Have your say It’s just too darn hot for the ICAEW exams;

Too darn hot!

The UK has seen record-breaking summer temperatures again, so why does the ICAEW persist in making advanced level students sit their exams at this time? It’s too darn hot.

We think it is unfair, but no one seems to listen to our needs and wishes, so we are asking PQ magazine for help! Professional level exams are held four times a year in cooler months, but the final exams are held twice a year in November and then in July. Curiously, that is not even six months apart – if ICAEW kept the November exams where they are then the summer exams would be May (when it’s cooler).

I understand students are calling for the ICAEW to conduct an independent student survey.

I can tell them that the answer will come back loud and clear to move the exams to May. My concern is that the timetable suits the ICAEW and they will claim employers don’t want change, but that’s not fair. The ICAEW has to look seriously at this question. It must put students’ welfare at the top of its list. Name and email address supplied

The Editor says: We have talked to the ICAEW about this and they have promised they are on the case. We were a little concerned, however, when we heard that any changes can’t happen until 2024. That seems like a long time away. We will try to keep the pressure on and know the Student Council will make its voice heard.

Our star letter writer wins a fantastic ‘I love PQ’ mug!

Kissing school

Can I ask why you squirreled away the story about accountants being the best kissers on page 10 of the latest issue (PQ magazine, August 2022)? I am a little concerned personally because as well as being an accountant I am also a civil servant. That means I am both top and bottom of the list. However, in truth I have been told my kissing is pretty good. OK, it doesn’t happen often because I am married to an accountant and she is a great kisser.

But it is great to see us top of a list that really matters. Perhaps we should set up a kissing school to show everyone how it is done! Name and email address supplied The Editor says: I will take your word for it. A kissing school sounds like a great idea!

Fine not big enough

What is wrong with auditors? Are they trying to drag the whole profession into the dirt? I could not believe your story about the huge fine for EY for staff cheating on their ethics exam (PQ magazine, August 2022, page 8).

You couldn’t make it up. And for them to then deny they knew anything about it when they did, is just unbelievable. As the SEC man said it is “simply outrageous that the very professionals responsible for catching cheating by clients cheated on ethics exams”.

I don’t think the $100 million fine was enough. None of those EY staff should be allowed near any audits until they have been re-educated.

If they think it was OK to do that what else do they think is OK to do? No wonder auditors have such a bad rap. Name and email address supplied

Accountant, keynote speaker and author Carl Reader, he of ‘Boss It’ fame, was at a roundtable hosted by Lord Blunkett recently, when during the conversation it cropped up about the protection of the word ‘accountant’. It was apparent that the majority of the room (nonaccountants) were not aware that someone could just set up as an accountant today, with no training, and no regulator. He wondered on LinkedIn if it was something that surprised his fellow accountants, too.

He said: “Apparently c. 35% of accountants are ‘unregulated’ (i.e. not a member of a Chartered Institute etc). But as Eriona Bajrakurtaj mentioned, this is probably understated as the very worst file fictional figures as if they were the business owner.”

Carl went on: “This is now a bee in my bonnet, as I feel business owners should at the very least expect credibility and some form of assurance that things are done properly.”

We don’t think Carl is going to let this one drop!

We also realised we haven’t provided you with any pictures of cats studying for their accountancy exams recently, so here’s a new one that really

doesn’t want their owner anywhere near their PM notes…

Have you heard of ‘the capsule wardrobe’? Well, on LinkedIn Richard Roy Mendonce revealed for the last 550 days he has been wearing a white shirt and black trousers to work every single day! We were intrigued, but not enough to try it out. More on this in next month’s issue.

PQ Magazine PO Box 75983, London E11 9GS | Phone: 07765 386489 | Email: graham@pqmagazine.com Website: www.pqmagazine.com | Editor/publisher: Graham Hambly graham@pqmagazine.com | Associate editor: Adam Riches | Art editor: Tim Parker Contributors: Robert Bruce, Prem Sikka, Lisa Nelson, Anna Kate Phelan, Tony Kelly, Phil Gammon, Edward Netherton | Subscriptions: subscriptions@pqmagazine.com | Origination services by Classified Central Media If you have any problems with delivery, or if you want to change your delivery address, please email admin@pqmagazine.com Published by PQ Publishing Ltd © PQ Publishing 2022