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Editors Blog : Read CA Mag editor Rob Outram's online diary

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CA Magazine

Every article from your latest print edition of CA Magazine

April 2008

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Editor's desk

Is the growing mountain of regulation and red tape partly the result of a cat and mouse game between professional advisers and the tax authorities?

In my view

The mountain of press releases that arrived with Alistair Darling's first Budget go against its key theme of "simplification"

President

Readers may be relieved to know that this is Isobel Sharp's final performance in the President's column

FDs challenged to cut back company reports

Company accounts are too long, few people understand them, and it's up to finance directors to fix them

Rush of low income insolvencies feared

The Accountant in Bankruptcy insists it is ready for a potential deluge of work

Backing Sibbald

Sumerian raises a muli-million pound venture capital package from Scottish Equity Partners

'Beancounter report' stresses ICAS ethics

ICAS is concentrating on ethics in its response to research on the public perception of the accountancy profession

Corporate killing fines could soar

The business sector could face record fines after the introduction of new corporate killing laws this month

Payroll BIK plan under fire

Government proposals on bringing benefits in kind and expenses into the PAYE system would not simplify the process, ICAS says

‘Enterprise role’ for Scottish CAs

CA firms have a part to play in the new structure being set up to run enterprise support in Scotland

Lawyers’ advice gets top rating

Lawyers are more highly valued than auditors or nominated advisers by AIM companies

PSN buys into Canada

Production Services Network has bought Tartan Engineering in Canada

Letters: Building bridges, not mending them

I do not believe nearly enough training or support is geared to those of us 'out in the cold'

Movers and shakers

People on the move

Office Auntie: I hate hols – at least other people’s

I hate this time of year - suddenly everyone wants to go on holiday and all at the same time

Banger blues?

Perhaps it's time to rethink your policy on company cars – and do your bit for the environment

Career profile: John Charles Lewsley

Vice-president, global product controllers group, Morgan Stanley Investment Bank

Pay-slip envy

Even in these enlightened times, sad to say, there are blokes...

They say, We say

How can the FSA track down rumour mongers?

Getting fat on debt

An economist has devised a bank-mass index

The Pitch Doctor: High octane benefits

Your interest in the motor vehicle is often based on the fact that it's greased lightning

Slimming reports

Ian Marchant says company reports seem to contain more and more material, without being any more useful

Good pickings in the loan desert

Banks have cut lending to the commercial property and construction sectors, but cash-rich vultures can thrive

A heated debate

Global warming and talk of how to combat it was already affecting the construction industry, even before Alistair Darling's budget. Richard Goslan looks at some of the controversial issues that the Chancellor has raised

Building up hopes

Last year's commercial property round table foresaw challenges. But even though Northern Rock and sub-primes have hit home since then, it's by no means all gloom in the sector now

City Column: Unequal odds

Angus McCrone looks at how the City bonus system pushes brokers into risks that result in shareholders having to pay the price

Interview: Glenn Allison

The MD of Stewart Milne is to take over strategic leadership of ICAS as its new president

Everything and the kitchen sink

With a bit of attention to the small print, businesses can raise cash on a great many of their 'hard' assets as well as the invoice book if they move into asset finance

Cheques lose their bounce

The cheque is slowly being consigned to history, superseded by electronics

Credit crunched

The full damage to the main UK banks from the sub-prime debacle in the US is revealed in a survey from KPMG

Big is beautiful

Airbus rolled out its huge A380 airliner last autumn, and Boeing's 787 will face the public in about a year. Gary Atkinson compares them and looks at other passenger aircraft trends

Heathrow on the move

A new terminal freeing space in old ones, a new deal with the US freeing the airlines to use the South of England hub for desirable destinations – Rachael Jolley looks at the implications in the UK and beyond

Room for variation

The hotel is not the only option for business traveller – an aparthotel may be preferable, particularly for people who expect to be staying for a while

Business and pleasure

If travelling for work had nothing to offer but airports and international offices, we wouldn't do it. Gary Atkinson looks at the leisure attractions that can make the difference to a trip overseas

Net gains

As CA Magazine makes its internet debut, Guy Clapperton offers some pointers to how accountancy firms considering the same strategy can make the most of the technology

'A lot of tweaking, with little effect...'

A combination of factors ensured that last month's Budget was received with more of a whimper than any bang

Paler shade of green

The persecution of the plastic bag took the headlines, but for a Budget trumpeted as embracing environmental issues, the substance was harder to pin down

Blow to whisky with 59p rise

The hangover for Scotland's whisky industry has been worse than overindulging on single malt at New Year

Allowances and limits

The basic rate of income tax falls to 20 per cent and the 10 per cent band is dropped

Small concessions for non-doms

With no U-turn on the controversial tax on non-doms, the effect of the £30,000 tax-avoidance levy on the UK's reputation as a hub for international business is as yet unkown

Incentives for oil but tax take rises

The Budget did not include any windfall tax for the North Sea

Anti-avoidance changes could wipe out cut in large business tax rate

Large business' tax rate will fall 2 per cent to 28 per cent

Taper: no reprieve

The Chancellor did not go back on his plans to abolish 10 per cent CGT taper relief for business assets

A Chancellor on thin ice

On 12 March, the Chancellor presented Gordon Brown's twelfth annual Budget, but failed to deliver the stability he promised

Equality issues

As the European Court of Justice prepares to rule on age discrimination, Sheila Gunn looks at equality law pitfalls in the workplace

FRC stakeholder views sought

The Financial Reporting Council aims to stimulate dialogue with stakeholders about how to improve the cost-effectiveness of its regulation

Practical guidance on revised bank letter procedures

Practical guidance on applying the Auditing Practices Board's revised procedures for bank letters is now available to download from the ICAS website

Consultation of financial instruments

The International Accounting Standards Board is seeking comment on a discussion paper on the distinction between equity financial instruments and others (non-equity instruments).

IAASB report highlightss Clarity Project work

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board has released its 2007 report

Mortality moves

The Pensions Regulator has set out a new approach to mortality assumptions

New build ideas

Ian McCann looks at benefits for developers who look beyond the design-and-build procurement route

Advice on reconciliations

New advice from the Auditing Practices Board

Institutes offer guidance on realised profits and losses

A consolidation of guidance on realised and distributable profits under the Companies Act 1985 from the ICAEW and ICAS was issued in February 2008

Conflict consultation

The Pensions Regulator has issued draft guidance to trustees for consultation

Top speakers named for CA Conference

The CA Conference offers a gathering of inspirational speakers

ICAS AGM: 18 April in Glasgow

Members are reminded that the AGM of ICAS will be held in Glasgow on 18 April

Pensions forum

Members are invited to a forum at CA House in Edinburgh to consider an ASB discussion paper

Top body

ICAS has been named as Accountancy Body of the Year in the annual PQ awards

ICAS nominee sought

ICAS is seeking a CA volunteer to join the Local Authority (Scotland) Accounts Advisory Committee

Obituary

Obituaries from April edition of CA Magazine

Spotlight on CA Business Courses

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