The laughing Taxman - by Ronnie Barker

I found a reference to this song in the delightful Autobiography of The Two Ronnies "And it's goodnight from him..."

Written and sung by Ronnie Barker, it's clever, funny and worth listening to right through to the end. It's only a minute and half long.
Clearly inspired by The Laughing Policeman....

listen to ‘The Laughing Taxman’ on Audioboo

The next recipient of an #INABAaward is Paul Castle

This is another (virtual) award of an INABA to an accountant who operates in such a way as to confirm my contention that ‘Boring Is Optional'.

INABA stands for 'I'm Not A Boring Accountant' - more on the awards here++++ 

Paul was nominated by Kapil (Kaps) Kapur of Fingertips Intelligence. Having met Paul a couple of years ago, I would agree he has an unconventional attitude and approach. Once met, never forgotten!

Paul Castle has six staff in his practice 'Castle Heslop'  (Strapline: 'Innovative accountancy') which operates from offices in London and in Biggin Hill.

On learning of his nomination Paul emailed me to say:

"My career path was set early on in my life after visiting a careers advisory officer who identified I did not have the charisma to succeed as an undertaker.  Still I am pleased that unlike a solicitor I know I am boring. 

So I am not sure why I have been considered for this award.  

Perhaps it is because I like people, enjoy getting to understand what makes them tick and most of all I love solving problems.  I am a very positive, pro-active person who believes my work begins after the "numbers" have been done. Most of all I enjoy preventing clients make unnecessary donations to the HMRC. 

My motto "a positive mind may not solve all your problems but it will annoy enough people to make it worth it".

I then spoke to Paul to get some more serious insights:

Perhaps it is because I like people, enjoy getting to understand what makes them tick and most of all I love solving problems.  I am a very positive, pro-active person who believes my work begins after the "numbers" have been done. Most of all I enjoy preventing clients make unnecessary donations to the HMRC. 

I think a genuine interest in people and business and a lifelong fascination with entrepreneurship means that I see beyond the numbers.  As an accountant I understand the importance of costs, profits, and return on capital employed, but I also understand that profit is a consequence of the right people doing the right things most of the time.  It is the "people" aspect of business that interests me most and not the numbers.  Why are some people ( the lucky few) so good at making money so effortlessly?  This is the question that interests me most. 

I don't believe people/accountants are boring, but some people struggle to communicate their uniqueness because of their natural reserve, their awkwardness, and their inability to put others at ease.  I am respectful of other people, slow to judge, and keep an open mind and work hard to find a common interest with whoever I am speaking with.  A lack of cynicism and a desire to learn help me to dig deep to identify client problems and find holistic solutions often by introducing others with skills different to my own.    

At my core I like people and love their many different ways of viewing the world.  This is why social media is such a natural place for me to express myself.  Asking questions, engaging prospects in debate, banter, humour is not work for me but a form of play.  I am not afraid to express my opinion and don't worry whether people like me.  I think too many people are held back by their fear of people not liking them. My view is that there will always be people that like you and others that don't.  The most important thing is to be true to yourself.

Accounting Rap video: Debits left, Credits right

 
Great video with some good advice for aspiring accountants. 
Congrats to @colindodds on producing this and thanks to @wilkins_Co for sharing it on twitter recently

And the #INABAaward goes to: A singing accountant

I announce the (virtual) award of INABAs to accountants who operate in such a way as to confirm my contention that ‘Boring Is Optional'.

INABA stands for 'I'm Not A Boring Accountant' - more on the awards here++++ 

Louise Herrington combines an unusual range of skills including that of being Professional Singer, Bookkeeper, Chartered Accountant specialising in systems and processes and a Videographer. Her practice name is 'Performance Accountancy' and she specialises in providing bookkeeping and accounting services to self-employed musicians and singers.

I first came across Louise when I was directed to her promotional video which I featured on this blog last week: Now that's what I call a singing accountant!

Louise tells me:

When people talk about me in a referral basis, I seem to get referred to as an accountant with a fun personality and who is not worried about clambering through trade vans trying to find receipts, clearing clients' filing that had not be done for a few years, and really enjoying the work with them. 

The fact that I am also a professional opera singer means I can relate to the more creative clients. 

No I don’t start singing Wagner at my clients premises – unless they ask me of course.

If you are or know an accountant you want to nominate for an INABA, please check the (very simple) criteria here and then let me know via my website: www.BookMarkLee.co.uk 
If I agree I will then ask them to send me a few words setting out their perspective on how they evidence that they're not boring on a day to day basis, and how this is evident to their clients.