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Growth Newsletter

Edition 438 – Ethical Standards

An accountant is approached by a potential client for help with their compliance matters. The client is late with their prior year’s tax returns and needs things undertaken as soon as possible. The reason for the hurry is not because the authorities are chasing them up. The client needs finance for a property they’re purchasing and, as part of the loan process, copies of most recent tax returns are required. That, in itself, is probably the first warning sign.

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Edition 437 – Behind The Numbers

I have a saying that’s almost become a philosophy – “Numbers are reasons in disguise”. I’ve long subscribed to the fact that the financial statements, nor the accounting systems maintained by most small and family businesses, tell the full story of what’s happening inside of that business.

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Edition 435 – Deliberate Recalibration

In some ways, 2023 was a bit of a blur. Once we’d returned from our New Zealand cruise in early April, it was pedal to the metal. Lots of client work to get on with. Plenty of new assignments that we started on. Speaking to various groups locally and internationally. By the time Christmas rolled around, it felt like I hadn’t stopped all year.

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Edition 434 – Common Courtesy

I’m at an event and spot someone in the distance. I offer a wave, and one is returned. We make our way through the crowd, occasionally interrupted on our journey, to say hello to some others. Eventually, we meet up with the individual in question, and, being the first time they’ve met each other, I introduce my wife. A brief hello from them, is then met with a 180 degree pivot – the turning of the back.

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