Accountancy Age articles from June 2009

Accountancy Age archives from June 2009

VAT change may increase costs for UK business.
June 11, 2009... Byline: Nick Huber VAT change may increase costs for UK business Nick Huber A change in European Union VAT rules for business-to-business services will create administrative headaches for UK companies and could increase the cost...

Battle to save the planet is hotting-up.
June 11, 2009... Byline: Gavin Hinks Battle to save the planet is hotting-up Gavin Hinks Leaders tend to meet these days in an attempt to save the world economy -- but when diplomats and bureaucrats convene for the UN Climate Change Conference in...

People and moves...(Company overview)
June 11, 2009... Byline: Rachael Singh People and moves... Job to die for: Faroe Petroleum Group FD Iain Lanaghan is the new group finance director at Faroe Petroleum, taking over from Roger Witts who takes on a non-executive director role. Witts...

Conditions right for mid-tier assault on the FTSE monopoly.
June 11, 2009... Byline: David Jetuah Conditions right for mid-tier assault on the FTSE monopoly AUDIT David Jetuah To boast a clutch of FTSE 100 audits has always been the 'brass ring' for the profession -- but those outside the top four,...

northern highlights.
June 11, 2009... Byline: wilf altman northern highlights It's harder than ever to find enterprise success stories in the UK in the current climate. So launching this year's Enterprising Britain 2009 competition from Scarborough might seem strange, but...

Footballersi?1/2 trick will soon merit a red card The behaviour of top flight footballers often makes the red tops. If current conversation in the tax profession is anything to go by it will be their tax returns next in the headlines. Faced with a 50% tax ban.
June 11, 2009... Byline: Accountancy Age Footballers' trick will soon merit a red card The behaviour of top flight footballers often makes the red tops. If current conversation in the tax profession is anything to go by it will be their tax returns...

Tax haven finance chief slams i?1/2impotenti?1/2 OECD.
June 11, 2009... Byline: Judith Tydd Tax haven finance chief slams 'impotent' OECD Judith Tydd The world's tax watchdog has been branded 'impotent' by the chairman of the Cayman Islands Financial Services Association. Speaking exclusively to...

Wyman: auditors should help FSA to avert future meltdowns.
June 11, 2009... Byline: Nick Huber Wyman: auditors should help FSA to avert future meltdowns Nick Huber Large audit firms can help banks avoid future meltdowns by meeting the Financial Services Authority regularly to discuss 'systemic' risks...

Taxman on alert as footballers look to sidestep 50% rate.
June 11, 2009... Byline: Kevin Reed Taxman on alert as footballers look to sidestep 50% rate Kevin Reed Footballers could face an own goal if advisers help them avoid the new 50% tax band for high earners, warns the tax profession. ...

New benefits added to PII scheme.
June 11, 2009... Byline: Accountancy Age New benefits added to PII scheme A free legal helpline and reduced premiums are among benefits that have been added to the Accountancy Age professional indemnity insurance scheme. We are now working...

Andreasen resumes battle with old foe Former EU whistleblower Marta Andreasen said she will take aim at agricultural policy when she takes her seat in the European Parliament representing the UK Independence Party, writes Mario Christodoulou The newly-ele.
June 11, 2009... Byline: Mario Christodoulou Andreasen resumes battle with old foe Former EU whistleblower Marta Andreasen said she will take aim at agricultural policy when she takes her seat in the European Parliament representing the UK Independence...

Bottom falls out of bankruptcy market.
June 11, 2009... Byline: Rachael Singh Bottom falls out of bankruptcy market Rachael Singh Insolvency practitioners have seen their profits slashed from handling personal bankruptcies even as the number of people becoming insolvent has climbed....

Taxman's military operation.
June 11, 2009... Byline: TS Taxman's military operation It's truly incredible what you can buy online these days: Lehman Brothers knick-knacks; Formula 1 Team assets; and even essential equipment for Top Gun fighter jets. TS knows this...

