home  news  study zone  career advice  pq awards  free mag  advertise  contact  nq mag PQ magazine is for part qualified accountants. Read the latest web issue here – if you like what you see sign up today Careers Star quality Could you be ICAEW’s #CharteredStar 2019? The ICAEW explains all here Jobs at risk from AI More than one in three (39.4%) of accounting and legal jobs in England are currently under threat from automation Time for an upgrade? Over a fifth (22%) of finance bosses admit they are working with out-of-date accounting software, while 16% said their current systems do not allow them to use early payment discounts. Five tips for success It’s natural, to evaluate your current employment situation from time to time and wonder if it might be time for a change. Some will look back on the previous 12 months and decide to seek the success that they’re striving for with another company AI: myth or reality? Artificial intelligence is causing dramatic changes in the workplace – but how could it affect you Narayanan Vaidyanathan explains all TIME TO SPLIT AUDIT FROM CONSULTANCY This time it’s for real, this time there appears to be sustained political pressure to change the UK audit profession forever. Blockchain your certificates ICAS has revealed it is trialing the use of blockchain technology to issue digital certificates to its newly qualifieds, New challengers for audit work Tech firms look set to challenge the traditional accountancy firms’ dominance of the audit market, says new analysis from Source Global Research. Working together A scheme aimed at promoting access to the profession for young people from diverse background boasts a proud track record. Smooth transition is the key to Brexit ACCA still calling for clarity when it comes to the dreaded ‘B’ word! Is apprentice programme in trouble? The government, and Department for Education in particular, have “some way to go” before they can demonstrate that the apprenticeships programme is achieving value for money, says the National Audit Office. Taking stock - by air PwC has completed its first stock count audit using drone technology. Here’s how... CIMA blueprint for the future The future is digital and CIMA is re shaping its syllabus to ensure its PQs are future-proofed. Graduate vacancies on the rise The UK’s top employers are increasing their graduate vacancies by 9.1% in 2019 Finance teams need new digital skillset Finance teams lack the digital skillset to embrace the latest advancements in AI, says a new study from the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and Oracle. Get that hour back The average professional spends over a quarter (28%) of their working day reading and answering emails, according to analysis from McKinsey. Future-proofed AS CIMA launches its 2019 syllabus we talk to Andrew Harding, chief executive of management accounting at the AICPA Adapt and thrive An exciting career in accountancy awaits - but what skills will tomorrow's accountants need to possess? That was one of the key questions speakers tackled at our 'Careers in Accountancy: Your career, your future' conference One in five accountants ready to quit Some 19% of accountants think about quitting their job every two to three weeks, claims new research from CABA. Life is Sweet for Part Qualifieds We live in turbulent times, but it appears there is no let-up in demand for PQ and NQ accountants, says Hays Accountancy & Finance’s Karen Young. Deloitte purges 20 partners for 'inappropriate behaviour' Deloitte has fired 20 UK partners over the past four years for inappropriate behaviour, including bullying and sexual harassment, according to CEO David Sproul. The unprofessionals Elaine Clarke deplores inappropriate behaviour in any form in the workplace and urges a rethink in attitudes Predictions for 2019 CABA’s Kelly Feehan does a bit of crystal ball gazing on what the major workplace wellbeing trends for 2019 will be, and why employers should think about them seriously. Public sector 'inclusive' Finance professionals working in the public sector are more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds - says ACCA Add another string to your bow with payroll expertise The ICB’s Garry Carter outlines the importance of payroll for sound financial management Payroll is an important element of financial management. Getting the right balance Karen Johnston argues that the more women there are in senior levels in the public sector, both in the UK and overseas, the better it will be for all of us Future Finance The recent London South Bank University / PQ Magazine conference - entitled 'The Dark Side of Accounting' - includes a number of fascinating sessions on the future of the profession. Here we focus on Peter Simons' presentation o digital technologies' impact on accountancy Coaching Counts - Part II Here is Part 2 of Ashim Kumar’s article on the importance of coaching for accountants. Check out Part 1, which featured in last month’s career advice You're FIRED! Accountants fear being sacked, according to survey by CV-Library ALL ‘GENERATION Z’ WANTS IS STABILITY Accountancy recruiters everywhere can breathe a huge sigh of relief – Generation Z love the idea of becoming a professional accountant! No more final interview EY is removing the conventional ‘one-to-one’ final interview and will instead conclude its recruitment process with an ‘assessment event’. Star quality Ricardo Pereira explains how the ICB qualification has opened doors for him Coaching Counts In part one of a two-part series, top tutor Ashim Kumar explains the importance of coaching for accountants Nail that SKYPE interview