r/ukaccounting

I am a PSC + Director.

My accountant does my yearly confirmation statement.

He needed my PSC code this year as a requirement to submit that. That was 4 weeks ago.

I just had a panic as I read the HMRC email again and I may have misread it the first time.

As well as doing the confirmation statement which requires the code, did I also need to verify my identity using the code, via the link provided in the email?

Are they seperate tasks? What are the chances my accountant did that task for me as well? Or can it only be done by me?

I would be greatful for some advice until I can get hold of him.

There is quite a scary warning on there about fines and name on a register etc and would hate to have messed up.

Update: I am reading the email that came straight after the verify one. Its about the yearly confirmation statement and how to submit it, you need to verify your identity first and provide codes, suggesting you cant do this part (which i know is done) without verifying first.

I find the info in each email contradictory.

Some of the text in the confirmation statement request email:

UK company law now requires all company directors to verify their identity.

If you’ve already verified your identity, you do not need to do it again – but you must provide your personal code for each role you hold.

Some text from the first email about doing a verify during the same 2 week window:

There’s a 14 day period during which each PSC must confirm their identity is verified. For PSCs that are also directors of this company, it’s based on the company’s confirmation statement date

Thanks

Hey, for context I am 17 turning 18 in a few months and I plan to start an AAT apprenticeship within the next 12-24 months. I would like to do level 3 then 4 and then qualify as an MAAT.

I really want to start my own solo practice, ran from home (helpful because I have a physical disability along with more freedom) I would just like a simple accounting / bookkeeping business that will give me a relatively stress free and comfortable life (50-70k turnover). I did some research and it said I could offer around 18 services. Will these get replaced by AI? I would like this business to be effectively my 'forever' business and to run it until I retire. AI is really stressing me out because the future is just so uncertain.

thanks for any replies :)

Just graduated with an accounting and finance degree with a placement year (finance assistant) and can’t seem to get anything from graduate schemes to entry level accounting jobs. Since starting of final year, I must have applied to over 300+ jobs, so tough😭…

Hello all

Am in the UK and noticing lately that the "business partner" buzzword is creeping more and more into job titles and specs. I see it in basically every advert I look at at my salary range (I am a mid level CIMA qualified management accountant who has only ever worked in industry).

I feel like this is putting me at a disadvantage as frankly the term conjures up images of whole days spent in meetings presenting pie charts to various departments and trying to persuade them to do or not do various things. I don't mind a bit of this but it seems most whole jobs are now portending to be structured around it and to be honest it's not my cup of tea. It doesn't suit my personality and strengths at all.

I even got told by one of my old bosses, "you could not be a business partner... you'd be exhausted".

My last 2 roles have both been sold as "business partner" roles but in reality there has been very little of it, I've mostly just put together P and Ls and then gone over them with the business... to me that doesn't feel like business partnering, just normal accounting.

So I am suspicious that all these roles I am seeing would also just be more or less this in reality but for the sake of the interview I have to feign an interest in spending all day in meetings trying to basically run the business... even though my experience is that in reality businesses generally want accountants to stay out of the way and just report the results after the event in reality. If you take the job adverts literally it looks like 90pc of businesses are essentially run by accountants.

.

Not quite sure where to go now , as I am not happy in current role but also I am probably not going to make it in a job that involves this kind of thing which is seemingly now compulsory...

Unless I'm just overthinking it and "business partner" is actually meaningless corporate waffle that just means "talk to people about numbers".

This is just a curiosity question, as I’m new to practice and don’t fully understand all the different levels and titles. I recently interviewed for two very similar roles at two different practices in the same department (outsourced). One was called ‘bookkeeper / accounts assistant’ and the other was ‘accounts associate’ and initially assumed it’s just a difference in choice of title between the two firms. I took the associate job and having looked at the org chart in my department I noticed we have a few associates and one ‘bookkeeper / accounts assistant’ too. I’m now wondering what the difference is 🤔 I haven’t met everyone yet so I don’t know what their job involves, but mine is very bookkeeping focused as I expected.

I'm a Chartered Accountant who's spent the past few months working almost exclusively with creator businesses (YouTubers, influencers, newsletter operators, educators, podcasters, digital product sellers, etc.).

To me, one key issue seems to be that financial information is fragmented across multiple platforms (i.e., YouTube, TikTok, Patreon, Shopify, Stripe, PayPal, affiliate networks, sponsorships, bank accounts, and other sources). Unlike regular earners who earn predictably on a monthly or biweekly basis, the unique earning patterns of creators presents a dilemma.

This is because before I could even begin to prepare accounts, advise on tax, or gain a holistic understanding of their business performance, I found that I was spending a great deal of time pulling the cross platform information together into a "one stop shop" effectively.

I'm curious whether others here have found the same thing.

If you're an accountant who works with creators (or are one), where do you spend the most time?

I'm writing a research paper and I've so far had conversations with creators, accountants, and talent managers. However, I'm much more interested in validating whether this resonates with people outside my own experience. Open to hearing all thoughts. Thanks!

