Latest News

ACCA exam results are naff!

01/09/10

The ACCA’s Final Admitting Exams – the optional papers – are becoming a massive hurdle to students. The latest exam results show that students sitting the core P1, P2 and P3 papers are doing well (comparatively).

PQ magazine Awards Launch

31/08/10

Do you deserve a PQ magazine award? They will make your CV shine in these tough times. So come on, get the red-carpet treatment at the 2011 awards.

Happy CIPFA sitters

31/08/10

CIPFA is very happy with the latest exam results. In total some 1,395 students took 2,335 individual papers, and the pass rate was 70%. The stand-out papers were Audit and Assurance and Governance and Public Policy where pass rates for the papers were 89% and 87% respectively.

Auditors under attack again

31/08/10

More damning evidence about the poor standard of auditing has come from the Audit Inspection Unit for the Professional Oversight Body. The AIU, the profession’s watchdog, has said that not enough audits it looked at met the basic standards required.

Home working

31/08/10

It was widely reported recently that a rogue trader was banned from working in finance after he manipulated the world oil market following a weekend of golf (on company business) and alcohol.

Student convicted

31/08/10

An accountancy student with a gambling addiction, Jayna Patel, was recently sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years after she admitted six counts of fraud totally £21,129.

Here come the girls

04/08/10

What women want: any accountancy profession qualification except the ICAEW!

AATs pay £100 more

04/08/10

Leading AAT tutors are asking PQ magazine why the AAT doesn’t appear to be passed on the savings they have made from the introduction of the new AAT exams.

The IT crowd

04/08/10

The Scottish Institute is trying to push the barriers about exam delivery. In May last year it ran a pilot allowing TPE students to use their own laptops to sit the exams.

Make ethics count

04/08/10

The financial crisis was made worse by ethical failings, says an ACCA report.

Taxes is fun,fun fun

04/08/10

So if you could tax anything you hated what would it be?

Exams aren’t fair

21/07/10

Accountancy bodies beware – accountancy students are increasingly prepared to question the exams that exclude them from the profession!

Visa cut coming

21/07/10

Students from outside the European Union are likely to find it more difficult to enter the UK, as the new Government tries to reduce immigration.

GFP awards

21/07/10

Are you a PQ of the Year? PQ magazine is again sponsoring the Government Finance Profession’s awards, which take place in November in Birmingham.

Stewardship code

21/07/10

The Financial Reporting Council has published its first Stewardship Code for institutional investors.

Hey, management accountants are cool

21/07/10

The University of Sussex team recently won a trip to Malaysia for their performance in the 2010 CIMA Global Business Challenge, which was run this year in partnership with Barclays.

CIMA UK May 2010 results are out now

15/07/10

The May 2010 CIMA results are out, a week earlier than normal with ‘some excellent student performances’, according to CIMA’s Graham Eaton.

CIMA cuts joining fee

07/07/10

In a bold move CIMA has announced that it is lowering the cost of entry to the institute. From 1 July all those signing up to the institute will pay just £60, instead of the old price of £150.

Ernst & Young ups intake

07/07/10

E&Y has announced that it plans to recruit over 900 graduates and undergraduates to start work in 2011. This is a 30% year-on-year increase, and the firm believes this highlights the firm’s continued drive to invest in its growth strategy.

AAT exam verdict

07/07/10

So students have had their say, but what did PQ magazine’s AAT Exam Review Board think of the June sitting?

Fears of double dip growing

07/07/10

A Deloitte chief finance officers (CFO) survey has revealed there has been a dramatic fall in confidence as fear of a ‘double dip’ recession increases.

ASB amendments

07/07/10

The Accounting Standards Board has proposed amendments to SSAP 25, FRS 8 and FRS 29 in the form of a Financial Reporting Exposure Draft (FRED)

Did the auditors fail us?

30/06/10

Auditors lack of professional scepticism and management bias has come under fire in a discussion document released jointly by the Financial Services Authority and Financial Reporting Council.

ACCA exam feedback

30/06/10

Most ACCA students seem ‘happy’ about the June exams, according to one of PQ magazine’s Exam Review Board members.

Are standards going down?

30/06/10

ACCA approved learning partnership (ALP) rules for colleges are being downgraded, to the detriment of students, claims leading provider First Intuition.

