10 time management tips for balancing work and study

Posted by & filed under Students.

If you are studying for your AAT qualification, you may be combining working with studying, or you may be doing a full-time course. Either way, it is important to make the most of the hours you have available.

Combining study alongside work and other responsibilities can certainly be a challenge, say Karen Meager and John McLachlan – Co-founders of Monkey Puzzle Training and Consultancy.

“Complete a time audit to understand your use of time better, what you deem to be important, where you waste time and why you might struggle to make decisions or stick to a to-do list. This will be key while studying but will also help you in your new career or post-qualification to hit the ground running.”

“Time management is crucial for students and is linked to personal effectiveness. In these times, particularly since we’ve emerged from lockdown, it’s critical to be able to manage your time and tasks,” says Liz Sebag–Montefiore, career coach at HR consultancy 10Eighty.

In order to improve, you need to find out where your time really goes and then use The Eisenhower Matrix to understand Urgency and Importance. This exercise, which helps you establish what your priorities are and how to manage your time more effectively, will help you to work out what’s critical vs what’s a nice to have and help you prioritise. 

“To effectively manage the time spent preparing for exams, I believe using technology tools to work smarter will help – setting aside time to study versus working, providing spaces in the day for ‘unforeseen’ tasks,” she adds.

Understand how to say no

There are a number of common mistakes made which cause poor time management. Replying to emails can take up a lot of time and it’s important to manage yourself in the email environment, managing time effectively and prioritising critical activities. Also learning how to focus on priorities, even when you are frequently interrupted.

Here are our top ten tips from the experts on how to manage your time most effectively:

1.Find your best study time

Organise everything you need to do in order of priority, says Lee Biggins, CEO and Founder of CV-Library, an independent job board.

“Map out your assignment deadlines, test and exams on a planner. Use the same planner for all of your commitments. Schedule where you can fit your study time in around your work commitments. Colour coding your entries for each category: work, study, personal and leisure can often help. Consider what time will work best for you to study. Everyone is different, some people feel more productive first thing, others like to study in the evening and keep weekends free for self-care and leisure activities. It’s up to you, so take some time to think about when you work at your best – it might not be when you think.”

2. Organise your study materials

Keep important information in one place: Think about all the information related to your studies or work that you need, says Michelle Don Durbin, SVP of Marketing at Evernote. Can you see it all at a glance, or is it spread out over multiple apps, websites, files, and scraps of paper? Ideally you want to keep everything together as much as possible so you don’t have to switch between countless sources of info. This will help you feel more organised and productive and ultimately save you time.

3. Set a time limit for each task and use “time chunking”

Everyone works in different chunks of time. Some people think in the short term, like minutes and hours, but others prefer weeks, months or years. Understanding your preferred chunking method equips you to make best use of the time available.

“For example, some might prefer to think about the incremental tasks and how these build up each day, but others would prefer to think about larger modules they want to complete by the end of a week,” says Karen Meager. “Whatever the focus, understanding the way you chunk time will keep you more motivated –  a short term thinker might lose motivation thinking about a week or month long task.”

By giving yourself a set amount of time to finish something, it’s much easier to cut down on procrastination or outside distractions, says Michelle Don Durbin. Because this time limit is self-imposed, the pressure to finish “on time” feels less like a hard deadline and more like a fun way to challenge yourself. 

4. Create a study schedule

From the moment you receive your deadline or exam date, create a study schedule consisting of bitesize sessions (around one hour each) a couple of times per week.

“Studying little and often will be much more effective than cramming at the last minute. It’s helpful to put these into a calendar and set a reminder on your phone so that you can make sure that you stick to your schedule,” says Michelle Bibby, Head of Pedagogy at The City of Liverpool College.

Map out your studying using the full time allocated before your exam or deadline. Your deadline might feel ages away but researching and planning your work can take much longer than anticipated, so it’s important you are fully aware of how much time you will need so that you can break this down into manageable chunks across the weeks, she says.  

5. Visualise your long-term goals

Despite the difficulties you may be facing at the moment, keep in mind the reasons why you’re doing the work you’re doing, says Dr Dominique Thompson, an award-winning GP and young people’s mental health expert with over 20 years of clinical experience caring for students. 

“In terms of proven effective revision techniques, it is much better to take regular breaks, such as 10 minutes off for every 1-2 hours of study (outside if you can) or revising in different locations to keep yourself alert and prepare your mind for the new locations of the exams themselves,” she says.

Use visual aids to sketch out your text and learning, don’t try just to memorise stuff, or copy it out- it’s nowhere near as effective as reading your notes and then writing out what you recall without looking at the text.

5 more tips for great time management by Liz Sebag–Montefiore, career coach at HR consultancy 10Eighty

  1. Learn how to create some “me time”, and still achieve your priorities
  2. Have the confidence to push back on tasks and/or being comfortable to say ‘no’
  3. Avoid procrastination
  4. Understand your personal time wasters and minimise them
  5. Make a plan at the start of the week (which can be tweaked as the days go by) and block out what you’ll do and when. It’s also important to have gaps for the unexpected; and be realistic as to what you can achieve. 

More information:

Student accommodation platform, Mystudenthalls.com, teamed up with Dr Dominique to launch ‘Student well-being: a guide to building better mental health in university’ in an effort to help students of every age navigate the increased pressures brought about by the pandemic. 

10 ways to save money while studying for your AAT qualifications

Posted by & filed under Students.

It’s not always easy making ends meet when you’re a student. Many AAT students are on apprenticeships or complete their studies alongside a part-time job, which helps. But whether you are studying full-time or part-time, it’s always handy to have a bit of extra cash in your pocket.

So, here’s our no-nonsense guide to making the most of your money while you’re getting your qualifications.

1. Claim the benefits you can

There are a number of benefits you can claim as a student, if you meet the eligibility criteria. If, for example, you are on a low income, you can apply for Universal Credit.

And if you are a full-time student with dependent children (or adult relatives), you may be able to claim the Childcare Grant, the Parents’ Learning Allowance, and/or the Adult Dependants’ Grant.

Disabled students can also apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance, along with other disability related benefits.

2. Find extra funding

If you’re on an AAT apprenticeship, your employer will usually cover the cost of your AAT training. And even if you’re already working in finance, it’s often worth asking your employer if they can fund a course that will allow you to learn new skills.

You may also be able to qualify for a grant to help cover your costs. Find out what’s available to fit your needs by using our training provider search tool and then ask the provider you choose what funding options are available.

