DP Accouting Ltdhttp://dpaccounting.co.uken-ushttp://dpaccounting.co.uk/favicon.icohttp://dpaccounting.co.uk3232http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Map.aspxThe Accounting House, Sheepbridge Centre, Sheepbridge Lane, Chesterfield, S41 9RX We are situated on the first floor, above Endeavour Training. To access our offices, the entrance is down the right-hand side of the building.14 July 2009 11:36http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Recomended_Reading.aspx Book Title Author How to Manage Your Time Brian Stacey The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey Ken Blanchard Who Moved my Cheese Dr Spencer Johnson Leading Change John P Kotter Build to Last James C Collins and Terry I Porras Richer on Leadership Julian Richer Principle - Centered Leadership Stephen R Covey R Good to Great James C Collins How to Transform your Company and Enjoy It Ken Lewis and Stephen Lytton Gung Ho! Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bownes R Think and Grow Rich Napoleon Hall R Lead the Field Nightingale Conant Practice what you Preach David Maister The Firm of the Future Paul Dunn and Ron Baker 4 Weeks to Total Energy Judith Wills Stealth Marketing - an Abridged Version Jay Abraham R The Heart of Success Rob Parsons Raving Fans Ken Blanchard The One Minute Manager Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson R Rich Dad, Poor Dad Robert T Kiyosaki The Road Less Travelled M Scott Peck Who's Driving your Bus Andy Gilbert and Nadine Taylor The Road less Travelled and Beyond M Scott Peck R The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Franklin Covey Co. R The E Myth Revisited Michael E Gerber The Richer Way Julian Richer The Goal Eliyahu M Goldratt and Jeff Cox 101 Ways to Make More Profits Steve Pipe Small Business - Big Difference Andy Gilbert and Steve Pipe R Attitude is Everything Jeff Keller R R = Highly Recomended 14 July 2009 10:34http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Know_Your_Goals_.aspxLet me share with you a thought. Your present plans and present actions and strategies have got you where you are today. If you want a better future, with more financial success, more time to enjoy it, and less effort to achieve it then you need to change.Remember the definition of insanity - 'Continuing to do the same thing with the expectation of a different outcome'.This is part of our half or full day workshop 'Build The Life And Business You Deserve'. Contact us for details of how we can deliver this workshop to you your business/life partners and team.The right goals:Personal goals = What you want more or less of.Business goals = What you want your business to do for you so that you can achieve your personal goals.Mission = What you want your business to do for others, including customers, team members and society.Vision = What your business will look like when established.Plan = What needs to happen to get you there:A Strategic plan = The route you intend to take.An Action plan = Steps along the route.Personal goalsWhat do you want out of your life?What do you want more of?What do you want less of?Why do you want those things?What difference will they make to you and to others?How will it make you feel when you get them?How will you feel if you don’t get them?How strong is your desire to get them?What are the key actions you need to take to get them?Are you willing to pay the price?The stumbling block…The stumbling block is never… Can I? or even… How can I? It is always …Will I? Making sure you do!Write it all down - 100% more successful.Focus on the reason why - the pain and gain.Consider writing your own obituary.Get a coach - all super achievers have one.Share with and involve others.Set milestones - and celebrate reaching themDevelop systems to make it happen without youBe flexible.Start with today’s “24 hour action plan” handout.... and do it now!14 July 2009 10:33http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Time_and_Stress_Management.aspxIgnore these two vital elements and both your life and your business will inevitably suffer. In today's difficult economic environment the successful management of these important areas can be nothing short of life-changing. We are all different and react in equally varied ways. Your way of dealing with stress or time management will depend to a large extent upon your personality. Hilda Littlewood's unique Better Life Performance seminars address these important factors and identify actions to help you and your staff dramatically improve work performance. As part of its team-building strategy, DPA's staff has, and continues to benefit enormously from attending these workshops. We recommend that you take a look for yourself by checking out Hilda’s website www.betterlifeperforamce.co.uk More and more businesses and individuals are turning to life coaching to empower themselves to choose a better quality of life. ABOUT ME I am a qualified life coach and a qualified practitioner of the unique MBTI inventory of personality. I run 1-2-1 sessions and fun group workshops that stand alone or as part of a dynamic coaching package. Hilda Littlewood betterlife performance MBTI practitioner Personal and corporate coaching training and mentoring 0114 2876181 / 0781 5524 276 info@betterlifeperformance.co.uk DISCOVER THE REAL YOU GIRL TALK We are our own best asset! The MBTI™ is a tool used worldwide by individuals and corporates to understand and manage ourselves better, build and manage team, and communicate more effectively GIRL TALK coaching parties - all the benefits of coaching at a totally affordable price - and a fun evening with