Skype interviews offer employers the benefits of a phone call with the advantages of assessing your interpersonal skills and body language, writes Ethan Cumming. Here’s six tips to help you nail your next video interview… Fake degree scam ACCA has cracked down hard on a number of students who all claimed to have been awarded degrees from Middlesex University that were obvious forgeries. Average salaries reach record levels Salaries for accounting roles across the UK saw a massive jump of 8.8% in September, when compared with data from the same period in 2017. Brexit recruitment boom for graduates next year Graduates leaving university next summer will find a plethora of jobs in the public sector, according to figures in The Times’ ‘Top 100 Graduate Employers’ survey. Accountancy has a future The need for an accountancy qualification will be as relevant in 10 years’ time as it is today, claims big data expert Sam Ellis. Why you must understand the importance of robotics Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is here to stay. Clive Webb explains what it is and how it may affect you, and offers some top tips on how to get involved. The superpowered accountant Last year we brought you Tick, the accountancy superhero – now we have found Pawan, the accounting demigod! The charm of the public sector Lindie Engelbrecht joined CIPFA this summer as the new education chief. PQ magazine editor Graham Hambly went to see what she’s got planned Five long years and still going Over 170,000 accountancy trainees are still studying five years after they first signed up to their professional accountancy body. KPMG graduate programmes are now open for business KPMG in the UK has opened applications for its 2019 graduate programmes for the audit and tax, pensions and legal services practices. Women of substance #ICB100Women celebrates the Representation of the People Act centenary. PQ decided to profile some of these inspiring bookkeepers KEY FACTS AND TRENDS We take an in-depth look at the Financial Reporting Council’s annual report on the state of the accountancy profession Got the wrong degree? Over a third (38.5%) of accounting graduates admit that they have regrets about their degree choice. Anyone for an audit career? The auditing sector (in Holland) could lose over half of its trainees within two years. Qualification is still key Just 6% of CFOs believe that industry experience is more important than qualifications. The seven-year hitch Women in accountancy and finance take seven more years than their male counterparts to reach executive level How to be a big game player The summer season hasn’t been short of eventful moments in the UK Revolution from within A revolution is taking place in local government today, not just within the UK but globally Make your job stand out Pressure on organisations to recruit the best accountancy and finance talent continues to intensify. Come to the dark side Following the success of our inaugural conference, PQ magazine is again joining forces with London South Bank University to put on a leading edge one-day conference. So make sure you put 28 November 2018 in your diary. ‘The sky’s the limit’ We caught up with Jaye Snell of Exe Bookkeeping and Payroll Services, a distance learning student with the ICB How to get your small business off the ground Steven Drew explains the importance of having a proper marketing plan Reinventing finance for a digital world Dr Noel Tagoe was the opening act of our recent careers conference. Here’s how he sees the future… Networking works April Warrier of RSM UK has some top advice on how to build your network Be a storyteller, students told Anyone entering the accountancy profession must understand that being good with numbers and doing the accounts isn’t what the future profession will be about (and perhaps never was). First impressions matter Poor first impressions mean UK employers are losing out on hard-to-find finance professionals, says a new survey from Hays Accountancy & Finance. Don’t tax the robots, says AAT The AAT has firmly condemned recommendations to tax workplace robots, despite the accountancy sector facing rapid automation and increased use of AI. More support needed around mental health A worrying 71% of accounting professionals believe employers are just not doing enough to support good mental health at work. Managing talent is vital to saving the public sector These are worrying times for the public sector but, as Alex Metcalfe reports it’s not all doom and gloom. It's diversity – get over it! The ICAEW has put diversity at the top of its agenda with the launch of a new online Diversity Community. A call to action Accountant Elaine Clark has launched a Women in Accountancy group and is asking fellow female professionals to provide their input into a survey about their experiences in accountancy. Is diversity stalling? Ethnic diversity at the top 10 accountancy firms has stalled, showing little growth over the past two years, according to a new study by Accountancy magazine. Were some overseas students wrongly deported? Many thousands of overseas students could be entitled to compensation after a landmark immigration tribunal ruling. Say hello to your robot colleagues Half of accountants would feel comfortable working alongside a ‘robot colleague’, according to new research from FreeAgent. Apprenticeship Levy: one year on David Fields looks at how the first 12 months of the controversial Apprenticeship Levy has panned out The future accountant Andrew Williamson has a vision about what the accountant of the future will look like Career paths are not clear Too many