3. Get connected for less

Do you really need super-fast fibre optic broadband? You can pay a lot less if you can manage with a standard speed internet connection.

Either way, the best way to save money on your broadband connection is to shop around for the best deal via a comparison website such as MoneySupermarket.

You can also take advantage of free wifi in a wide range of restaurants and cafes across the country.

4. Choose the right mobile deal

If you use your phone a lot, the monthly costs can be eyewatering – especially if you want a top-of-the-range smartphone.

Ways to cut your costs include maing sure you are on the right tariff by checking your bills to see how much you make calls, send texts, and use data.

If you are set on an expensive handset, it’s also worth comparing the cost of buying one separately and taking out a SIM only contract.

5. Slash your fuel bills

Petrol costs have shot up recently. Ways to make filling up at the pump less painful include only put the air conditioning on when you really need it and sticking to the speed limit, as the faster you go, the more fuel your car consumes.

Staying in a lower gear for longer can also cut your fuel costs by 15%, while it’s also sensible to cut your engine when your car is at a standstill.

6. Earn some extra cash online

There are lots of easy ways to boost your financial situation online. You could, for example, sell any unwanted clothes and accessories on a second-hand marketplace such as Vinted.

You can also offer English language lessons to foreign students from the comfort of your own home using sites such as italki, or set yourself up as an online tutor in your favourite subject from school.

7. Buy textbooks for less

Textbooks are a vital study tool, but buying them new can make a big dent in your finances. The good news is that you can often find them second hand for a fraction of the price.

You can often link up with other students who have finished with the books you need on the AAT Discussion forum, which even has a Books to buy and sell page. You can also find second-hand AAT textbooks on Ebay.  

8. Take advantage of freebies and discounts

Don’t be afraid to use your AAT student membership to ask for student discounts in shops, bars, and restaurants; there’s no point paying full price if you don’t have to…

Whether you are a full-time or a part-time “professional” student, it’s also worth signing up for a Totum or Totum Pro card. Current offers with the Pro version include 20% of monthly EE plans and 15% off Samsung laptops.

9. Minimise your electricity bills

Taking steps to cut back on your energy consumption is good for the planet as well as your personal finances. And it doesn’t have to be difficult.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, you can save around £35 a year just by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode, while fitting a water efficient shower head could save you another £30 a year.

And if you have a thermostat in each room, you can save around £55 a year and reduce your carbon footprint by 300kg simply by turning it down one degree.

10. Cut the cost of car insurance

Car insurance can be a significant outlay, particularly if you are a young driver with little experience behind the wheel.

Ways to keep costs down include taking out a telematics policy that involves the insurer monitoring your driving via a black box installed in your car, a plug-and-drive device or a mobile phone app – and reducing your premiums if you show yourself to be safe on the roads.

Adding a more experienced driver such as a parent to your policy as a named driver can also bring your costs down. However, you should only do this if that person does occasionally drive your car.

Further reading

How to have influence and impact with colleagues

Posted by & filed under Members in business.

Members in business share tips and tricks that can increase your impact in the business.

Strategic decision making for businesses is more critical than ever. According to McKinsey, finance functions spend 19% more of their time on value-added tasks such as financial planning and analysis, but more crucially, business partnering.

In order to influence the decisions made around the wider business, finance teams need to be venturing out of the accounts office and building trusting relationships with key stakeholders around the organisation.

Our panel of members explain how they connect and collaborate with their organisations, the benefits of that approach, and how they’ve maintained those relationships as remote working has become more prevalent.

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We have to be proactive to break down the ‘frostiness’

Andy Murray, Finance Lead, Manna Pro UK


The most important business partnering we do as a finance team is working alongside the sales team. Helping sales understand their numbers and margins is crucial, not forgetting the sales trends and product analysis. This is a really fun part of working in finance, helping to grow sales and contribute towards the organisational objectives.

We’re currently partnering with sales to implement a new customer pricing structure to align customers to a set trade price list and discount structures. The new pricing structure also includes extra provisions for freight to capture the ever-increasing freight charges which many businesses are currently incurring. It’s been a really proactive and positive partnering experience, strengthening relationships between sales and finance.

As in some businesses this relationship can sometimes be a little ‘frosty’ at times. We are really working hard to be seen as a reliable, approachable partner to the entire organisation, having open discussions offering clear guidance and advice.

Sometimes there are some light-hearted debates surrounding sales discounts, promotional discounts and maybe lower pricing being offered to customers (lower than usual, that is).

How do we overcome difficulties? I would say by having conversations around break-even points, the margins management expect and offering alternative solutions to support promotional offerings. At the same time, we make sure the customer offering is still attractive and we are covered in terms of our own overheads and profit requirements! 

As a team, we provide solutions to support managers and colleagues and work with them proactively should any potential problems arise. Finance is involved in many commercial aspects and strategic planning, both on a project and ad-hoc basis. This includes scenario planning, ‘what if’ planning, budget preparation for growth and organisational development planning.

I think it would be great to have more opportunities for the finance function to partner and help influence various managers and teams to make commercially wise strategic decisions. Finance is a vital partner in broadening and widening continued business development successes. 

Strategic collaboration is becoming more important

Björgvin Vigfússon, Finance Manager, Westmorland Linen Rental and Laundry

In recent months, the finance team has proactively been increasing the collaboration and input with other departments within the business. This is not only on an operational level, but also on tactical and strategic level.

This has resulted in some insightful and highly successful business partnering, which has lead to operational and tactical decisions giving much better results than in the past, when these collaborations didn’t happen.

To keep this up, we’re making sure that these partnerships carry on. The key issue is to make sure that everyone involved has the space and freedom to express their thoughts and concerns.

One example is explaining to the purchasing manager why buying lower quality material at a better price could result in lower quality products, making life harder for the sales manager. So, in the end, the cost saved in purchasing might be eaten up by the discount given to sell the product.

This example is applicable for many scenarios at each level of the business, being operational, tactical or strategic. The danger is that managers of each department only see what’s good for their department. As accounting and finance professionals, we can come in with a good oversight on the whole of the company and make sure everyone is aiming in the same direction.

In order to improve the business partnering within a company, it is important to have buy-in from all involved. Danger is that it won’t happen of only accounts/finance professionals see and understand the benefit of it, we also need to get operation, HR, admin and senior management to understand the benefits of this.