friends at the same time14 July 2009 10:33http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Myths.aspxHELPING YOU BUILD THE LIFE AND BUSINESS YOU DESERVE Entrepreneurial Myths THE E-MYTH REVISITED (Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It) by Michael Gerber, should be compulsory reading for all owner managers, and particularly those just starting out in business. BOOK REVIEW: Essential reading for anyone running a small business. The author owns a leading business consultancy that specialises in reengineering small businesses to make them work properly. I've always avoided the idea of running my own business simply because of the pain I've seen almost everyone I know go through when they started one. Every time things get tough, they have only one solution: work harder and put in more hours. Many of those that survive do so only because the owners simply refuse to give up. As a result they and their families suffer. So many people seem to get swallowed by their business, as if Jaws had come out of the sea and pulled them from their inflatable. Those of us standing at the edge of the water tut-tut and think "No way I'm going in there". This book has changed my thinking about all that. As Mr Gerber says, the problem is very few people have been properly trained in how to run a business. Most small business people start out as technicians who got hit by an entrepreneurial seizure. As a result of their technical background, they have a tragic tendency to retreat back into the one thing they feel certain they know how to do well: the technical work. This is known as the comfort zone. To be a real business owner, you must move beyond your comfort zone and learn how to think strategically about your business rather than working in it. The author poses the question: if you were to expand your business to 4 different locations, could you continue to run the 4 the way you do the one you have now? What if you expanded to 1000 locations? If you are doing the usual thing and running around performing every critical function in your business yourself then the answer is obvious: you can't. You should view the one business you have as a prototype for all the others you are going to create and run it accordingly. The core message is that rather than doing all the work yourself, you should set up business systems. By which he means a documented procedure or checklist for every function that occurs in your business. Once you have a functioning system in place, you can then hire a relatively inexperienced person and meticulously train them to follow the system you have set up. The better the system, the better the employee performs and the better your business performs. Your manager's job is to manage the systems not the people (people are inherently unmanageable), refining and improving the systems. This leaves you free to do the real work of an owner: thinking about how to improve and grow your business. Another good title for this book would have been "Zen and the Art of Business" since it draws so much on the authors personal philosophy of how a business should be run. He talks about business in an exciting, refreshing way I've never heard before. For example, comparing the prototype business to a martial arts dojo where you practice and practice and practice until you get it right. You should have your business revolve around your personal life and personal goals rather than the usual scenario of being a slave to your business. The whole point of starting a business is to improve your quality of life, not suck it out of you. To that end he takes you through the steps you should go through when setting up a business to avoid those pitfalls: Define your primary aim based on your personal life goals Define the strategic objectives that your business has to ultimately do in order to achieve the primary aim Have an organisation chart from the very start, even if there's only one person in the business. This is so you can start working out what functions to replace with systems. Realise that what you really need is a Management System, not a Manager Make sure your people understand the idea behind the work they do and that the idea is more important than the work itself. In order to generate motivation, encourage them to treat the systems as a game to be played. If you are in any doubt, take a look at his web site. I think there is plenty there to convince you to buy this book. Its certainly been worth my time and I'm seriously considering starting my own business purely as a result of reading this book. - A. Customer 21 Nov 2002. ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING (Change Your Attitude and You Change Your Life), by Jeff Keller, is one of those rare books that everyone can identify with. We have given complimentary copies to a number of our clients who had seemingly hit a “mental wall” in either their personal or business life. You can have the best plans, intentions, products, offices, work colleagues, but if YOUR ATTITUDE is wrong then nothing worthwhile will come of all your hard work and sacrifice. You have the ability to transform your life and soar to new heights of success and fulfilment. Whether your attitude is negative, positive, or somewhere in between, this "success manual" will show you how to take control of your life and unleash your incredible potential. This book is filled with inspiring stories and easy-to-understand success principles. Jeff Keller presents the material with sincerity, clarity and impact in a way that will inspire you to develop the greatness within you! By learning and applying the 12 