Hi, I am in a lucky dilemma, I have got two job offers post uni, for which I am very grateful. One is from Big 4 audit, one from the Civil Service Direct Appointment Scheme, the latter in an fairly interesting policy role. Which do you think I should take considering longterm prospects, given automation/AI agents and current job cuts in audit, but there is also some degree of automation and political risk of radical civil service reform in the latter case? Would like to know what you would do in my position.

I have some good previous internship/placement experience in non-accounting areas, and interested in economics and public policy. Genuinely in two minds about which to pick.

Hi,

I wanted to post here and try my luck, I'm looking for an accountant position as a part qualified ACCA accountant, and I also have a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance.

I am about to pivot to accounting but have most experience in administration roles with no finance /accounting experience other than customer service role in an financial institution even though I have a BSc in accounting and MSc in a business management degree. I am wondering what’s the difference between cima and acca as some one mentioned in my previous post to consider acca.

I’m considering starting a qualification to boost my chances.

Hi guys,

I started a side hustle about 2 years ago selling products from my own website. Initially started off quite small but this year the business is on track to doing £400k.

I’m still currently a sole trader and want to change to LTD and outsource all the book keeping as I just don’t have time for it anymore and tbh I hate it.

I sell worldwide so I’m not sure if that makes things more complicated but I’m just needing advice on where to find accountants familiar with this and realistically how much should I be paying a month for their service?

Apologies if I sound clueless! Just need a starting point

Hi everyone,

I’m currently looking for a full-time role in London as an Accounts Assistant, Bookkeeper, Finance Assistant, or Junior Accountant.

I have over 3 years of audit and accounting experience and I’m currently studying ACCA. I’m available to start immediately.

If you know of any vacancies or if your company is hiring, I’d really appreciate it if you could let me know.

Thank you very much!

Hello. I just graduated with a third in a maths degree from a Russell group university. My time at university was affected by numerous health and family issues thus the bad degree result. I also have very little work experience.

I’ve been looking into my options in what I can do next and I would like some advice on whether I should self study for the ACCA or start with AAT.

I would not be considered for any ACCA apprenticeships so if I were to start self studying for ACCA now, would employers still hire me? What is the best way to gain the practical experience for ACCA? Should I pass all my exams and then apply for accounting jobs?

Many entry level roles for like bookkeeping and accounts assistant ask for experience in this role so how would I go about getting that experience?

Any advice would be highly appreciated.

Thank you

I have a small Ltd company that invoices around £500/month.

I already have a full-time job, and I don't take a salary or dividends from the Ltd.

The company has very few transactions, and I plan to make employer pension contributions rather than withdraw the money.

I'm currently paying £150/month for an accountant, which feels expensive given how simple the company is.

Is it worth having an accountant in my situation? If so, what's the cheapest option that still keeps everything compliant?

I’m 37 years old, been in hospitality business almost all my life. Had my own restaurant for around 10 years, closed it few years ago due cost of running and low margins. I was also sick of hospitality in general.

Starting my AAT level 2 in coming September. I am totally happy to start from the bottom with low pay. As I already established a life just looking to change a career.

My goal is to be CIMA or ACCA registered in 7 years time by the time I’m 45.

How realistic or unrealistic it is?

Hi everyone, just some background quickly. I’m 17, looking to get in to accounting but Im a complete beginner. I wanted to know which would be best as I qualify for both. These courses I’ll be taking at a college near me since it’s free for me that way. I was told to start with AAT level 3 as a beginner however it seems I don’t qualify since I’m under 19. Please let me know any advice that could help create a pathway to accountancy or just helps with my dilemma right now.

I would like to pivot to accounting as I had a deep introspect of what I want for myself and for my career.

Background

I have a BSc in accounting from 9 years ago and also masters in a business course from 2 years go , recently completed xero professional certification and have used sage software while in uni so would need a refresher but have mostly administrative experience, worked in a financial institution as a customer service advisor (non-facing) and currently work as an administrator in the healthcare sector. I have updated my cv but I haven’t been getting interviews ;just one call back from a recruiter for an account administrator but couldn’t take it due to the working hours (part time ) and I work full time hours. I have considered starting CIMA to boost my chances or AAT and know that I need 3 years experience to fully qualify for CIMA.

I’m just looking for advise if anyone has been in this position. Is it advisable to start CIMA ?

So I have no previous background in accounting and I just completed AAT Level 2 Bookkeeping with a distinction (I am going to start Level 3 Bookkeeping in September), and I've been offered an accounts assistant role. I'm really nervous because I thought maybe my Bookkeeping qualification doesn't suit it/ isn't as good obviously as the full accounting one, and I've seen so many people online who have done higher AAT qualifications than myself struggle or get an accounts assistant role. The employer in the interview did know it was the Bookkeeping course.

I'm just worried I'll do rubbish in the job or they made a mistake. Any advice?

I'm at a firm where an audit partner and a tax director are in their early to mid 30s. Any thoughts about this?