We feed information to the business partners, which boosts their decision making

Sanjiv Bali, Senior Project Accountant, A2 Dominion

As the Component Accounting team, the information that we process and provide is integrated with the different areas of the business that rely on business partnering and collaborating with other teams via various communication channels, such as regular virtual meetings using Teams and Zoom, monthly visits to the business partner’s offices and via calls and emails as well.

As a result of collaborating with our business partners, we can see that collaboration and integration are influential. The business partners will use the information, suggestions and advice that we provide from meetings and in the form of fixed asset accounting reports that are used to support decision making.

Adapting to remote working was a challenge that we’re still adapting to

Clare Elliott, CFO, ILUX

Collaboration and communication has always been crucial for business success, while at the same time being something that businesses often fail at, or at least don’t always do that well. The changes in working locations for many of us at the start of Covid lockdown meant that suddenly we had to find different ways to ensure collaboration and communication still happened, and was successful. That wasn’t always easy, and some ideas were trialled and failed, while others became the new way of working.

Collaboration increased via the use of Teams, either messaging or virtual meetings, which was the substitute for talking across the desk, and the volume of emails increased too. This was great to begin with; then the cracks started to show.

The communications were too much, we all knew we were spending too long looking at messages in the Teams chat, there were too many emails flying backwards and forwards, and people forgot to pick the phone up and talk to one another.

Fundamentally, we realised the importance of being proactive. Firstly, we needed all of our documentation up to date, so when someone did have a query they could simply research the answer for themselves. Secondly, we needed to make very strict rules about which types of communication were fed through which channels. This ensured important items could be easily identified and prioritised, while less time critical issues could be filtered out and scheduled for action. Lastly, we needed to focus on inefficiencies within the business.

We needed to evaluate if all of our meetings were really necessary. Was this increasing collaboration, or was it actually hindering work and creating more inefficiencies? Meetings were reviewed, some cancelled, some changed, and some new ones created to give a better structure and more focus.

We significantly increased communication between managers, creating a structured and regular meeting. We then increased collaboration between our Directors and Managers. We focused on which teams needed meetings for which purpose, and determined the most efficient and effective frequency.

We’ve also increased our knowledge across the management team so that each member is fully aware of the specific demands and problems they experience within their departments. That way we have been able to cross-share information that may be helpful to others, or perhaps change what one team does in order to positively influence the effects on another team. The more everyone understands everything about the business, the more efficiencies and effectiveness we see, and the greater the influence on the success of the business.

Is this perfect? No. We are still reviewing, analysing and changing what we do as time moves on and we evolve with this new way of working. We are still working towards increasing our efficiencies within the business, to ensure that we’re dedicating enough time with our collaboration whilst not wasting time. It will inevitably be a never-ending review process, as the business is constantly changing too. Our business has continued to grow throughout the past 18 months and is forecast to grow even more over the next year, therefore nothing is static for very long before we need to find a new way of doing something. The benefits of ensuring communication and collaboration are effective are massive to the business as a whole.

How can introverts develop their careers?

Posted by & filed under Career, Members.

Introverts need to move out of their comfort zone to develop their career. With the help of a plan, they can.

Many accountants are introverts and can struggle to stand out in the workplace and progress their careers.

They can feel so anxious about pushing themselves forward that they miss out on professional opportunities and new jobs despite their skills and experience.

Of course, accountancy is well-suited to people who prefer to be behind the scenes, but that doesn’t mean promotion and progression aren’t there for the taking. You don’t need to shout the loudest to move ahead – but you do need a plan.

Identify the gaps

Your plan starts with a clear-headed look at where you want to go and what would help you get there:

“No one knows everything, not even those who claim they do. Be honest and decide where the gaps are in your CV and what you need to do to fill them,” said careers coach Natalie Trice. “Do you want to become chartered or is it management that lights you up? Maybe learning Spanish would benefit your client relationships? Do your research, find something that really could help you progress, and then find a way to make it happen.”

Trice said that whether they like it or not, introverts will need to stretch their comfort zone to get ahead at work.

Her advice includes urging individuals to own what they have achieved at work and trying to be innovative to get noticed. This could include finding ways to save the company money or solving a technology issue. Quieter employees should keep a note of the positive impact they are having and refer to it during workplace appraisals, team meetings and job interviews.

Trice also encourages introverts to find a mentor within their business who they respect and trust, and to chat regularly with their boss, even if they find it challenging.

Mentoring

Getting another perspective is important – even a manager can be a mentor.

“Sitting down with someone in authority can be stressful for introverts, but it is a sure way to boost your career,” she said. “Your annual review is an opportunity to get feedback on your performance and to highlight your accomplishments and learnings, as well as exploring your wishes for the future.”

She added: “Introverts tend to shy away from boasting, but if you’ve worked hard and believe you deserve a promotion, put positive energy into those conversations and you may be surprised at how far you can go and who else has spotted your potential.”

Recruiters can be a great source of career advice and Chris Goulding, Managing Director at accountancy recruitment firm Wade Macdonald, said employers have a role to play too. He said they should remember that introverts within their organisation often engage their brain before they speak and observe before acting. In such a high-risk business as finance, this should be welcomed when it comes to career progression.

He reminds introverts that promotion in accountancy is often due to meritocracy. People can do well if they get on with their job rather than becoming involved in office politics or gossip.

Where do you stand out?

“To progress your career, you also have to draw upon your unique strengths,” said Goulding. “If your downfall is public speaking focus on where you excel and others do not. This could be around tax returns, auditing or data analysis. Word of mouth is powerful when it comes to career progression so build one-to-one relationships with colleagues and clients.”

Ultimately, introverts need to be proactive to carve out a successful career.

Ben Aspinall, Director at ECOVIS Wingrave Yeats and a member of the professional services group of accountants and law firms, UK200Group, said people need to be themselves and willing to step out of your comfort zone occasionally.

“Prepare well for meetings and go into each one with a few things to say. Put your hand up for those little extra jobs and be available to help others wherever possible,” he said. “You have to remember that no one cares about your career as much as you do.”

Case study: Inspire Accountants

Inspire Accountants is learning how to value introverts and get the most from them.

Liz Phipps is HR manager at Dorset-based Inspire Accountants and recently her team asked each member of staff if they considered themselves to be an introvert or an extrovert.

Some 69% felt they were introverts and this insight is being used by the company to develop the careers of everyone in the business. She wants her colleagues to demonstrate ambition and said the company recruits people with a growth mindset.