lessons in this exciting book, you'll be energised. You'll begin to see new possibilities. You'll take action to develop your unique talents. And you'll achieve extraordinary results! BOOK REVIEWS: On a personal level I read your book about 3 years ago and it had a huge positive impact on my life. I re-read your book at least twice a year. My job is to develop managers and I run a 6-month development programme. Attitude is Everything is required reading for all participants and the feedback from the 44 people who have completed this programme is…WOW! The improvement in them as individuals has been noted back in their branches across the UK to the extent that I have been asked for copies of the book for Area Managers and Regional Directors. It has had such an impact upon one region within our business that they are rolling your messages out to all of their staff in the next 4 months. Thank you for such an inspirational book. Chris Chinn, Management Development Manager,Vanguard Rental (UK) Ltd. Your book, Attitude is Everything, has made the greatest impact on my life. Your words have helped me to change from a negative, cynical, victim mentality, 'woe is me' lifestyle into a new person. I have lost count of the number of times I have read it. I have decided to start my own business. This, I owe all to your book. I have more energy, more control over my life and I'm infinitely happier. Thank you for your life-changing book. Peter Irlam Attitude is Everything has helped me to hone in on positive thought and motivational techniques related to my career and interpersonal relationships. Now, before reacting to any situation, I consciously choose a positive response -- what a difference it makes! I am more confident when dealing with a negative situation by applying Jeff's easily understood, user-friendly techniques. The best part is I was able to put these ideas to work immediately! Natalie Tedone Your book is a tonic for mental, emotional, physical and spiritual prosperity. You give real life example after example of what works. I also enjoy that you don't rehash the same old stories but you take the lead in discovering new examples of inspiration. Attitude is Everything is a Mark McGwire home run in the motivational field. Jack E. McClendon, Jr. Having read many motivational books, I found Jeff's ideas fresh and inspiring. This book is useful not only for salespeople, but for anyone wishing to make positive changes in their lives. David D'Agostino, Prudential Anyone can learn from Jeff's twelve easy lessons immediately. Keep this book at your fingertips. When you occasionally need a little attitude adjustment, open it anywhere, and a valuable quote or phrase will jump off the page right into your heart and soul. Julie Salgo There is no shortage of motivational books on the market. But what sets Attitude is Everything apart from the crowd is Jeff Keller's unique ability to tackle the real issues on the minds of today's business professionals, and to offer practical, substantive ideas for conquering these issues. In my mind, nobody else comes close to delivering the goods like Jeff Keller. Art Siegel, Publisher, SalesDoctors Magazine14 July 2009 10:33http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Be_Inspired.aspxBe Inspired and Remember to Smile A little modern day philosophy.... When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the beer. A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favourite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter - like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff." "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take yourpartner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."14 July 2009 10:31http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Lifestyle.aspxIs your business delivering the life you desire OR is it robbing you of it.? Most of the UK and Ireland’s three million plus owner-managed businesses are underperforming. In many cases their sales, profits and wealth creation are below what they could and should be. Even more imprtantly, in most cases, those businesses are adversely affecting the health and happiness of their owners and their families- sometimes by a little, and often by a lot. At a personal level the consequences of this can include long hours, exhaustion, stress, nervous breakdowns, children who barely see their parents, and even marriage break-ups. And, at an economic level, the consequences include more business failures, lower productivity, missed opportunities, uncompetitiveness, lower wages, fewer jobs and lower growth rates. SO NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE: Dispel the myths Set your goals Manage your time Reduce those stress levels Be inspired AND REMEMBER to smile, because if its not fun why are you doing it????????? * taken from the The National Campaign Document –sponsored by AVN Accountants.14 July 2009 10:23http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Services_and_Products.aspxMost accountants are very good at listing their services, but do not always so good at explaining clearly what, or more likely what they do not, include. So here is what we offer: Accountancy work. This usually breaks down into two categories - compliance workand management information/administration services. Compliance work (meaning work that has to be done by LAW, irrespective of which accountancy firm you may use) This includes the following: Sole Traders and Partnerships Self-Assessment Tax return for every sole trader and each partner. Self Assessment Partnership Return. A set of accounts the details of which have to be