comment PQ
CONTENTS
September 2019
News 06CIMA breaks mould Institute
27CIMA update In-depth
08CIPFA exams All the results
28AAT exams How to pass the
scraps exemption fees
from the latest exam sitting 10ACCA pass rates What was good and what was bad in June 12Tech news Our digital update Features, etc 05Mind your Ps&Qs More on tackling mental health issues; doing more for CIMAs; and the best of PQ’s social media 15Non controlling interest Tom Clendon explains everything you need to know about NCI
16PQ survey The results of our exclusive mental wellbeing survey make fascinating – and sobering – reading
18Wellness initiative The ICB is introducing a new programme to keep its members happy; and why new media will revolutionise the learning process
20ACCA tips Exam advice from the experts at BPP
23Interview What makes top tutor Sunil Bhandair tick?
24CIPFA spotlight Meet new education boss Chris Glennie; and going carbon neutral
25Audit and technology Don’t fear the future
26The troubleshooter Break even analysis explained
analysis on CIMA’s decision to scrap exemption fees Professional Synoptic exam
29Careers Life at the Aster Group; Sports Direct’s woes; and our book club review
30Fun stuff – and our fantastic giveaways The columnists Robert Bruce Has office life really changed over the years? 6 Prem Sikka Shadow banking is a big threat to the economy 8 Zoe Robinson Motivation is the key to success in your career 10 Mike Day Tech offers accountants amazing new insights 12 Subscribe to PQ magazine It’s FREE – go to www.pqmagazine.com SEPTEMBER 2019 ISSUE Total Distribution
30,424 Publisher’s statement: We send both a paper and digital issue to a controlled database each month. The above figure is the combined total of issues sent out this month. Free to subscribers who fulfil our terms of control Annual subscription: £35 (£50 overseas)
One website to rule them all Well, we finally did it – we’ve updated our website (thanks Ed!). We still have all that great content, but think you will have a much better experience when you come to visit us online. If you haven’t been recently then go to pqmagazine.com. There are also plans for a bit more interaction, too. Think podcasts here! But it won’t end there… What will always be the case, though, is that we will be first with the news that matters. This month’s PQ magazine is no exception. We have the big news from CIMA about the scrapping of exemption fees (pages 6 and 27). The pressure will now be on the other bodies to follow suit. There’s the news about where the ACCA is launching its first CBE Strategic exams come March next year. London will not be included in the list until June 2020 (see page 7). The ICAEW has also come forward to explain what happened in its Tax Compliance exams. Well done to the institute for taking a really positive open approach to this problem. Then there’s the AAT confusing students when it posted its FA19 tax reference material. Don’t worry – you won’t need them until 2020. And we have the ‘upskirting’ PwC accountant and ex-PQ convicted of attempted murder. Wellbeing survey results We also have the results from our groundbreaking wellbeing survey. It seems the accountancy bodies, employers and even some tutors need to up their game. Some 68% of respondents believe the bodies need to do more to safeguard students’ wellbeing. Let’s see how they respond. Some things never change Finally, I loved the piece by ACCA’s Antonis Diolas about how fear and lack of trust in technological progress has always been there (see page 25). As he says the challenge for us today is not to fear the change, but to embrace it, and “use it for the best advantages possible and help create the technological future we want.” Well said, Antonis. Graham Hambly, PQ magazine editor (graham@pqaccountant.com)
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