“Our approach is to work with individuals to understand what each person wants to achieve,” said Phipps. “One way we do this is via our quarterly progress reviews with managers. This ensures we take the time to stop, stand back and have a focused discussion on each person’s development and their ongoing contribution to the operational and strategic goals of Inspire. These meetings aren’t optional for anyone – we see them as essential.”

The company will sometimes arrange for an individual to have external careers coaching, but mostly it tries to ensure its line managers are trained to have career-based discussions.

Introverts at Inspire also know they are working for a company that does not want to pigeonhole them into one role, especially in the early stages of their career.

“Regardless of their job title, everyone gets a breadth of experience. This could be doing some accounts work if they are normally focused on auditing. Opportunities for development will happen regardless, and in time individuals will develop an area of expertise, and progress.”

Personal branding

Your personal brand is how others perceive you – and how you perceive yourself. How can it work for you?

Boosting your personal brand is not about blowing your own trumpet but being aware of the positive and negative signals you are giving out to colleagues and potential employers.

How people view the way you look and behave and their understanding of you as a person can have an impact at job interviews, appraisals and whether you are asked to work on specific projects or with certain clients.

It is worth taking time to think about the feedback you have had and what you can change. There might be a perception that you are not a team player or that your time management skills are poor, for example. Maybe you are viewed as scruffy or argumentative?

According to James Abbott, Director at accountancy firm Abbott Moore based in Bedfordshire, your personal brand is all you have to survive role changes, career breaks and moves between employers.

He offers some top tips for accountants:
• Be known as someone who will do what they say they will do
• Volunteer and put your hand up to help your boss, your colleagues and those that work for you. Don’t be a walkover and remember this is a team game
• Remember that your personal brand can be built outside of work too. How you are perceived socially can impact on your professional brand
• Be known as someone who knows people. Build a network of trusted individuals who can help your contacts even if you can’t
• Have something in your life other than work. Accountants aren’t known for being interesting, prove them all wrong by having outside interests
Social media is helpful too when building your personal brand.

Matt Baldwin, Managing Director at PR company Coast Communications, works with accountancy firms and individuals within them to discover future leaders and support rising stars.

“Many people are not aware of their personal brand, but there are things anyone can do to improve theirs,” he said. “This includes networking effectively online, writing blogs or hosting webinars. Confidence comes from reminding yourself of your expertise and finding ways to share that knowledge to boost your brand.”

How would accountants change the tax system to pay for Covid-19 and recovery?

Posted by & filed under Members, Policy, Tax reform.

Accountants share their proposals to balance the books, post Covid-19.

As we head towards the first post-lockdown budget, attention is turning to how the country pays for the Covid-19 pandemic.

Analysis from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggested that the Government may be preparing the largest tax rises in over 25 years. The IFS also pointed to further pressures beyond Covid-19 alone, such as the effects of an ageing population and the increasing burden on health and social care services.  It revealed:

  • Government borrowing could be £50billion lower than originally forecast.
  • Government departments such as further education, local government, prisons and courts are likely to face £2bn worth of cuts.
  • Spending on local services other than health, defence and schools would increase at a lower rate than previously planned.

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Ahead of next week’s Budget and Spending Review, we asked accountants what changes they would make to the tax system to help balance the books. We also asked Phil Hall,  AAT Head of Public Affairs & Public Policy, for the association’s perspective.

Target areas with tax relief such as pensions, ISA gains and furlough scheme

James Paull, head of incentives group, Andersen LLP

There are potentially three main areas you could look at, including the big three (income tax, NI and VAT), making changes to existing smaller taxes or introducing a wealth tax, but each of these have disadvantages:

NI and income tax would raise a lot of revenue. But they are blunt tools that takes directly from the pockets of people who are struggling.

Making changes to smaller taxes, such as Capital Gains Tax or treating carried interest as income, would be quite an easy sell ideologically: it affects fairly well-off people. However, it would raise less revenue. Such taxes are generally easier to avoid – for example, CGT could be avoided by holding onto assets that might otherwise be sold – and they can distort behaviour.

Regarding a wealth tax, you wouldn’t need a huge tax rate to raise a very material sum of money. But a blanket wealth tax could be seen as double taxation as assets are bought out of taxed earnings. There are also problems with valuation and liquidity, as lots of wealth is tied up in homes and businesses.

I’d look at areas where tax relief has been given, such as pensions and ISA gains, and seek to claw some of this relief back as a one-off levy such as:

Pension levy

  • Easy to value as investments for pension funds are valued daily.
  • The scheme can pay so there will be no liquidity issues.
  • Previously been tax relief on pension contributions, so this may be fairer than alternative measures.
  • It would need to be a one-off levy rather than an annual fee.
  • But given market volatility this should have limited impact.
  • Consideration could be given to some additional tax relief when pension is drawn down.

ISA gains

  • These are tax-free and implementing a one-off tax on these would be relatively simple to administer.
  • This would be done at fund level so no administration for the taxpayer.

Other ideas:

  • Windfall tax on pandemic-related profits – Some people and companies such as online retailers, PPE manufacturers etc have done extremely well, so it would be a kind of levy on super profit generations.  
  • Furlough – Similar to how the student loan mechanism works, you could potentially claw back furlough scheme costs by an additional tax charge to businesses once earnings are above a certain level.

Verdict: Look at areas where there has been tax relief and you can easily quantify the amount of tax payable.

Introduce tax bands for corporations

Lee Murphy, Managing Director, The Accountancy Partnership


An efficient way to fund Covid recovery through the tax system would be the introduction of ‘tax bands’ for corporations, which will increase the rate of corporation tax paid by the highest earners. This would be an opportunity to also reduce the lowest rate of corporation tax paid to the globally agreed minimum of 15%.

This would mean that as well as increasing the tax collected from bigger businesses, it will act as an incentive for start-ups, or for businesses moving to the UK. This will likely generate more tax revenue overall, and help businesses reach the higher rate thresholds, eventually generating more tax income from them too. In addition, this would lead to more jobs, better infrastructure and growth of talent.

Verdict: Introduce tax bands for corporations to increase the rate of corporation tax for highest earners.