included on the Self assessment Tax return Limited Companies Self-Assessment Tax returns for each director. Detailed Accounts completed and layout in accordance with The Companies Acts. Apart from these being important to assess the performance of the business, they also have to be submitted to HM Revenue & Customs with the Companies Corporation Tax return. Abbreviated Accounts to be submitted to Companies House. This comprises of the Balance Sheet only, together with a very limited set of notes. Online filing of company’s annual return. This details who are the current Directors and Shareholders. All of the above accounts will be prepared based upon the information and explanations provided by the client. They are not audited accounts, which are only required if a limited company's sales are in excess of £5 million. Many, if not all, clients expect their accountant to be continually coming up with tax saving ideas and implementing them when preparing the accounts. You must appreciate that this service is not automatically included in the fee quoted. All good accountancy firms will be able to provide a quality tax review service, but it does require a comprehensive understanding of the client’s business and his/her own personal and family circumstances, and therefore comes at a cost.Any potential tax saving must be thoroughly researched in the light of business/personal circumstances, So, what is the current Tax legislation? Are there any impending changes as announced in the pre- budget reports? Are the potential tax savings sustainable and greater than the costs of implementation? All this takes a great deal of work and research. Our fixed fee service, coupled with the expertise of our taxation expert Chris Brydone BA FCA CTA, and working in partnership with Charles James Financial Planning, allows us to offer you a comprehensive taxation service that will help you guard your business and your family's wealth. Management Information and Administration Services. This includes the following: Payroll service and year end filing online. Weekly or monthly payroll. Prices start from £3 per payslip with a minimum charge of £10 per payroll run. Monthly/Quarterly Management Accounts. Providing departmental, site or product profitability. Profit and cash flow forecasting. On-site or outsourced book-keeping service. Advising and implementation of accounting systems for your business, in-house. Also includes staff training for your employees. Sage Training programmes, which can be bespoke, using your own data, thereby making the whole training experience more relevant and understandable. Compilation of VAT Returns. Formation of Limited Companies. Our products include: Limited Company Formation Package. You choose the name - we do the rest. Professional Fee protection insurance. Debt insurance. Company Valuations. SAGE Solutions Sage is currently the most popular accounting software in use by businesses. As our operations manager, Barbara Adams handles the production of back-office book keeping, payrolls, administration and accountancy for a varied portfolio of businesses. Her valuable expertise as a specialist in Sage also allows us to offer additional in-depth support and continuity to your business. All your book keeping needs will be dealt with by Barbara who has over 15 years experience in bookkeeping, Sage installation, Sage training, Sage report writing and preparing final trial balance figures for accountants. SAGE Training –Fixed Price £500 plus vat Contents: Housekeeping of Data Back up Restore Data, report templates and layout templates Error checking Customer Records Setting up names, addresses, contact information Nominal code default Credit limits Memorandum information Opening balances Supplier Records Setting up names, addresses, contact information Nominal code default Memorandum information Opening balances Sales Data Input and Review Sales invoices and credit notes – batched data entry Review of activity by customer, including graphical analysis, sales by month and transaction history Aged debtor report and credit control Production of system generated labels, letters and statements Audit trail reports Purchases Data Input and Review Purchase invoices and credit notes – batched data entry Review of purchase invoices and credit notes Purchase invoice payment terms and aged creditor report Production of system generated documentation Audit trail reports Bank Transactions Customer receipts Supplier payments Other bank receipts Other bank payments Petty cash transactions Financial and Control Reports Trial balance Profit and loss account Balance sheet Budgetary control Audit trail and month end reports Period end VAT reconciliation Bank reconciliation Departmental information Duration of training: Recommend 4 x ½ days, plus 1 x ½ day for Month End/VAT, and 3 hours at financial year end to cover year end routine.