. I bought a washing machine and the supplier has gone AWOL so I'm having to sue him!

Is that list long enough??

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By User deleted
08th Apr 2005 11:24

I want to win
I feel stressed alot, but cannot think of a specific instance which has made me feel that way. Trying to think of one is itself making me feel rather stressed though, is that good enough to win?

Joseph S
[email protected]

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By tomcogzell.blueyonder.co.
09th Apr 2005 01:11

Retired
I survived (just), in this the MOST stressful profession, for ** years and now I look ** years younger with a 22 handicap.

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By Helen Crowley
13th Apr 2005 10:56

Anyone need a field ploughing?
Obviously I'd apply myself if I wasn't a tractor
(Laughing maniacally)
Helen Crowley
[email protected]

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By User deleted
08th Apr 2005 14:23

Illogical guilt - symptom of stress?
I run my own business, so I only get paid for the hours I work for clients.

Yesterday I took a day off.

Now, I informed my clients that I was doing this, I'm not getting paid for the day I took off, and I spent all last weekend (including 12 exhausting hours on Sunday) as well as the preceding 2 weekends working for one particular client helping them sort out some of their problems (of their own creating).
Courtesy of premium-paid weekend work, I don't remotely need to have worked yesterday from a financial pespective.

So why do I feel so guilty about taking 1 day off for myself?

And (equally worrying) why can't I remember the last time I had a day for myself?


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By frauke
19th Apr 2005 15:37

Stressed?
I've just taken 2 days holiday from my employment as a Financial Controller of a manuafactoring company (yes there are a few left in the UK) where I regulary do more than 48 hours a week, for a poorly paid 40 hour week - so I can:

1. For my local charity - Finalise the accounts so I can give them to the auditor (after I have chased up outstanding donations and expenses held by volunteers since last year) and the AGM in less than 4 weeks time.

2. Work for my practice (job does not pay the bills) so I can finish all the Payrolls for 2004/05 for all the Limited companies in preparation for year end.

3. Try and locate the company director of the company who burried his head in the sand after the IR backdated PAYE registration and then fined the company £850. Since then he has refused to do anything, so the ye Mar 04 company accounts are now overdue, his personal tax return for 2003/04 is late, and despite the IR allowing the appeal and agreement to pay compensation - hes decided he cannot cope with his resposiblities........

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By User deleted
08th Apr 2005 14:08

Oh let me win!
I've just come back from maternity leave, I'm still getting very little sleep at night and I'm trying to pick up the pieces! Why is it that no-one else can ever do your job as well as you do! Everywhere I look I find things that need sorting out and the stress levels are rising! I need to be pampered!

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By AnonymousUser
08th Apr 2005 14:21

If you gave me a medical i would win!
I am suffering much stress at the moment. As a tax department we have just had to relocate and remake 2000 files as well as being one person down as a colleague left in Feb. This is normally a quiet time of year for us and a chance to recover from January but not any more...

I was so stressed in January that I ended up in hospital with an illness which I am sure was exacerbated by stress - outside of work I have 3 kids an ex wife and a current wife to deal with! I am still recovering from the January illness and have another stay in hospital coming up in June.

My to do list at the moment includes 5 April tax information letters for 400 clients, P11d letters, masses of post to respond to, several enquiries on the go, Form 42 co-ordination for the office various tax planning project and I still have 300 or so new files to make! eek!

Help! I may not make it to May without this prize!

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By User deleted
08th Apr 2005 14:29

Auditors get stressed too!!!
Not only do we have to keep up to date with all the legislation, best practice etc, we also have to contend with managers and accountants! How many auditors have wanted to make the recommendation that "Managers should Manage!" (or Accountants should learn to count for that matter)?

2004 was all "SOX and no play" (and if you misread that to be something fairly pleasing you've spent as long in front of your computer as I have over the past few months).

Is there hope for sanity to return in 2005 or will "compliance and control" still rule every waking moment (and most of the sleeping ones too)?

This could start a whole new double entendre thread on "stress relief" if I'm not careful so will end here!

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By AnonymousUser
08th Apr 2005 11:52

Training for stress
I am beginning to get very stressed of thinking of new "something no one knows about yous" to quote at the beginning of training courses to break the ice...I mean, how many interesting facts must I be expected to come up with? I heard a good one the other day though which was "yesterday I met my Mother for the first time". Can anyone beat that for a training course ice breaker?

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By User deleted
08th Apr 2005 11:55

Breaking the ice
How about a 10 ton polar bear?

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By AnonymousUser
08th Apr 2005 11:56

Crows feet
I'm only 28 and I look at least 45 - that stresses me out all the time. Short of getting an Extreme Makeover I really need this prize! Please!

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By vickyatkinson
08th Apr 2005 12:31

Work, kids, and a new puppy - help!
Not only have I to contend with juggling work, two girls aged 6 & 4, running a home with little contribution from my even more stressed husband (or so he says) but we have also got a puppy - so my lunch hour consists of racing home, feeding the dog, pulling on my wellies with my suit to traipse around the park for half an hour (trying unsuccessfully to avoid muddy paws) and if I'm lucky stopping at the petrol station to grab a sandwich on my way back to the office.
So please consider my plight I need some time out to destress!!

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By User deleted
20th Apr 2005 09:44

So many replies from women. Is that because:
a). We are more stressed?
b). This competition appeals more to women or men?
c). We are not afraid to admit we are stressed?
or,
d) We cope rather better with stress which is why we have managed to find time in our busy schedules to post a comment?

If I win I am giving the prize to my other half, he's in publishing, and every single book results in near heart failure. I can't really say the say for my work. If clients did that to me I'd sack 'em :)

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By User deleted
13th Apr 2005 12:08

Me please
Some brat is blowing badly into a recorder all day long in the flat next to my office.
Last week it was Transco digging up the alleyway under the office.
Then on Monday it was aforementioned flat having building work done.
I'd love a day when I only have to deal with the stress of the office.
Better still, a day when I don't have to deal with any of it!

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By User deleted
14th Apr 2005 08:33

Planes, trains and motorways!
All I know is that I the inside of a plane seems more familiar to me than my own lounge. When I leave for work in the morning London is like the "forgotten city". I'm late 20's going on early 40's, and after all this, I battle to feel like I'm adding value every day!

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By User deleted
13th Apr 2005 19:36

I work for a Central Government Department
currently undergoing reorganisation and well known to all of you ...... just see the posting below. Hated by the world and your own profession!

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By AnonymousUser
13th Apr 2005 16:50

MBA stress!
I'm frantically trying to complete my MBA dissertation before Monday's deadline! While still working full time, and organising my wedding... does that count as stress??

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By riches-watts
15th Apr 2005 18:10

stress, what stress!!!??
Ordered a new printer last week, in case our "all singing and dancing wonderful office jet does everything apart from make the coffee" printer ever gives up. The all singing machine must have heard me put in the order and broke down yesterday and guess what? - the new printer should have arrived today, and they now tell me they have delivery problems. AAGGHHH.

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By AnonymousUser
20th Apr 2005 12:00

ESP
How about the fact that all accountants are supposed to have ESP and know everything that is happening without being told? Then when something goes wrong that you couldn't possible have known about you are still blamed!

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