Make it more beneficial to hire permanent employees to generate more tax revenue from payroll

Damian Connolly FFA managing director, Sakura Business Solutions


As an accountant, I understand very clearly that people don’t generally ‘love’ paying tax, however I think there is an awareness now that certain things DO have to be paid for. I think taxing employees and employers further is the wrong thing to do, it is already expensive to employ people, pay their NI, pension, holidays etc. We already have an issue in society where people are falling into ‘self-employed status’ and not workers entitlements. Employment should be encouraged through the tax system and not the other way round!

Instead, I would try to address the employment versus self-employment issue: providing certainty for those who act like an employee day-to-day and making it advantageous for employers to employ people. This will generate more tax revenues and quicker (payroll taxes are received much earlier than income tax) to pay for the costs of Covid-19.

Verdict: Make it more beneficial for employers to hire permanent employees to generate more tax revenue from payroll. 

Introduce a one-off wealth tax and windfall tax on big winners of pandemic

Phil Burnell, director, Spark Accountants


I would look at several options, including a one-off windfall tax on the big winners of the pandemic: Amazon, Facebook and Google don’t pay their fair share of tax.
Other viable options might include:

  • Raising income tax basic rate banding by 1%, higher rate banding by 1% and final bracket from 45% to 50% for 12 months.
  • Raising VAT by 2%.
  • Charging NI to everyone still working. Currently, anyone over state pension age does not pay national insurance even if they work.
  • Introducing a wealth tax so people can use their capital assets (e.g., home or cash savings or other assets) to help fund social care.

I would also:

  • Exempt pandemic-hit sectors (hospitality and hairdressers, for example) from any VAT increase.
  • Reduce the rate of VAT charged on energy supplies from 20% for business and 5% for big business to help subsidise the current energy prices rises.
  • Freeze pensions increases for 12 months, saving a large amount of money and spreading pain across all generations.
  • Scrap the increase on employer’s NI on all SMEs and keep corporation tax at 19% for all SMEs.
  • Introduce more incentives to business owners, reducing dividend tax to 0% for all earning under £50,000. The tax system should be used to incentivise people to work and create wealth which is not currently the situation.

Tax breaks also need to be introduced for sectors struggling with skills and staffing (e.g., providing grants for new lorry drivers or temporarily exempting lorry drivers from IR35 legislation).

On a broader issue, I would simplify the tax system. There appears no real modern reason to have income tax and NI. This could be simplified by having one single tax.

Verdict: Introduce a windfall tax to big winners of the pandemic while providing tax breaks to pandemic-hit sectors.

What type of accountant should you be?

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Don’t create new taxes, reform existing ones, and broaden the tax base

Phil Hall, Head of Public Affairs & Public Policy

The best way to pay off national debt is to grow the economy, but the tax system has a very important role to play too. After engaging with our expert tax panel, undertaking member surveys and carefully considering a range of options, last year AAT made a number of recommendations for tax reform to help pay off the hundreds of billions of Covid-19 related debt but also in the interests of greater simplicity and fairness.

AAT does not support a Wealth Tax as it is unlikely to raise substantial funds; existing taxes could be better refined to achieve a more effective result e.g. CGT and IHT; and it could also discourage wealthy investors coming to the UK to invest and create jobs. Likewise, a windfall tax isn’t favoured as the costs are likely to be passed on either directly or indirectly to the already hard-pressed consumers it is supposed to benefit, in the form of higher prices.

AAT would like to see the NICs based broadened to include working pensioners – something we have long campaigned for – long term reform of the triple lock and a comprehensive review of pensions tax relief. A radical reduction of exemptions and reliefs in relation to Inheritance Tax (especially Agricultural Property Relief, and Business Property Relief), simplification of Capital Gains Tax, VAT reform (abolishing the reduced VAT rate, the zero-rate and VAT exemptions including obscure exemptions such as the 4% agricultural rate).

We also believe it is worth looking at Council Tax, an outdated and highly regressive tax based on property prices in April 1990. The best solution would be a complete revaluation and for this to occur every five years to help future proof the tax. Unfortunately, Government seems unlikely to do this, so a more realistic change might be to introduce three or four additional bands for the most expensive properties. Doing this would only require revaluations of approximately 150,000 properties, would raise some much-needed revenue and undoubtedly be fairer.

Verdict: Avoid populist calls for wealth and windfall taxes, reform CGT, IHT and VAT and broaden the tax base where possible.

How accountants can help small businesses find help

Posted by & filed under Members.

Help is available but do businesses know where to find it? Accountants can provide the vital link.

There has probably never been a wider or more in-depth range of free or heavily subsidised support for small businesses in the UK, but much of this remains a mystery to start-ups, scale-ups or even those who have been in business for many years.

As accountants increasingly add value by providing business advisory services, rather than simply crunching the numbers, they can play a vital role in raising their client’s awareness (as well as their own) of the plethora of opportunities available to help small businesses not just survive but thrive.

The British Library Business & IP Centre

The British Library Business and IP Centre is probably one of the best-kept secrets of the business world but the invaluable help and advice they offer should be shouted from the rooftops given so few are aware of what it offers.

The Centre helps small business owners and entrepreneurs to start up, protect and grow British businesses.

For London based businesses trading for less than 12 months, its impressive start-up support programme is highly recommended.

For small businesses with a turnover above £100,000 and plans to scale-up, the Centre offers £10,000 worth of free support through its Innovating for Growth programme.

Similarly, irrespective of where a small business is based, its size or what stage it’s at, the Centre offers a wide range of completely free webinars, masterclasses, one to one advice sessions and events. What’s more, the Centre has a network of 19 regional offices from Devon to Glasgow making access easier for those not located in or near London.

High quality management training

Poor management disproportionately impacts small businesses. With almost half of all new businesses failing within three years, the Chartered Management Institute found that bad management was to blame for 56% of these business failures (2011-2014). Of course, that was before the additional challenges of a global pandemic, Brexit, supply chain issues, a widespread financial squeeze and labour shortages, all of which are proving great challenges even for the very best of managers.

In response, the new “Help to Grow Management Course” provides a fantastic opportunity for small businesses to develop a business growth plan that will help SMEs realise their full potential.

The “Help to Grow Management Course” is run by Small Business Charter accredited business schools across the UK (amongst some of the best business schools in the world) and is 90% funded by the Government meaning small businesses need only pay £750 for a 12-week programme of 50 hours of world-class learning, one-to-one mentoring and access to a potentially valuable alumni network. Find out more and sign up here

Digital adoption

A recent report by the OECD and the Centre for Entrepreneurship found that “…despite the benefits and opportunities digital technologies bring, and the significant increase in up-take in recent years, many SMEs continue to lag in adoption, and for smaller SMEs, with 10- 49 employees, digital adoption gaps, compared to larger firms, have grown over the last decade.”