Firms face struggle to keep hold of top talent.
June 18, 2009... Byline: Michelle Perry Firms face struggle to keep hold of top talent Management are walking a precarious tightrope this summer as the appraisal season kicks off and firms' top talent weigh up their career options ahead of the...

As KPMG axes M&A tax staff, the question is whoi?1/2s next?
June 18, 2009... Byline: Nick Huber As KPMG axes M&A tax staff, the question is who's next? TAX Nick Huber The Big Four made a fortune from the merger and acquisition boom that began in the 1990s. Revenues from takeovers grew sharply and...

Mergers loom as firms struggle to grow When told of the results from this yeari?1/2s Accountancy Age Top 50, a board member in one of the largest firms remarked that he was amazed anyone had booked any growth at all. As it is, 39 of the 50 firms reported grow.
June 18, 2009... Byline: Accountancy Age Mergers loom as firms struggle to grow When told of the results from this year's Accountancy Age Top 50, a board member in one of the largest firms remarked that he was amazed anyone had booked any growth at...

Enron musical.
June 18, 2009... Byline: TS TS has got hold of the cast list for the stage version of the Enron scandal. It kicks off in September and it looks like the cream of the UK's acting talent will be portraying the dregs of US corporate life. 'Based on real...

SAP acts on clogged databases.
June 18, 2009... Byline: Rachael Singh SAP acts on clogged databases Rachael Singh Financial software giant SAP is testing new software that is aimed at resolving claims that its systems were failing to run properly. SAP has responded to...

Mandatory code not wanted, says FRC.
June 18, 2009... Byline: Mario Christodoulou Mandatory code not wanted, says FRC Mario Christodoulou The UK's financial reporting regulator has said there is little appetite for enforceable corporate governance rules based on a first glance ...

Havens not phased by Gibraltar tax hike.
June 18, 2009... Byline: Judith Tydd Havens not phased by Gibraltar tax hike Judith Tydd Low-tax jurisdictions have no plans to follow Gibraltar's lead and introduce a standard 10% rate of corporate tax for both domestic and multinational...

Taxman defends debt retrieval priorities.
June 18, 2009... Byline: Judith Tydd Taxman defends debt retrieval priorities Judith Tydd The CEO of HM Revenue & Customs has admitted that collecting tax debts of less than [pounds sterling]10,000 is not a top priority for the taxman. ...

expert advice at Validis-sponsored web seminar Will better and more timely financial information unfreeze the credit markets? In the second of our Validis-sponsored web seminar series created to assist firms help their clients survive the recession, our e.
June 18, 2009... Byline: Gavin Hinks expert advice at Validis-sponsored web seminar Will better and more timely financial information unfreeze the credit markets? In the second of our Validis-sponsored web seminar series created to assist firms help...

Age launches online practice broking service.
June 18, 2009... Byline: Accountancy Age Age launches online practice broking service Accountancy Age is launching a practice broking service to promote the sale and purchase of sole practitioner firms across the UK. Working with Goldsmiths Group,...

New rules set to bring airlines down to earth.
June 18, 2009... Byline: Mario Christodoulou New rules set to bring airlines down to earth Mario Christodoulou The airline industry stands to incur millions of pounds in liabilities if new accounting standards are adopted which aim at bringing...

Fingertip control.
June 25, 2009... Byline: Cath everett Fingertip control Despite several abortive attempts among touch screen vendors to make their mark over the last decade or so, the hype around the technology is now starting to mount. After the success of Apple with...

People and moves...
June 25, 2009... Byline: Rachael Singh People and moves... Job to die for: BPI group finance director David Harris has been promoted to group finance director at polythene manufacturers, British Polythene Industries. Harris is currently managing...

PwC launches green reporting model.
June 25, 2009... Byline: Rachael Singh PwC launches green reporting model corporate social responsibility Rachael Singh Want to go green, but have no idea how to demonstrate to stakeholders that its worth it? Then you are in good company. The...