( ½ day = 3 ½ hours) Location of training: On client's premises. Cost of training: £500.00 per course, plus VAT. (special reduced rate)03 June 2009 12:39http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/News.aspxImportant dates PAYE and National Insurance payment to 5th November 2009 to be paid by 19 November 2009. CIS Construction Industry monthly return for June 2009 to be filed by 19 July 2009. Self Assessment Tax returns – Paper returns have to be submitted by 31 October 2009. Once this deadline has passed your return HAS to be filed on line the deadline for which is 31 January 2010. Changes New Companies House Filing Penalties (Limited companies Only ) New Companies House Filing Dates for Accounts (Limited companies Only ) Companies House filing dates for private and public companies Private companies: New company accounts covering an accounting reference period (ARP) of more than 12 months must be filed no later than 21 months to the day of the date of incorporation. Example: company incorporated on 14 April 2008 accounting reference date (ARD) set at 30 April accounts cover ARP 14 April 2008 to 30 April 2009 filing deadline 14 January 2010 Subsequent accounts must be filed no later than nine months to the day of the ARD. For financial years that start before 6 April 2008 you must normally deliver annual accounts to Companies House withinten months of a company's accounting reference date for a private company. However, if a company's first accounts cover a period longer than 12 months, the maximum time allowed is 22 months from the date of incorporation orthree months from the ARD, whichever is longer. If the financial year has been shortened, the time allowed for filing the accounts is the longer of. nine months from the ARD (or ten months for financial years that start before 6 April 2008) three months from the date of the notice to change the ARD If a filing deadline expires on a Sunday or Bank Holiday the law still requires accounts to be filed by the relevant date, irrespective of the day itself. Companies House sends a reminder letter to your company's registered office approximately six weeks before annual accounts are due. Public: New HM Revenue & Customs Penalty Regime HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC) new penalty regime for incorrect tax returns ‘goes live’ on 1 April 2009. Tax Returns submitted on or after this date (covering periods commencing on or after 1 April 2008) will be affected by the new rules. Taxpayers and their advisers need to understand the new rules now. The new legislation arises out of HMRC’s ongoing overhaul of its powers and the way in which it carries out ‘compliance checks’. Its aim is to harmonise the different penalty powers for Income Tax, Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE, NIC and the Construction Industry Scheme that previously existed. The new regime introduces a number of rule changes, which are summarised below. The main focus and rationale underpinning the new regime is ‘taxpayer behaviour’. Taxpayers that take reasonable care in the preparation of their returns will not be penalised for mistakes, whereas those who do not, could well be punished more heavily than they are currently. If a taxpayer submits an incorrect return, their ‘behaviour’ will be considered in one of four ways, which will then determine the range of potential penalty they may face. These are: a taxpayer who has taken reasonable care; a careless error; a deliberate error; or a deliberate error which has then been concealed. Once the ‘behaviour’ has been established, the legislation sets maximum and minimum penalty loadings for each category. For example, if a taxpayer is found to have acted carelessly in submitting his/her return, the potential penalty will range from zero to 30% of the ‘tax lost’. However, if the taxpayer is found to have made a deliberate error, he/she could face a penalty of between 20% and 70% of the ‘tax lost’. If it can be shown that an error occurred, but that the taxpayer took reasonable care in the submission of the return, no penalty will be charged. Under the current penalty regime, agents and taxpayers frequently find themselves disagreeing with HMRC over whether a taxpayer had been ‘negligent’ in submitting an incorrect return. These disputes are now likely to be replaced by debates over whether the taxpayer has taken ‘reasonable care’. HMRC has published illustrations about what it believes constitutes ‘reasonable care’, but these do not, of course, cover all eventualities and are open to interpretation. Expert specialist advice could still help reduce potential penalties. Once the taxpayer’s behaviour has been categorised, the extent to which he/she disclosed an error to HMRC will then be considered. For example, a taxpayer may identify that an error has been made in the return which could be considered to be careless. If he/she then makes a full and unprompted disclosure to HMRC, assists in quantifying the liabilities due and allows HMRC access to the relevant records (if requested), then the penalty loading could be reduced to zero. Conversely, if a taxpayer making the same type of error denies anything is wrong, even when challenged by HMRC, and then fails to co-operate with HMRC, he/she could face a potential penalty of 30% of the ‘tax lost’. One aspect of the new regime that must be remembered is the ability to have a penalty charge for a careless error suspended. If a taxpayer meets the conditions for suspension and, during the period of suspension, improves their systems and puts measures in place to prevent the error occurring in the future, they can avoid having to physically pay the penalty charged. Whilst there are various conditions that have to be met during the suspension period (including ensuring that tax returns are submitted and tax paid on time), this is likely to be a tempting option for taxpayers who might otherwise have to pay a large penalty. The new regime also introduces powers to allow HMRC to potentially seek payment of a company penalty from a Director, provided that the error was deliberately caused by the Director and he/she then gained personally from it. In addition, HMRC will also be able to charge a penalty even though the business has made a loss (and would not, therefore, be paying any tax). How these new rules are implemented in practice will be