Technological adoption among UK companies is low by international standards and whilst our very best performing companies quickly and successfully adopt new technology, this is rarely the case for SMEs.

In an attempt to address this major problem, the Government has just launched “Help to Grow: Digital”.

Free online support on digital technology and productivity is available to any business that:

  1. has been trading for more than 12 months,
  2. is registered in the UK at Companies House, and
  3. employs between 5 and 249 employees.

Furthermore, in a few weeks’ time (from December 2021) those businesses that meet the above criteria will also qualify for a discount of up to 50% towards the costs of buying approved software, worth up to £5,000. This includes accounting software as well as customer relationship management (CRM) and e-commerce software. To register for free, SMEs simply need to insert their Companies House number here.

In addition to the above management and digital schemes, a range of tax reliefs and financial support, Government seems to be waking up to the need to help the small business community, which will in turn boost tax receipts and stimulate the economy. For instance, it now has a target of paying 90% of its invoices to SMEs within 5 days, and all of them within 30 days and this target is largely being met. It is strengthening the powers of the Small Business Commissioner and after a lengthy and committed AAT campaign to halve the Prompt Payment Code maximum payment terms from 60 days to 30 days, it did so earlier this year.

Earlier this year it also launched Find a Tender where small businesses can view public procurement notices published by UK contracting authorities. It’s also worth registering with Contracts Finder to keep updated on new and upcoming contracts with the government and its agencies.

And for those SMEs rightly concerned about climate change and what they can do to help meet ‘net zero’, the launch of the SME Climate Hub provides a helpful start.

In summary, there’s a wealth of help, information, advice and guidance for SMEs but they need help finding it. Many accountants are already assisting their SME clients in this area; more could do so and inevitably will.

Further information

Several years ago, AAT established Informi a freely accessible website dedicated to providing help and support to those thinking of starting a small business or already running one. This includes free information about marketing, legal, finance, administration and technology in the small business sector. Visit Informi here

Putting AAT’s ethical guidance on sustainability into practice

Posted by & filed under Ethics, Members, Sustainable Business.

AAT has produced new ethical guidance on sustainability – here’s what it looks like in action.

Managing environmental, social & governance (ESG) risk is not just shaping the future of the planet, it is big business, too. In fact, it is so big that PwC announced this summer its investing $12 billion over five years on a recruitment, training and technology drive to expand into the ESG advice sector.

PwC – and the rest of the big four accountancy practices – recognise that there is money to be made in advising companies as they transition to net zero carbon emissions as agreed in the 2015 Paris accord on climate change.

Have you read AAT’s new ethics guidance?

All AAT members are bound by AAT’s Code of Professional Ethics, so have you seen the four new guidance notes?

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More legislation is emerging from policymakers worldwide as they strive to reverse climate change, and corporates are firmly in the crosshairs.

And it is not just the Government that expects corporates to do more on ESG; investors to expect to see comprehensive reports that demonstrate a commitment to managing greenhouse gas emissions.

Accountants are central to helping companies meet these demands. Recognising this, AAT has produced a new ethics guidance note on sustainability, which states: “Some people still cling to the notion that [ESG] is a matter for governments – that individuals, and even businesses, do not have access to the levers of change. This is wrong. While political leaders can help through policy, public investment, tax regimes and legislation which outlaws the worst environmental offences, it is the case that most global value and resources are held in the private sector.”

A force for good

Mazars is among the accountants that are incorporating sustainable business practices into their own operation and offering advice to clients on how to run a more responsible business. The firm has a five-pillar approach to sustainability based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are: integrity and responsibility; doing business for good; people at the heart of business; reducing climate and environmental impact; and community involvement.

Fiona Revell, director of operations at Mazars, says: “A successful sustainability strategy depends on getting support from the top and we are really driven by the executive and our senior people. Our CEO and COO are both championing and challenging us, and they will ask if we are doing enough.”

The AAT code acknowledges that the ‘vastness and complexity’ associated with implementing a sustainable approach can seem overwhelming and recommends that members accept that they ‘can’t change everything alone’.

The guidance says: “A small gain is still a gain. Multiply that small gain across millions of like-minded individuals and organisations and change soon becomes inevitable.”

Revell agrees that taking small, incremental steps – certainly at the beginning of the journey – can ensure long-term sustainability success.

Revell says: “At first we felt that we were only doing little things, but when you start small you build up, get traction and reach a point where you can be more ambitious.”

Among the smaller steps taken, Mazars engaged with suppliers including the external caterers insisting that they use no plastic and remove all single-use packaging from sale.

At the same time, the organisation has attempted to reduce the amount of paper it uses by monitoring printing and insisting clients receive electronic documents where possible.

Workforce

The AAT code also points to the importance of demonstrating a sustainability strategy to new the future workforce, noting ‘there are increasing expectations among recruits that businesses show demonstrable social value through their policies and activities. If you want the best team members, then you need to meet those expectations’.

This is borne out at Mazars. Mhairi Poole, Senior Operations Manager at Mazars, gave a sustainability presentation to a student intake that placed significant importance on the firm demonstrating its ESG credentials.

Poole says: “They asked some really challenging questions about our sustainability approach, which showed how important this topic is to the younger generation coming through.”

Client health check

The AAT guidance note also suggests accountants help clients get up to speed on ESG.

William Hughes, Business Sustainability Consultant at Mazars, says the firm offers sustainability consultancy services that starts with an assessment of a company’s current position which should uncover any gaps.

“We developed an ESG health check which asks 35 questions. This is educational for the client and identifies where the gaps are from which we can build a sustainability strategy.”

Hughes is clear that successful ESG approaches only work if the company is fully committed to improvement.

He says: “This is very strategic; if there is no real strategy there is zero value to be gained. If we engage with a company and they point us to the PR department without having a discussion, that raises is a red flag because it shows a lack strategy and the possibility they may be greenwashing.”

Mazars also ask for input from the client’s internal and external stakeholders to garner views on what they consider to be material sustainability issues. Once the key sustainability issues are understood, and the impact on the business is clear, achievable goals are put in place to limit ESG risk.

Hughes adds: “If your business model and strategy can’t deliver those goals, then you are potentially going in the wrong direction.”