The E word

30/06/10

Stuart Pedley-Smith, a past winner of PQ magazine Lecturer of the Year has published his first book “The E word: Kaplan’s Guide to Passing Exams”.

Blowing the Whistle

30/06/10

Manchester United won one title this year. The club topped a new Football Secrecy League published recently by international development agency Christian Aid to highlight the secrecy offered by tax havens.

New September resits for CIMAs

18/06/10

CIMA is planning an extra September exam sitting for the three strategic level papers and resits for P1 and P2.

Problems with ACCA F9?

18/06/10

ACCA students have contacted PQ magazine about the F9 exam. One student claimed that several areas of the exam were not taught on their courses.

What are you worth?

18/06/10

PQ magazine recently came across an advertisement for an AAT trainee accountant. You would be working in a West End practice and the firm wants you to go on to ACA training.

Time for ethical banking

18/06/10

A new professional standards board is to be created for bankers. If, in the future bankers behave unethically (it is going to be a certainty, so its just a question of when) the new board will have powers to strike them off.

Running on chip fat

18/06/10

Two of the Big 4 have just moved into spanking new building – KPMG in Canary Wharf and PwC at More London, south of the river.

Problems at P2

04/06/10

The CIMA P2 May exam has come in for a bashing from May sitters. The CIMA website (and PQ magazine) was burning red hot with complaints.

CIMA global PQ survey.

04/06/10

Pay equality between the sexes, even for young professionals, is still some way off, according to CIMA’s 2010 salary survey. In the UK men earn 8% more in their basic salary than their female colleagues.

New governance standards

04/06/10

The Financial reporting Council (FRC) has introduced changes to the UK Corporate Governance Code – formerly known as the Combined Code – to help company boards become more effective and more accountable to their shareholders.

KPMG wants more people

04/06/10

Continued growth plans mean KPMG is now in a position to commit to taking some 70 more graduates this September. This brings the total intake to 1,000, levels last seen in 2008.

Connolly to step down

04/06/10

After a decade at the helm Deloitte’s top man John Connolly is stepping down. The plan is that he steps down in May 2011 after three terms as UK senior partner and CEO.

Rules of Kaplan Competitions in PQ Magazine

25/05/10

These rules apply for all competitions held in association with Kaplan Financial Ltd and PQ magazine.

Don’t be a twitter!

20/05/10

Trainee accountant Paul Chambers tweet to his 600 followers got him its serious hot water recently – and even the sack!

New AAT qualification

20/05/10

The AAT has unveiled a new ‘revised’ accountancy qualification.

Deloitte PQ admits gambling problem

20/05/10

Is there a gambling problem among ICAEW PQ accountants? Last month we reported on former KPMG trainee Vikas Gupta. This month its ex-Deloitte trainee Umar Qureshi.

Ethical testing

20/05/10

The ICAEW recently joined forces with IFAC to survey its students on their ethics. So how would you answer this ‘dilemma’?

Reaching new heights

20/05/10

It pays for a woman to be tall, in fact about 5ft 8ins should do it. This is because the latest research shows that women over 173cm typically earn £5,000 a year more than her shorter women friends!

ACCA’s – examiner’s say…

11/05/10

ACCA students must answer all the required questions if they want to pass this June – simples!

College charters are back!

11/05/10

Charters were all the rage under PM John Major, and it appears that they are coming back in vogue. A working group co-chaired by the National Union of Students and Universities UK will be producing a student charter for all HE colleges and universities.

CIMA student conference

11/05/10

The venue is booked - Chelsea Football Club! Now all you need to know is the date, and that has been confirmed as Saturday 26 June.

Pre-seen dilemmas

11/05/10

CIMA students have a whole new world to conquer this May. The strategic level pre-seen is now out there. Darren Hodgson, of iCount told PQ magazine that everyone will be reading the pre-seen, but the trick is what you should be looking for.

Money = happiness

11/05/10

Sorry but despite what any says the monthly pay cheque is still the main motivator when it comes to getting the job done.

CIMA - red hot tips are here!

21/04/10

The latest PQ magazine hits the streets this week jammed packed with advice for CIMA exam sitters.

PQ magazine - JOB OF THE MONTH

21/04/10

You don’t have to be a firefighter to help fire fires! So, do you want to work for the London Fire Brigade?

