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AccountingWEB New Year Honours

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5th Jan 2007
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Last week it was the turn of James Dyson, Steven Gerrard, Zara Phillips and Rod Stewart to receive awards in the New Year Honours. But rather than let Tony Blair and the Queen have all the fun, we asked AccountingWEB members who they thought should be recognised. The question produced some interesting answers.

Member of the Order of Persuasion

For services to accountants in influencing the Carter review.

Paul Aplin
Paul Aplin joined south west accountancy firm AC Mole & Sons in 1980 before qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1985. He qualified as a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation in 1989 and became the firm’s first tax partner in 1992.

Aplin is best known to AccountingWEB members for his role as deputy chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales Tax Faculty. Previously, his main claim to fame was being the first accountant ever to file an electronic tax return in 1997, but this year he was credited with playing a key role in Lord Carter changing his mind about changes to self-assessment filing deadlines. The peer’s original recommendations were met with outrage by accountants and industry organisations which led to a campaign to get them overturned. Francesca Lagerberg, chairman of the ICAEW tax faculty, said Aplin was instrumental in coordinating meetings with the eight professional bodies, HMRC, Lord Carter and other key figures.

Outside of work, Aplin is a keen mountain climber with many high Alpine peaks to his credit. He also enjoys photography, keeping ducks and according to his firm’s website, “sharing the occasional pint of Exmoor Ale and bag of crisps with his collie, Linford”.

Members' reasons for award:

"Paul Aplin should receive an award for all his hard work in getting Lord carter to change his mind about filing dates for personal tax returns." Rebecca Cave

"I say thank heavens for Paul Aplin for leading the campaign to “Get Carter” and make the man listen." Nichola Ross Martin

Commander of Professional Ethics

For services to maintaining the good name of the accountancy profession.

Prem Sikka
Prem Sikka is professor of accounting at the University of Essex. As well as an MSc in accounting and finance from the London School of Economics, professor Sikka also has a PhD from the University of Sheffield for which he wrote a thesis titled "Towards an Understanding of Accounting and Society: Some Episodes in the Formulation and Development of the Going Concern Concept".

Prem Sikka regularly speaks on the morality of the accountancy profession. He has written several papers exploring the nature of the sector including accountancy firms role in tax avoidance and the role of offshore financial centres in globalization.

In an article for the Guardian in 2005, Sikka said: "With the aid of accountancy firms, numerous corporate transactions are manufactured for the purpose of avoiding taxes. KPMG has admitted selling "unlawful" tax avoidance schemes that effectively deprived US public funds of billions of dollars. The firm has been fined nearly $500m as a result. Several of its ex-partners face the prospect of criminal prosecutions. Other big US accountancy firms, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte also face financial penalties and threats of prosecution."

Member's reason for award:

"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 the continuing absence of that quality." Richard Murphy

Knight of the Anti-Merger Brigade

For services to the opposition.

Ken Frost
Qualified accountant and AccountingWEB member Ken Frost was recommended by some of his fellow members for an honour. With a degree in economics from Edinburgh University, Frost joined KPMG in 1984 where he gained his accountancy qualifications.

With several years audit experience in businesses including Philips and De Beers, Frost is best known for his outspoken comments on the ICAEW. He has been most vocal in his opposition to the institute's attempts to merge with other accountancy organisations.

In 2004, Frost set up the 'Stop the Merger' website where he regularly voices his opinion on the issue. Frost is currently seeking support to stand as a candidate for the ICAEW council.

Member's reason for award:

"Sir Ken Frost sounds about right. He has done the most for the ICAEW in recent times and his messages now command widespread support amongst its members and students." 'Fred'

Member of the Order of Persistence

For services to small business.

Geoff and Diana Jones
Geoff and Diana Jones, the husband and wife owners of IT consultancy Arctic Systems, have regularly made it into the tax headlines over the last few years. The to-ing and fro-ing in their battle with HMRC has provoked significant debate on AccountingWEB. The couple were named joint tax personalities of the year at the 2006 Taxation Awards.

The Jones' case concerns the application of the settlements provisions in s.660A ICTA 1988 to a husband and wife run business. The saga has dragged on in the courts for the last four years, creating fundamental uncertainties for many in couples in business. It is not known how many couples who have set up companies together have now disbanded as a consequence.

The Court of Appeal issued a ruling in favour of Geoff Jones in December 2005, and HMRC are set to appeal to the House of Lords on 5 June this year. Stay logged onto AccountingWEB for full coverage.

NB. this paragraph has been rewritten - the comment below refers to it in its first form.

Member's reason for award:

"A certain Mr and Mrs Jones deserve a medal or three - whatever the final outcome." Clint Westwood

The Empire Award for Entertaining AccountingWEB Members

For services to publishing.

The CEOThe CEO
Several members recommended AccountingWEB's very own CEO for an honour. One of the most popular sections on AccountingWEB, the 'CEO's Diary' - previously the 'FD's Diary' - attracts tens of thousands of hits every month.

On 22 September 2003 the FD started his job and the diary began with the words: "Day 1, new job. Why is it that a job always turns out to be slightly different from the one you expect when you came for interview?". Within six weeks of taking on his new position, he had overhauled the company's invoicing processes - and made his number two redundant.

The diary has detailed several more adventures over the past three years including being called into work in Christmas Day 2005, the birth of his daughter and in May last year his unexpected promotion to CEO.

The CEO is still going strong - albeit currently with a jippy stomach! - so expect many more adventures to come!

Member's reason for award:

"The CEO should be honoured for keeping us entertained all year." Jim Walsh

Order of AccountingWEB

For services to Any Answers.

AccountingWEB top posters
At the suggestion of Arnold Smith, we have researched which of our community members made the most contributions to Any Answers during the course of the year. Once we started counting, we found some eye-opening results - there were several people whose contributions went well into three figures.

So as not to discourage active participation, we have drawn a polite veil over the exact numbers involved and would like to pass on thanks on behalf of the rest of the community to the following active contributors: Neil Eglintine, James Chrimes, Daniel Clark, John Clough, Alistair Harris, Jason Holden, Dennis Howlett, James Spearink, Alan Webb, Richard Willis, Clint Westwood and David Winch.

And an honourable mention goes to...

Whilst we don't like to blow our own trumpet, thankyou very much to the members who nominated AccountingWEB's very own Nichola Ross Martin and Dan Martin for honours. We were too modest to give ourselves awards but it's nice to know we're appreciated!

Congratulations to the winners and Happy New Year to all!

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By User deleted
09th Jan 2007 11:22

Shurely shome mishtake?
I agree wholeheartedly that Geoff and Diana Jones deserve several medals, but I thought the Court of Appeal decision in December 2005 had been very strongly in their favour and it was HMRC who were appealing to the House of Lords?

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