Tax haven transparency casts shadow over hedge funds.
June 25, 2009... Byline: Judith tydd Tax haven transparency casts shadow over hedge funds Tax Judith Tydd Hedge funds have not had a very happy time of late. The credit crunch has prompted investors to withdraw their money and regulators want...

Small firm of the Year.
June 25, 2009... Byline: Accountancy Age Small firm of the Year In these difficult times the engine room of the UK economy -- the thousands of small and medium sized businesses out there- turn to their accountants as their most trusted adviser to help...

xbrl.
June 25, 2009... xbrl Technology is to the fore again on tax reporting. HMRC recently formally mandated the online filing of all corporation tax returns (including supporting schedules and company accounts) in eXtensible Business Reporting Language...

The standard setters need to listen to SMEs In the current climate there is a fine line between survival and failure for SMEs. The strain is enormous. Regulators should therefore beware of any extra burden placed upon them. One body grappling with the iss.
June 25, 2009... Byline: Accountancy Age The standard setters need to listen to SMEs In the current climate there is a fine line between survival and failure for SMEs. The strain is enormous. Regulators should therefore beware of any extra burden...

FRC appoints top six to review panel The Financial Reporting Council has parachuted in six leading figures to the Financial Reporting Review Panel, writes Verity Reynolds. The appointments include Richard Meddings, FD of Standard Chartered Bank, Andrew Pa.
June 25, 2009... Byline: Accountancy Age FRC appoints top six to review panel The Financial Reporting Council has parachuted in six leading figures to the Financial Reporting Review Panel, writes Verity Reynolds. The appointments include Richard...

Equitable Life disciplinary findings remain secret as E&Y appeals against ruling.
June 25, 2009... Byline: Gavin Hinks Equitable Life disciplinary findings remain secret as E&Y appeals against ruling By Gavin Hinks Ernst & Young has launched an appeal to overturn the decision of a disciplinary body considering complaints about...

Fears over outsourcing tax debts.
June 25, 2009... Byline: Judith Tydd Fears over outsourcing tax debts Judith Tydd The outsourcing of debt collection by HM Revenue & Customs demands proper oversight and the publication of standards governing the conduct of contractors undertaking...

Newman stays cool after BDO victory.
June 25, 2009... Byline: David Jetuah Newman stays cool after BDO victory David Jetuah Jeremy Newman has warned that the battle may not be over for BDO International, after a landmark decision ruled it out of being partly liable for a $521m...

HMRC tax compliance budget drops 3%.
June 25, 2009... Byline: Judith Tydd HMRC tax compliance budget drops 3% Judith Tydd HM Revenue & Customs' budget for tax compliance and enforcement has dropped by 3% over the past 12 months despite the need to claw back the dramatic decline in...

SMEs i?1/2must show financial transparencyi?1/2.
June 25, 2009... Byline: David Jetuah SMEs 'must show financial transparency' David Jetuah Confidential financial information may have to be disclosed by small and medium sized companies if they want to avoid lending decisions being based on...

Hype at the expense of English.
June 25, 2009... Byline: TS Hype at the expense of English It was only a matter of time. But an advert seeking to capitalise on MPs' expenses shenanigans duly arrived in the TS inbox this week. Below a picture of the Houses of Parliament,...

Can rockers make it count?
June 25, 2009... Can rockers make it count? Rock stars are multi-skilled beasts, with many venturing on into stints as authors, actors and (dare we say it) journalists long after their days of trashing hotel rooms are over. So, always keen to spot the...

Pair charged over Stanford.
June 25, 2009... PAIR CHARGED OVER STANFORD The US Securities and Exchange Commission has charged two accountants in its case against billionaire Sir Allen Stanford over an alleged $8bn ([pounds sterling]4.9bn) Ponzi scheme. It alleges Mark Kuhrt and...