Mind the GAAP

21/04/10

The UK Accounting Standard’s Board has just undertaken a massive consultation on the future of UK GAAP.

You is gone, until next year

21/04/10

Former KPMG trainee Vikas Gupta has been banned from provisional membership. Just as well really as he had claimed £25,597 worth of fraudulent expenses to pay off his online gambling habit.

Inspiring talent

21/04/10

A perfect academic record might not be the only way of spotting future talent, admits PwC.

CIMA EXAM TIPS MAY 2010

19/04/10

BPP, First Intution, iCount and Kaplan, provide you with what you really really want – exam tips for the first sitting of the new CIMA syllabus

T4 feedback

07/04/10

Student reaction to the first-ever T4 CIMA exam were ‘mainly positive’, PQ magazine can report.

AAT ups its game

07/04/10

The AAT is investing heavily to ensure its students get a real interactive experience from the Association. The AAT has been providing members with CPD ‘interactive’ for a number of years.

The PQ award winners are…

07/04/10

Oh what a night it was. ACCA student Abby- Lee Widger walked off with the top prize at the latest PQ magazine awards.

Budget gets 4/5

07/04/10

The chancellor has passed four out of five Budget tests set by the ICAEW to deliver a Budget that will help drive the economic recovery. ICAEW CEO Michael Izza said: “UK businesses have played their part in helping get the UK economy through the downturn – by maintaining employment and revenues.

Sleep on it

07/04/10

Sleeping on the job really does boost your brain power. The power nap (both Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein did it) both refreshes the mind and also makes people smarter.

A global perspective

31/03/10

PQ magazine last interviewed Sir David Tweedie, head of the IASB, seven years ago for our launch issue – in January 2003. So we thought it was about time we caught up with accountancy’s main man to find out what has changed in the intervening years

Gender pay gap – just got bigger

22/03/10

The good news first: The pay gap between male and female accountants under 30 appears to be narrowing, now the bad news: the opposite is the case for those over 45s.

World Cup dilemmas

22/03/10

The greatest football tournament in the world kicks off on 12 June and ends on 11 July.

More graduates needed now

22/03/10

The future could be finally looking brighter for PQ accountants, as Big 4 firm KPMG has announced a 25% increase in its graduate intake this September.

Profitability consultants - that’s you

22/03/10

Dramatic change is coming and tomorrow’s accountants will be ‘profitability’ consultants and business advisers rather than simply reporting accountants.

Say it with an MP3

22/03/10

More employees would value a free MP3 player or digital camera from their boss to being recognised for a possible fast-track promotion.

JOB OF THE YEAR!

03/03/10

Get your career into gear with McLaren. The McLaren Group, a name that would look ‘the business’ on any CV

Beware the scammers

03/03/10

The BBC recently reported on the growing number of fake recruitment and training agencies who are feeding off people’s desire to ‘get a job’.

Number 1 is Deloitte!

03/03/10

Who’s number one? Deloitte is closing the gap on PwC and is set to take the number one slot in 2010, according to the latest global survey from International Accounting Bulletin.

Online job rush expected

03/03/10

PwC is now the UKs biggest private sector graduate recruiter with some 1,000 vacancies in 2010.

Fancy socks

03/03/10

Now we all know certain accountants who like to wear a novelty tie but one big employer has recently come down hard on such poor fashion sense.

PQ magazine 2010 AWARDS

25/02/10

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

Rules of Kaplan Competitions in PQ Magazine

25/02/10

These rules apply for all competitions held in association with Kaplan Financial Ltd and PQ magazine.

Improving ACCA pass rates

23/02/10

The December 2009 ACCA exams results are now out! Pass rates are up in 11 papers, when compared to June 2009

CIPFA – more outstanding results

23/02/10

First-rate is how CIPFA is describing the latest pass rates of candidates who sat the December 2009 exams.

CIMA goes earlier

23/02/10

CIMA pushed forward the publication date for its next set of exam results.

Consultancy is the answer

23/02/10

KPMG has revealed that it plans to treble its consulting revenues to £600m over the next four years.

How taxing are tax exams?

23/02/10

ATT exam results show that some 71% of sitters achieved a pass in the papers they attempted last November.