Having a realistic sustainability strategy will be critical for all businesses if they want to remain viable as the world transitions to net zero. And as the AAT code says, accountants will be central to achieving that aim.

The AAT Sustainability Checklist

1. Ask how your organisation and your client organisations could benefit and help society and sustainability.

2. Make a start, however small.

3. Ensure that your organisation thoroughly researches all options when venturing into new areas or projects, this may mean putting the brakes on developments but will be cost-effective in the long run.

4. As accountants know: ‘what gets measured gets managed’, so start measuring.

5. Conduct regular risk assessments, including suppliers and third parties.

6. Do your CPD: clients want and need your expertise, governmental funding and policy changes may offer innovation and growth initiatives.

7. Set science-based targets.

Webinar: Developing a sustainable practice

Discover the true meaning of sustainability and the benefits of running or working in a sustainable business.

Register now

17 tools to help you nail your own e-learning

Posted by & filed under Study tips.

Learning on your own at home can take an extra dose of motivation sometimes. We’ve got 17 tools and extra tips to make studying online easier and even enjoyable. Find the best ones for you so that you can study your way.

Tool 1: Post-it notes

Use it for: Set yourself some study goals and write down why you’re e-learning. What do you want to achieve short, medium and longer-term? Stick them somewhere you will see them often.

Tool 2: Google Calendar

Use it for: Time blocking and scheduling your study time for each topic or module to fit in around your other commitments.

Tool 3: Trello

Use it for: Kanban boards and list-making tools like Trello are great for creating study plans, staying organised and tracking your progress.

Tool 4: Evernote

Use it for: Capturing any websites, blogs, videos and saving them in different files to watch for later. You can also save documents and make notes.  

Tool 5: Notion

Use it for: Notion is a bit like Evernote and Trello combined and has more functionality. It has lots of different layout options and is a brilliant place to keep all your study notes, plans and links to resources because it looks great but tags and categories also make your content easy to organise and search back for.

Tool 6: Pomodor

Use it for: This is a simple web-based Pomodoro Technique timer. The Pomodoro Technique is where you work intensely for 25-minutes and then take a break for five minutes (and take a longer break after every four Pomodoros). Start by assigning small, unintimidating chunks of time to your studies (just one or two Pomodoros) and they can get longer as you go or you can work for more time if you’re in the flow. If you’re really not feeling it, don’t force yourself and take regular breaks.

Tool 7: Toggl Track 

Use it for: Tracking the time you spend e-learning. It will help give you the confidence to see how much you’ve dedicated to it, you can balance your time between modules and you can use it to give yourself rewards after set periods.  

Tool 8: Noise-cancelling headphones

Use them for: Leaving the house and learning from a cafe or coworking space to give yourself a different working environment (plus great coffee and cake.)

Tool 9: Miro

Use it for: Make online mind maps to help with your learning.

Tool 10: Zoom

Use it for: Buddying up with someone else who is doing the same course as you so you can test each other, have an accountability partner and arrange times where you study at the same time via Zoom.

Tool 11: AAT Comment and AAT Weekly student newsletter

Use them for: Reading and keeping up to date with expert articles, industry news, study tips, career advice and finance updates. Find out more here.

Tool 12: AAT Discussion Forums

Use it for: Ask for help, talk about a topic and find a study buddy. You can also chat to other students and members on our Facebook groups – YourAAT and AATPros.

Tool 13: Kahoot 

Use it for: You and your study buddy can make awesome interactive online quizzes for each other to test your knowledge with game based-learning.

Tool 14: Canva

Use it for: Create nice-looking revision cards or make notes in a fun, visual way.

Tool 15: Pitch

Use it for: Create a fancy looking deck of slides so you can teach someone else what you’ve learnt. Teaching is a great way to learn.

Tool 16: MyAAT

Use it for: Webinars, bespoke resources, practice assessments, Green Light tests, skills checklists. Find out more here (login required).

Tool 17: Netflix

Use it for: For treating yourself when you complete a chunk of revision.

Before you start, create a nice space to do your e-learning in and work out when would be the best times to do your e-learning and how you learn best. This will dictate the type of tools you’ll need. Make a list of all the tools that you’re going to use and also all the key people and resources who are going to support your learning in any way and how they will. You’ll always have this to turn to if you feel stuck.

Further reading

3 skills you will need for a future in accounting

Posted by & filed under Students.

A report carried out by Thomson Reuters showed that more than 95% of accountants surveyed believe their role is likely to change due to technology, thanks to the advancing digital capabilities of HMRC, as well as the readily available and affordable cloud-based technology.

Additionally, survey respondents cited cloud accounting services as being the most critical area of understanding for the future. Industry-disruptive innovations have always changed how we work. Our job as accountants is to understand the technology and evolve with it.

“Think of accountancy like a Rubik’s cube,” explains James Harris, director at StriveX. “It makes sense when all the colours are lined up neatly and matching. Like a perfectly reconciled and drafted set of accounts. Jumble up the cube and if you don’t know where to begin solving it, you’re stuck. The puzzle becomes a nightmare.

Working to solve new problems

What you get out of working in accountancy is that challenge to constantly solve new problems, learn new ways of solving those problems and becoming better at your job. It’s very much experience-driven. Keep working at it and you’ll pick up on all the twists and turns you need to make in order to solve the puzzle.”

As accountants, regardless of experience, it’s imperative to keep abreast of the trends. Our future roles will not resemble those of our predecessors, but they will be just as motivating and meaningful.

“I won’t be surprised if automation does take over my job,” says Harris. “But that just means I’ll have to learn new skills to help me do my job better.”

In the fast-changing world of accounting, CPD is vital. While your AAT accounting qualification will set you on the right track, additional skills in the areas of communication, data analysis and advisory will also be extremely important for you to have in the future.

1. Communication

Effective communication skills are essential for accountants. This includes both written and oral communication skills. Whether you are working in a practice, a business, or in the public sector, you need to be able to communicate knowledge, information and numbers. Ensure you are ready for the future by improving your ability to think critically and translate those thoughts into compelling documents, as well as your ability to convey relevant financial information to stakeholders.

Advance your skills:

2. Data analysis

With the current pace of change, data analysis is an essential skill that accountants will need in the future. This includes not only having technological acumen, but data mining and extraction skills, operational analysis and statistical modelling skills, as well as the ability to identify key data trends. Accountants should be able to understand data and be able to have conversations with their clients and/or colleagues about business performance, not just about finance.