young finance professionals in the public sector are being left in the dark about their potential career paths, says a new report from the ACCA. TEN TOP TIPS George Acquah was the star turn to the ACA prize-giving ceremony, where he gave the winners his ’10 things to leave you with’ ICAEW: the letters matter A professional designation can set you apart, standing you in good stead throughout your career You are being stalked! Do you feel like you are being stalked? Well, that could be the case, as a third of recruiters say they regularly use social media to ‘research’ potential candidates. CIMA the choice for Big 4 The Big 4 accountancy firms are now recruiting a lot more CIMA PQs than ACCA ones, according to the recent Accountancy magazine survey. Is a recruitment squeeze coming? Trainee numbers at the Top 75 UK accounting firms are being squeezed, with the total number of trainees growing by just 2.8% in 2017, according to the latest comprehensive survey from Accountancy magazine. Closing the pay gap The Big 4 firms recently released new pay gap figures that included partners for the first time. So, how do they look? Cryptocurrencies: so what do you know? Accountancy professionals need to better understand cryptocurrencies, says Narayanan Vaidyanathan How to be our PQ of the Year We spoke to our recently crowned PQ of the Year, Tyson Nsimbe, about what makes him tick How to get your small business off the ground Darren Nicholls explains the ins and outs of running your business from your home Association unveils new jobs shake-up PQ has discovered that The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (The Association), the body formed by CIMA and its US partner the AICPA, has begun an extensive business transformation programme. Big 4 firms are good for you The Big 4 accountancy firms are a great place to work, but they wreak havoc with your work-life balance, according to the key findings of a new ACCA 'Generation Next' study. The write stuff Meet Jean-Paul Noel-Cephise, former accountant and author of 7 Deadly Dates Make your mark Alan Hatfield tells you exactly what you need to know to improve your leadership skills Labour Party’s McDonnell takes aim at the Big 4 accountancy firms Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell says the large accountancy firms need to take a new ‘Hippocratic Oath’ to maximise the amount of tax their clients pay. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, McDonnell said the Big 4 were not doing enough to tackle tax avoidance. And he warned public anger over this issue was building. Bringing finance into the digital age PQ magazine sits down for one of its regular chats with the man in charge of the ongoing CIMA syllabus review, Noel Tagoe Accountancy must lead the way when it come to equality of opportunity The UK’s accountancy profession needs to change so it reflects the society it services – and a new ACCA survey highlights this point, says Maggie McGhee Don’t fall prey to the identity thieves Corporate identity theft is on the increase so it falls on us all to be vigilant. The case study here outlines a fictional scenario involving identity theft and offers some talking points and courses of action Ready for the fourth industrial revolution? PQ dropped into the ICAEW HE conference to hear how the future might look for today’s trainee accountants MPs grill FRC chief on Carillion collapse The FRC’s Stephen Haddrill recently answered questions from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Works and Pensions committees. Here are extracts of the best bits… ACCA now 200,000 strong ACCA recently reached an impressive milestone – its 200,000th member. EY graduates to become apprentices EY has announced that it will be transforming its graduate programme in 2018 by offering apprenticeships to both existing students and new joiners. Eligible graduates will now have to work towards their professional accountancy qualification and a government-led Level 7 Apprenticeship in Accountancy and Taxation. The cost of qualifying CIMA’s three-tier exam fee system means UK students now pay £390 more than their colleagues in South Africa to sit the professional qualification exams. A matter of trust Professional membership of the ACCA is all about trust, says Claire Bennison AAT unveils three new qualifications AAT has launched three qualifications for those are aiming to take their first steps into a career in finance. Do accountants have a future? The robots are coming, but the big question is, will they be taking your accountancy job? Rise of the regions More and more graduates are looking to start their careers outside London, according to the latest stats. All the sacrifice is worth it in the end PQ has a guest editor this month – Craig Coda. Here he offers some top tips on how to study effectively You’ve been hacked! Ken Witt explains the growing role of the management accountant when it comes to protecting against cyber attacks One out of 20 not a great stat Just one of the UK’s 20 largest accounting firms is led by an executive with a Black, Asian and minority ethic (BAME) background, says Green Park and Operation Black Vote (OBV). Chelsea star with a plan B Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante has revealed that he is a trained accountant. CIPFA and the AAT create apprenticeship pathway CIPFA and the AAT have teamed up to provide the complete public finance apprenticeship pathway. Ethics survey shows there’s more to do A new report from ACCA exposes a worrying level of unethical behaviour in the workplace in the UK. ACCA’s Brian McEnery explains all Subscribe to RSS