Rise of the ACCA

16/02/10

The top 60 chartered accountancy firms seem to be falling in love with the ACCA qualification. Recent research from Accountancy magazine discovered that for many firms the ACCA trainee is just what they want.

Glass ceilings – a PQ magazine update

16/02/10

Disengagement from career and the workplace during career breaks, to have children or undertake other caring responsibilities, is a major challenge to retaining women in the profession, says the ICAEW.

We want diversity

16/02/10

The accountancy profession supports diversity and that means broadening its reach to attract new pools of talent.

Student bond planned

16/02/10

A Tory government is considering making foreign students post bonds of up to £6,000.

Say it with Glee

16/02/10

The latest big TV hit from the States is Glee, about the college misfits who join their school’s ‘Glee Club, or drama society.

PQ magazine awards 2010 shortlist

05/02/10

The independent judging panel is now shifting through the shortlist for the PQ magazine awards for 2010. It was a record year for entries and many of the categories will be hotly contested.

Were do the women go to?

05/02/10

The glass ceiling is alive and kicking in accountancy, according to the latest survey from Accountancy magazine. It might be 2010 but female accountants still aren’t making it to the top.

How the mighty fall

05/02/10

Former ACCA president Dennis Yeates’ career is in tatters after he pleaded guilty of conning his stepson out of £20,000 in a bogus shares deal.

Student Learning Upgrade

05/02/10

CIPFA has ‘upgraded ‘ its Student Learning Centre (SLC) in a move it hopes will endear it to online PQ users. The layout has been enhanced, claimed CIPFA and there are now extra learning tools ‘available’.

CIMA exams - more timely comments please

05/02/10

Why can’t CIMA release the examiners feedback earlier, its students want to know.

CIMA Exam Results

22/01/10

CIMA has admitted results were again ‘mixed’ for the tenth and final session of the old syllabus. CIMA was pleased that at the managerial level the global pass rates for P1 Performance Evaluation, and both papers in the financial management pillar P7 and P8 showed good increases when compared with previous exam diets. TOPCIMA pass rates also show a good increase over previous diets.

The Annual PQ Bumper Christmas Quiz – the answers

20/01/10

The Annual PQ Bumper Christmas Quiz – the answers

WIN A SKI HOLIDAY

20/01/10

Top tutors LSBF wants to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a wonderful ski weekend (up to the value of £800).

Rules of Kaplan Competitions in PQ Magazine

20/01/10

These rules apply for all competitions held in association with Kaplan Financial Ltd and PQ magazine.

All quiet on the CIMA front

21/12/09

CIMA played a it ‘relatively safe’ with the final set of exams under the old syllabus, according to PQ magazine’s Exam Review Board.

AAT students give their verdict

21/12/09

The AAT discussion forums were buzzing as always after the December sitting. Students weren’t happy with the style of ECR or the wording of the questions!

OFT on the prowl

21/12/09

The Office of Fair Trading is to investigate whether the big accountancy firms are overcharging for ‘helping’ to deal with companies that go bust.

Examiner watch

21/12/09

ACCA examiner Graham Holt was seen writing a big three page feature on revenue recognition in Accounting and Business.

Ernst & Young switch

21/12/09

The English Institute was celebrating this month after Ernst & Young announced its is going to start training some of its students the ICAEW-way again.

Drop out rate dilemma

26/11/09

One in 10 accountancy students sign up for an exam may never sit them, according the research undertaken by PQ magazine.

Your fired!

26/11/09

Dyslexic former KPMG trainee has won £45,435.06 at an employment tribunal.

Online for free

26/11/09

Enterprising PQ Rachel Martin is calling on fellow students to help her build the ‘ultimate’ free resource for all CIMA trainees.

We want post

26/11/09

The ICAEW is trying ever so hard to get closer to its PQs.

Jeff Wooller – struck off

26/11/09

Chartered accountant Jeff Wooller, who founded Jeff Wooller College way back when and was known as a ‘last resort’ for many failing PQs has been struck off by the ICAEW.

PQ is simply the best

28/10/09

PQ magazine is the best Business Media trade journal for accountants, so says the IFA.

No protection needed

28/10/09

The UK’s Big 4 have been left feeling somewhat exposed after the Labour Government refused to limit litigation damages.

A BAD MONTH FOR …PwC

28/10/09

PwC has just been voted the High Fliers Top Graduate Employer of the Year for a record sixth year.

