The GAAPweb blog: How to tackle competency-based interviews

Pension law changes

This link goes to a fairly brief summary of the changes and employers' obligations but don't panic as this is the timetable (so far):

Staging date timeline

Use the table below to get an idea of when the new law will apply to you. The date your duties will start is known as your 'staging date'. The dates below are indicative. Actual staging dates will be based on the number of people in an employer's PAYE scheme on 1 April 2012.

You'll need to have details of your PAYE scheme to hand, including the reference number(s) and the size of your PAYE scheme. If you have more than one PAYE scheme, your duties will all start together from the staging date that comes first.

Employer (by PAYE scheme size or other description)	Staging date
120,000 or more	1 October 2012
50,000-119,999	1 November 2012
30,000-49,999	1 January 2013
20,000-29,999	1 February 2013
10,000-19,999	1 March 2013
6,000-9,999	1 April 2013
4,100-5,999	1 May 2013
4,000-4,099	1 June 2013
3,000-3,999	1 July 2013
2,000-2,999	1 August 2013
1,250-1,999	1 September 2013
800-1,249	1 October 2013
500-799	1 November 2013
350-499	1 January 2014
250-349	1 February 2014
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 92, A1-A9, AA-AZ, B1-B9, BA-BY, M1-M9, MA-MZ, Z1-Z9 or ZA-ZZ	1 March 2014
240-249	1 April 2014
150-239	1 May 2014
90-149	1 June 2014
50-89	1 July 2014
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers BZ	1 August 2014
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 00-01	1 September 2014
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 02-04	1 October 2014
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 05-07, 0A-0Z, C1-C9, CA-CZ, D1-D9 or DA-DZ	1 November 2014
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 08-11, 1A-1Z, E1-E9 or EA-EZ	1 January 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 12-15, 2A-2Z, F1-F9, FA-FZ, G1-G9 or GA-GZ	1 February 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 16-20, 3A-3Z, H1-H9 or HA-HZ	1 March 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers I1-I9, IA-IZ	1 April 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 21-25, 4A-4Z, J1-J9 or JA-JZ	1 May 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 26-31, 5A-5Z, K1-K9 or KA-KZ	1 June 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 32-38, 6A-6Z, L1-L9 or LA-LZ	1 July 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers N1-N9 or NA-NZ	1 August 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 39-47, 7A-7Z, O1-O9, OA-OZ, P1-P9 or PA-PZ	1 September 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 48-57, 8A-8Z, Q1-Q9, QA-QZ, R1-R9, RA-RZ, S1-S9, SA-SZ, T1-T9 or TA-TZ	1 October 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 58-69, 9A-9Z, U1-U9, UA-UZ, V1-V9, VA-VZ, W1-W9, WA-WZ	1 November 2015
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 70-83, X1-X9, XA-XZ, Y1-Y9 or YA-YZ	1 January 2016
Less than 50 with the last 2 characters in their PAYE reference numbers 84-91 or 93-99	1 February 2016

Excel Range Names

Everything you need to know about Excel range names | AccountingWEB.com

Keynote speech (video) on Cloud Accounting

More about the Cloud from CIMA.  Watched the first clip - more for watching later.

Financial Forecasting

Have spent last 3 weeks working on detailed forecasts for large client using Excel.  Although the spreadsheets are not technically that complex, their size and the complexity of the business is calling for some fast learning.  Data inconsistencies have called for some spreadsheetery to make best sense and improve forecasts of future.

What is Cloud Computing

CIMA CPD event that completely changed my view of Cloud Computing.

I had thought of Cloud Computing in fragmented terms with each application being in a separate cloud eg Gmail, Evernote etc.  This opened my eyes to the advantages of having a single private cloud.

The disadvantages of the fragmented cloud are:

1. You do not know where your data is and it may be hard to back it up (not an issue with Evernote) and although Google's reputation depends on protecting my data, if there is a problem I have no redress.
2. May not have control over version control

Advantages of personal cloud are:

1. Clear where data is and option exists for backups.
2. Running desk top applications from cloud.  I would have licences for applications and could run them from my own server or another cloud supplier if fell out with first one.

Effect is very much like having outsourced IT.  This could be very much of interest for running small to medium sized offices, although not of interest to me at present since much of the time I am working directly onto clients' systems.

Presentation was by System Host which came across as a very credible and competent supplier.

Further details (sorry requires password as contains confidential and copyright information).