watched with great interest. Some people argue that the new penalty regime reduces flexibility and will result in less human consideration of the facts of a particular case. HMRC argues that the new system gives more certainty to all concerned and will result in more consistency. These points will continue to be debated as the new regime settles in, but it is clear that taxpayers and businesses will need to have systems in place to minimise the potential for errors to occur and, if an error is identified, they will need to consider making a full voluntary disclosure to HMRC at the earliest opportunity.03 June 2009 11:10http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Profiles.aspxDavid Potter Company Position: Director Qualifications: Member of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants. Member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. Experience and specialist areas: Before going into private practice in 1995 David worked in industry for many years and understands the frustrations and needs of small businesses. He serves as a director for a number of local companies. Outside Interests: Long suffering supported of Hull City Football Club. Interests include choir singing and modern jive dancing. Now in his tenth year as Treasurer of the Chesterfield branch of the Federation of Small Businesses. Barbara Adams Company Position: Operations Manager for, and specialist in, the production of all back office book keeping, payrolls, administration and accountancy for a varied portfolio of businesses. Her expertise allows us to offer more in-depth support and, as importantly, continuity to your company.All your book keeping matters will be dealt with by Barbara who has over 19 years experience in bookkeeping, Sage installation, Sage training, Sage report writing and preparing final trial balance figures for Accountants. Outside Interests: Enjoys sewing, embroidery, and coarse fishing, but you won't get stitched up or come across anything fishy when dealing with her. Mary Axelby Company Position: Client manager. Mary holds Civil Service qualifications and has dealt with all aspects of small Business administration including assisting in the running of her husband’s building company, before taking up full time employment. Mary has a wealth of experience and expertise to offer our clients. Outside Interests: Mary and husband Mike spentseveral years living on a narrow boat and keep us constantly amused with their accounts of piracy on the canals! Emily Woodward Company Position: Having gaining ‘A’ level accountancy Emily recently joined our team as anaccounts and payroll trainee.Emily's dulcet tones may be the first thing you hear when you ring us. Outside Interests: Don't be fooled by Emily's calm exterior. In another life she plays a mean set of drums and is a positive 'animal' on keyboards. Joan Dovener Company Position: DPA's Press and PR. Joan has worked as a PR consultant for 25 years, handling business for several major international companies. She has also worked as a journalist since 1974, holding the posts of editorial consultant and features editor for a well known UK publishing house. Outside Interests: Joan enjoys choral singing and amateur dramatics. Her last 'starring role' was as the Panto fairy, and she continues to work her magic at DPA!03 June 2009 11:09http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Testimonials.aspxWhat our Clients Say "DPA has a very professional approach and the business seems geared towards the small firm operation level." (Property investment company) "The thing we appreciate most is the 1-to-1 relationship with David. It’s the personal touch." (Secondary metal company) "David Potter is easy to get hold of and he is always quick to sort things out for us." (Educational software company) "The things we like about dealing with DPA is David’s personal touch. He’s always available and never too busy to speak to us." (Catering company) "Friendly and informative. Dave Potter is always available any time, and also I like dealing with local firms." (Architect and design company) ‘The thing we like most about DPA is the company’s friendly attitude." (Magazine publisher) "We’re happy with every aspect. David recently sorted out filing our accounts with Companies House."(FairTrade retailer) "Friendly. The advice is good. DPA has served us well. The staff is always helpful, willing to listen and to give me their time." (Airport taxi service) "I know that I can get help whenever I need it." (Pneumatic and hydraulic parts supplier) "I couldn’t improve on this company (DPA). It’s a good, sound business." (Secondary metal company) "David knows the industry well and understands my business, which is a big help to me." (High value metals dealer) "We’ve had no problems at all since DPA started doing our books" (Contractor) "DPA is very responsive and smooth flowing as far as my business is concerned." (Marketing consultant) "We’ve known David a long time. With us it’s all a matter of trust." (CNC engineering company) "DPA never gets in a panic. They take the worry off my shoulders and update me when necessary". (Plumbing contractor) "What we like most about David Potter Accountants is David Potter! That says it all doesn’t it." "It does what it says on the tin!" (Sound suppression manufacturers) "We can thoroughly recommend DPA. David Potter is just the kind of level-headed, reassuring accountant you need when dealing with HM Revenue and Customs." (Music industry) "As a company we are beginning to grow, but we have only been able to come this far with the help of some very sound advice and assistance