Advance your skills:

3. Advisory

Driven by clients needing help to navigate their businesses through uncertain times, increasing numbers of accountancy firms are moving towards advisory-based services. A good adviser can help clients future-proof their businesses and provide proactive, real-time advice and insight. Clients want more than just numbers – they want to know the reasons behind the numbers and what they can do about it. The exceptional accountant of the future will know how to effectively manage numbers and people.

Advance your skills:

Further reading:

How AAT Essentials is helping Global Lingo achieve their five-year growth strategy

Posted by & filed under Leadership.

As we return to the office, it has become clear that many people need to upskill or add to their existing skill set to respond to the new demands of the working world.

In the post-pandemic world financial acumen is even more crucial, and this is the case both for the financial team as well as members of staff in other departments of an organisation.

“In normal times, financial-planning teams generally use a range of driver-based models for budgeting, forecasting, and root-cause analysis. Over the years, they have likely cultivated their own standard reports and preferred views of information. Few have probably encountered the degrees of uncertainty they’re experiencing now or been asked to conjure up a crystal ball in a matter of days to make the most important decisions their companies have ever faced,” says the McKinsey & Company report Planning for uncertainty: Performance management under COVID-19.

Fine-tuning financial skills

Businesses that are looking to harness opportunities and create growth also need to have fine-tuned their financial skills.

In addition, companies are not fully back to office-based, with many staff still working from home and organisations having a hybrid model in place.

This makes training a challenge unless some part of it can be done remotely, so that all staff are able to join in. One way to do this in a convenient, cost-effective package is to use AAT Essentials training courses. These are designed to help you quickly learn crucial finance skills. They’re ideal for non-finance staff looking for a better understanding of key financial processes, as well as finance and accounting professionals looking to keep their skills fresh.

Courses are currently delivered online, and face-to-face courses will resume once local coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions allow.

How can AAT Essentials help your business and your employees?

Karl Eastwood, 33, is COO of Global Lingo, a leading translation and language company. He was promoted into that role in 2019, having previously held the position of Group Finance and Operations Director at Global Lingo. He oversees the operational activities of the company and is based in Chicago although previously lived and worked in Romania for five years. He is working on a five-year strategy for the company and describes his role as COO of the company where he started 11 years ago as a bookkeeper after qualifying at AAT Level 4.

He recently used the AAT Essentials course to help upskill his global team. For practical reasons it would not have been possible to try to assemble everyone in the same location. Instead, the online interactive nature of the AAT Essentials course was ideal for the senior management team who were located in offices around the world and in different time zones.

A high standard of training

“As an AAT Alumni I have always kept engaged with what AAT can offer in terms of training and CPD,” he says. “I saw the AAT Essentials course online and thought it would be relevant. Additionally, as I have trained with AAT, I knew that the standard of training was high”.

“We specifically booked the Finance for Non-Finance Managers to assist staff with the annual budgeting procedure. They learned about the allocation of expenses and assets to either the income statement or the statement of financial position as well as other financial ratios that they can apply in their day to day roles,” he says.

Those staff taking part in the training were three Sales Directors, three Regional Operations Managers and an Employee Experience Manager.

“All were non-finance roles and the AAT Essentials training was in place to assist them with financial analysis through using ratios and for the budgeting process,” Karl says.

“My initial AAT studies have always helped me through my career through financial planning, understanding of principal accounting concepts as well as the application in real world environments. Remote training was important as our team is globally distributed.

“AAT has given me a deep and fundamental understanding of finance and business. It has enabled me to take what I have learned and apply it to technology, information security and any other problem or challenge. It teaches you to think logically and solve problems. AAT is globally recognised as a qualification and that has been important to me.”

Learn the essentials

To find out more about booking a place on an open course or arranging training for groups of staff

Register your interest

The senior management team at Global Lingo around the globe attended the AAT Essentials Finance for Non-Financial Managers course across two days. As a direct result Karl has seen more decisions being looked at from a financial perspective as well as a business use perspective. Additionally in 2021 the team has taken more responsibility for budget ownership and the training has given them more knowledge about how to read these financial documents including the SoI (Statement of Liability) and SoFP (Statement of financial position).

“Overall, smarter decisions are being made incorporating not only business requirement but impact on business financial performance,” he says.

The AAT Essentials course was delivered online which reduced the need for travel. As the team was globally distributed team this meant that all team members could attend and therefore receive the same consistent training.

“As an employer, since the training I have more trust in the team’s ability to make decisions and create strategy incorporating financial impact in to their thought process,” he says. “The courses were delivered online across multiple time zones including Chicago, Romania, Singapore and London.

“The training was easy to get in place and the team felt the sessions were well organised and well delivered. The content was a refresher for some individuals but new concepts for others.”

What you can expect from AAT Essentials training?

AAT Essentials training is trusted, quality, convenient and cost-effective. AAT Essentials courses have been specifically designed to help you and your employees gain practical skills that can be applied immediately. Each course is delivered by an expert AAT trainer. The courses are packed with practical case studies and exercises, with interactive sessions throughout the day to test understanding. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance on completion of the course and course materials to support them through the training and as a reference for the future.

Find out more about our booking an AAT Essentials course

We run open AAT Essentials courses on a regular basis which anyone can attend, as well as corporate training for groups of staff.

The skills on offer via the AAT Essentials courses are:

Bookkeeping: A grounding in accounting systems for those in finance departments but with limited bookkeeping experience.

Budgeting: Budgeting skills for business professionals without an accountancy or finance background.

Capital expenditure: Learn the tools for strategic decision making: capital costs, lifetime returns and presenting and comparing diverse finance projects.

Finance for non-finance managers: Understand basic financial documents and how to interpret them.

Financial accounting: Learn double-entry bookkeeping principles and common transactions.

Fundamentals of financial accounting: Ideal for those with no or limited bookkeeping experience, and those in a role where they code purchase orders.

Managing cash: keeping your business healthy: Learn to record receipts and payments, reconcile bank statements and receipts and protect financial security.

Understanding accounting systems and controls: Learn to use accounting system controls to protect your organisation from theft and errors before they take place.

Understanding and processing financial documents: Understand financial documents and processes and record keeping to work effectively and stay compliant.

Understanding profitability: Learn how to study selling prices and make sure costs are covered and goods and services are sold at the right price.

Learn the essentials

To find out more about booking a place on an open course or arranging training for groups of staff

Register your interest