Richard Murphy is Professor of Accounting Practice, Sheffield University Management School, a chartered accountant and economic justice campaigner. He blogs at http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/ and tweets @RichardJMurphy
Prem Sikka If Mike Rake deserves a knighthood, then Prem Sikka deserves a peerage. No one has done more to draw attention to the need for an ethically based profession, and thecontinuing absence of that quality. See http://www.essex.ac.uk/AFM/staff/sikka.shtm
Mind you, I expect he'd refuse it. Prem does this stuff because it's the right thing to do, not for reward.
John's comments Can I endorse John's comments to Gerard?
I am 100% sure Gerard cannot duck this issue becasue it is difficult. It has to be done, and as he suggests. And, if there are no systems to ensure it acn be done now is the time to create them.
The company tie I had a firm of graphic designers once who claimed every few months for a new "company tie". This didn't have a logo on it - it just hung on a hook behind the door and was put on when someone needed to go to the sort of meeting that required one.
I can't recall allowing it. Whilst there appeared no personal benefit and it hardly came within the Mallilieu rules - it wasn't for either warmth or decency, nor did it seem necessary business expenditure. But it was an amusing claim, but hardly worth the effort of submitting.
My answers
Maybe not SOCA - but HMRC definitely
I agree with David
But he'd be mad not to delcare to HMRC now
Richard Murphy
Prem Sikka
If Mike Rake deserves a knighthood, then Prem Sikka deserves a peerage. No one has done more to draw attention to the need for an ethically based profession, and thecontinuing absence of that quality. See http://www.essex.ac.uk/AFM/staff/sikka.shtm
Mind you, I expect he'd refuse it. Prem does this stuff because it's the right thing to do, not for reward.
Richard Murphy
Both
Charge a fixed fee as long as the client delivers what they promised. If they do, you must do the same.
Collect time sheet data to manage your scarcest resource - your staff''s time.
This is not an either / or.
Nigel Burge is right
This happened to me once.
A fee dispute.
A spurious complaint to the ICAEW.
They dismissed the complaint - but their advice was right - walk away and get a better class of client.
Move on - you can't make money from recovering £150 of debt.
John's comments
Can I endorse John's comments to Gerard?
I am 100% sure Gerard cannot duck this issue becasue it is difficult. It has to be done, and as he suggests. And, if there are no systems to ensure it acn be done now is the time to create them.
I agree with David Honeyman re Point 2
Apportionment on fixed price deals is required
There's a leaflet on this
Go the Revenue web site and you'll find it.
It covers examiners in detail.
Well worth having.
What an excellent idea!
(Which is my way of getting exactly what Ian is suggesting)
VT
It works, and is cheap
The company tie
I had a firm of graphic designers once who claimed every few months for a new "company tie". This didn't have a logo on it - it just hung on a hook behind the door and was put on when someone needed to go to the sort of meeting that required one.
I can't recall allowing it. Whilst there appeared no personal benefit and it hardly came within the Mallilieu rules - it wasn't for either warmth or decency, nor did it seem necessary business expenditure. But it was an amusing claim, but hardly worth the effort of submitting.