Welcome
Bookended by two Bank Holidays, May has meant holidays, hitting the road and having great times at ICS. With the sunshine finally getting the memo, we’ve been enjoying getting out for fresh-air activities, summer crafts, and some very local nature-watching! With networking events, partner agency meetups, and some vital warnings about spotting unscrupulous attempts to circumvent regulation and compliance (which could put YOU at risk), grab a spritzer and read on!
Office Insight
Moving into rolling holiday season (we’ll name-and-envy later), we kept up the dedication and focus on the home front, continuing to hit record sales and contractor payments. It’s important to have days where the whole sales team rest their train apps and hit Head Office to update, collaborate, support celebrate and motivate each other (with some friendly challenges!). In line with the launch of JSL legislation, we launched our new Compliance Portal, further enhancing our Agency partner services, providing the full transparency and peace of mind that’s the ICS USP.
Welcomes & Well Dones
Welcome Luke Gregson, qualified accountant starting his ICS Accountancy journey. Due to our expanding reputation and client portfolio, we’re continuing to recruit, revelling in offering not just jobs but training, professional qualifications and rewarding career opportunities in our hometown. Well done to Kim and Nathan for passing their AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) exams.
Welcome back from maternity leave to ICS Finance Director Maggie. And a huge well done to Maggie’s eldest, helping his football team bring home the League Cup, and being named Player of the Match. Nothing beats supporting local clubs, grassroots sport, and community initiatives.
Getting Crafty, Horsing Around
We’re all about the details, which we put to the test with a glass painting workshop, organised by our social team. Great for mindfulness- and now we’ve got pretty glassware for cheeky après-office Prosecco! Providing support in more ways than one, DIY supremo Colin put together a riser desk that, at the time of writing, is still standing…
A fabulous day at the Races with our friends from AMB Recruitment Group, award-winning construction, engineering and technical recruitment specialists, thanks to Megan for whipping the ICS contingent over the line- we even celebrated a few winners!
Out & About
Jodie and Helen attended the FCSA forum (Freelancer & Contractor Services Association) in Manchester. The UK’s leading professional membership body dedicated to raising standards and ensuring compliance within the contractor market, it was a day of great networking and thought-provoking compliance presentations; lots of valuable takeaways.
As usual, our sterling sales and partnership teams were out and about, including Alison and Kieran heading to London, and Megan taking Michaela to meet some of her fantastic agencies and clients. Nothing strengthens that genuine personal relationship like putting faces to names and catching up in person, so if you’re in the market for a meetup, drop your ICS partner a message, and we’ll drop in!
Holidays & Hitting the Pavements
Staff heading off on well-deserved sunny breaks included Alison, Kieran and Colin, returning refreshed and raring to go. We understand there was much selfless auditing of various bars and all-inclusive buffets!
Putting us all to shame, ICS Management Accountant Luke ran the Blackpool Festival Marathon, finishing an incredible 73rd out of 673 runners with a time of 3:13:17- a huge well done!
Award Nominations are In
It’s that (dreaded) time again- awards nomination, where we have to distil and shout up what we do. Always a bit squirm-inducing, but if you do something great, there’s no shame in receiving recognition- and spreading the word. It’s actually a valuable exercise in taking pride in what we have achieved, passing on well-deserved thanks- and identifying how we can stretch ourselves further. The forms are in, so it’s fingers crossed. Awards are great, but just the icing on the cake of what we love driving for, every day.
View From the Window
‘Springwatch’ is back on the TV, but we’ve got our own Nature Corner at ICS, with compliance admin Jamie enjoying front-row seat to a burgeoning wood-pigeon nest.
Beware of Imitations!
Unsurprisingly but sadly, just weeks after the enforced JSL legislation, we’re already hearing reports of unscrupulous businesses pushing products which supposedly circumvent it. When HMRC inevitably catch up with them they’ll disappear, leaving contractors in the lurch and agencies with the liability. Even more reason to choose an accredited accountants for peace of mind, trust, care and compliance. We’re always happy to advise, just get in touch.
Even more worryingly, Chris Bryce, Chief Executive of the FCSA, warns that some increasingly desperate dodgy umbrella companies are claiming to be FCSA Accredited, when nothing of the sort. FCSA Accreditation is awarded only to providers who have passed a regular independent, rigorous audit covering tax compliance, employment law, financial integrity, and supply chain transparency. Luckily, it’s also transparently verifiable: at http://www.fcsa.org.uk/directory-of-members/ (you’ll find ICS there!). If you discover or suspect someone to be claiming false FCSA accreditation, please flag it to them for investigation.
For more up-to-the-minute industry information, regulatory advice and invaluable insights, keep an eye on our regular blog posts.
Wishing you a fabulous midsummer,
Your ICS Accounting Team