from our accountants (DPA) and some very respected suppliers. We are excited about the future and I just wanted to let you know how much your support has been appreciated. I hope both of our companies enjoy a prosperous 2009" (UPVC doors and windows manufacturer)03 June 2009 11:09http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/About_Us.aspxOur Philosophy To provide the best possible service To aim to continually exceed our clients expectations To suggest ideas to improve profits and help your business grow To pride the professional expertise in order to proactively identify opportunities and provide solutions To be an indispensible part of your business This is done by Making the time to really listen to the needs of our clients Employing qualified individuals with a zest for business Investing in I.Ttraining. Background: Our company was formed in 1995 to offer Management Accountancy services to local limited companies. Since then the practice has grown to providing a diverse range of services to all types of business. In this time we have come to realise that whilst there is a need for the traditional services that accountants currently offer, there is much more that can be done to help our customers develop themselves and their businesses. We have identified a knowledge gap in many small and medium sized enterprises that cannot affordfull-time financial expertise but would benefit from someone on hand to answer their day-to-day problems. We can fill this gap by becoming a virtual Financial Director. We want to understand your business, how it works, what problems it has and, most importantly, how we can assist you in taking it forward. "The most elegant forms of managerial decisions involve problems that never have to be solved because they are prevented from occurring. They are anticipated and sidestepped. Oddly, there is greater appreciation for a manager who can step in and cope with a problem after it happens, than one who can make it not happen. Coping is visible and dramatic. Prevention is unpopular, because it usually means changing something that is not yet failing: it is thankless, because the only testimony of its effectiveness is a non-event. Even so, the deliberate non-catastrophe is one of the most impressive contributions a manager can make." James Martin We also have associates who can offer highly specialised and cost effective services: Sage Software Solutions A Sage dealer since 1992, our IT systems have been designed, installed and implemented throughout the North & Midlands. On site SAGE training using "Live" data is a feature of our service, enabling training programs to be tailored to specific customer requirements. Independent VAT Advice Our Vat specialist,a member of the Institute of Indirect Taxation and of the VATPractitioner's Group, has over 20 years experience, including 12 years gained in the employof HM Customs & Excise providing advice on all aspects of VAT including:- VAT Planning - Land and Property Transactions, VAT grouping of companies, improvingVAT recovery and cash flow. Assessment Reviews - Negotiating with local VAT office and preparing and presentingTribunal appeals. Partial exemption - Devising special methods to enhance input tax recovery.03 June 2009 11:01http://dpaccounting.co.uk/Content/Home.aspxWe're about more than just numbers Delivering benefits to our clients Of course we do what you would expect of any leading firm of Chartered Management Accountants, (a full listing of our products and services can be found by clicking on this link), but we believe that what you really want to know is “What are the benefits to me?” Here are just some of them: Fixed price fees, with no ‘surprises’, so you can have complete peace of mind. Monthly payment plans to spread the cost and help you budget. Unlimited telephone access to our entire team, with absolutely no jargon or confusing ‘accountant-speak’. An end to stress and worry in dealing with your accounts, payroll, taxation, Vat and Company Secretarial work, We'll take the strain, allowing you more time to spend on the things that are important to your business and your personal life. Avoid penalties. HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House have recently updated their penalty regime. Did you know that the taxman impose fines of up to 100% for each error, and £100 per overdue month on annual payroll declarations not filed by 9th May. Companies House can charge £1000 for not filing a Limited Companies Annual Return, which only costs £15 to file online! Keep the taxman at bay by filing your tax and VAT returns on time. We will ensure that you receive EARLY warning of payments due to HMRC, thereby enablingyou to pay your tax liabilities on time and limit the possibility of a tax inspection. Of course there are no guarantees that you will not be subjected to a FULL investigation, and for this reason we offer affordable Professional Fee Protection insurance to cover the costs of providing support during the investigation process. Click on this link. All your accounts will include a one-page business review. Accurate and timely financial information will allow you to take action sooner, plan better, help you raise finance, and give you increased credibility and credit ratings with your bank, financiers, suppliers etc. Good office location with ample free parking. Oh yes - and finally we are just plain nice to deal with! Financial Services Looking for a review of your Investments, pension & Savings plans? Want to secure your family’s future financial wealth? Click on the logo below to find out about our dedicated IFA03 June 2009 11:00