Fun The lighter side of life; and more great PQ giveaways

What is the ideal Christmas present for the accountant in your life? This was one of the questions asked at the recent ‘Tomorrow’s World – a brighter future for accountants?’ roundtable. ACCA’s Claire Bennison suggested a day at the spa, CIPFA’s Kirsty Stanners said she loved the heated blanket she received last year – it’s much colder WFH rather than in a nice warm office. Eintech’s Anna Kate Phelan said a cup that says ‘It’s accrual world’ would be the ideal stocking gift. LSBU’s Ivor Pingue would plant a tree and, finally, there was a more practical gift idea from David Frederick: “A lifetime subscription for eye tests because of all the screen work we have been doing!”

Check out the roundtable discussion at https://tinyurl.com/2p8857zd

Witch Hunt

If you are looking for something new to watch on TV then PQ would recommend Witch Hunt, an award-winning corporate crime drama from Norway. Star of the show is Ingrid Bolso who plays Ida Waage, a CFO at a top law firm. A by-the-book accountant, her problems start when she’s asked to pay a big invoice from a consultancy firm called Klant. Where, she asks, are the accounting records? Things just don’t add up. OK, we have to wait 30 minutes in episode one before Ida gets out her calculator, but she’s prepared to put her career on the line to discover the truth. Witch Hunt is available on Channel 4’s Walter Presents and is up there with Follow the Money, a Danish financial crime thriller. Who can forget the Swede?

Picture perfect

Top writer Ian Rankin recently swapped his eight-bedroom Victorian house in Edinburgh for a three-bedroom flat in the Quartermile development. Not surprisingly he has lots of books in his house. He also collects 20th century Scottish art. When he started making money his accountant told him: “If you want to buy art, buy art. At least you’ll be looking at your money.” Sensible advice.

Albert the Abacus

We are always on the lookout for accountants in films. Well, we found one in The French Dispatch, be it ever so briefly! He’s ‘Albert the Abacus’, a prisoner and underworld accountant, played by none other than Willem Dafoe. We loved the film, so it’s another ‘PQ recommendation’. If you loved The Grand Budapest Hotel you will love this.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:

Boxer, activist, raconteur and poet Muhammad Ali: “I don’t trust anyone who’s nice to me but rude to the waiter, because they would treat me the same way if I were in that position.”

The Accountant 2 gets green light

Director Gavin O’Conner has confirmed that The Accountant 2 film is back on the agenda. There is even talk of a whole franchise – well, The Accountant 3 anyway! PQ magazine was there at the London premier of the original film with accountant Peter Stewart. The 2016 film starred Ben Affleck as the accountant in the spotlight. He played Christian Wolff, someone very good at his job who also killed ‘not very nice people’. We are hoping fellow accountant Anna Kendrick will also be staring in the sequel. PQ magazine loved the first movie, and although it received mixed reviews it grossed $155 million worldwide. In April 2018 it was reportedly the top-rented film of 2017 – for both disc and digital.

I’m a chartered accountant!

How do you convince your mum that you earned your money the right way? In a recent interview sports promoter Barry Hearn said: “When I came through there wasn’t anything I wasn’t prepared to do. I tried to keep it legal, otherwise my mum would have told me off. She stood out on the patio outside this office in 1982 and looked at me. I had just bought this place and she said: ‘Are you doing anything illegal?’ I said: ‘Mum, I’m a chartered accountant. We make terrible gangsters.’ I’m a Cinderella story.”

’ W E V E G O T T H E L O T

Can you break even?

PQ magazine was out and about this month. We were sent to Coventry (not for the first time) to the AccountingWEB Live Expo, and came back with a bag full of goodies! Our fav has to be AutoEntry’s ‘Break Even’ t-shirt. They also have one that says ‘Rec’ n Roll’! Well, we have three t-shirts (one small and two XL) to giveaway. The lucky winners will also receive a pair of AccountingWEB bamboo socks! To win one of the three t-shirts on offer email your name and address to giveaways@pqmagazine.com. Head up this email ‘Break Even’ and you will be entered for this month’s prize draw. Do say if you want a small or XL one!

Killer Su Doku

We have 150 lethal puzzles for you this month – each with extra internal cages! The Times Killer Su Doku 3 offers all advanced Su Doku enthusiasts a worthy challenge. Well, that’s the promise.

Warm up with moderate puzzles, then steel yourself to take on the Tricky and Tough levels. This prize comes with a warning: not suitable for the amateur puzzler! To win one of the three books on offer just send us an email with your name and address to giveaways@ pqmagazine.com. Head up that email ‘Killer Su Doku’ and we will do the rest.

Terms and conditions: One entry per giveaway please. You must send your name and address to be entered for the draw. All giveaway entries must be received by Friday 14 January 2022. The main draw will take place on Monday 17 January 2022. TO ENTER THESE GIVEAWAYS EMAIL GIVEAWAYS@PQMAGAZINE.COM