New examiners x3

28/10/09

The ACCA has now appointed three new examiners – for papers F5, F8, and P4.

Student expelled

28/10/09

CIPFA PQ Robert McCarthy has been ‘expelled from student membership of the institute’ by the disciplinary committee.

Be a PQ award winner!

02/10/09

So do you have the X factor? Or perhaps more importantly know someone who deserves to have their hard work rewarded?

Justify the hike

02/10/09

ACCA’s summer increases in exam and exemption fees has been lambasted by many of its students. From 16 August fees were increased, by in some cases, by a whopping 10%.

CIMA exam tips

02/10/09

Some18 months ago the CIMA examiner was writing the paper that will appear on a desk near you in November. This is the last paper of the old syllabus and tutors are worried that some examiners will have a list of their favorite topics they want to test you on.

ICAEW Advanced results

02/10/09

Some 1,314 ICAEW students were celebrating at the end of August after successfully completing the Advanced Stage of their ACA qualification.

How you blogging?

02/10/09

CIMA has announced the 3 students it thinks are worth ‘reading on a daily basis’!

AAT pass rates slump

21/09/09

Something has gone horribly wrong with the AAT’s management accounting exams. In June 2007 pass rate in the paper was 68%, for this June the pass rate has slumped to just 45.8%. Other papers have also seen substantial drops in pass rates. FRA, DFS and BTC all droped ‘big time’. Overall pass rates went down in six papers and were up in 5. For the full story see PQ magazine’s latest issue AAT JUNE 2009 PASS RATES IAC (computer based) - 75.7% IAC - 84.5% PLB - 89.5% FRA - 65.9% ECR - 74.8% MAC - 45.8% PEV - 66.4% PCR - 73.5% DFS - 67.9% DFSL - 66.7% BTC - 64.3% PTC -84.4%

London Met ends ACCA

21/09/09

London Met University is closing its doors on ACCA courses. This leaves Westminster University as the only public college offering professional ACCA course in the capital. Sadly that means London Mets Mike Bromberg ids leaving the ACCA Exam Review Panel. The good news this leaves an opening to a public sector college. Would you like to be a member of our ERB please email graham@pqaccountant.com

CIPFA gets thumbs up

21/09/09

CIPFA students are more than happy to hold their future student conferences as part of the main CIPFA conference, according to an online poll. CIPFA was worried that it had pushed PQs into becoming part of the massive annual conference. However, some 79 per cent of those surveyed were in favour of doing the same thing next year, 17% wanted the student conference to be separate and 4% expressed no view. For the first time this year’s student conference was held in Manchester as part of the national event. CIPFA students were able to attend free of charge and all student delegates were invited to a champagne reception at Great John Street Hotel. CIPFA national student forum chair said: “The NSF is grateful for the huge response to the survey – we received a lot of helpful comments that will enable us to make further improvements to the event. The most common suggestions for the future were more networking time, interactive sessions, talks by students like themselves, helpful hints for their studies, handouts

The drugs don’t work

21/09/09

Potential trainee accountant Adam Sullivan hit the national headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. The Daily Mail ran a story where his mum gave a warning after her PQ son became hooked on cocaine and threw away a promising career. The Mail told us that Adam, 24, became hooked on cocaine at university and was jailed for three years for dealing the drug. He began using drugs while studying accountancy and finance at Plymouth University. The problem was once he graduated he began selling the drug to ‘friends’ to fun his own habit. He was forced to abandon his plans to become an accountant when he fell into debt, and worked as a labourer to pay back the dealers. This story hit the headlines as the same time as another trainee accountant with a major bank and members of two crime gangs were arrested in drug raids in the Republic of Ireland. Some €3million of drugs was seized.

Equal pay – not yet!

21/09/09

Women in some of the UK’s leading finance companies receive around 80 per cent less in performance related pay than their male colleagues, says the Equality and Human Rights Commission. This disparity is a major factor behind the massive gender pay gap in the finance sector (55%). The commission also found that the sector’s age profile may be a key factor blocking women’s success. An unusually high proportion of workers in the sector fall into the 25-39 age group – the age at which women tend to have childcare responsibilities. The survey found women were given lower starting salaries and just 23 per cent of respondents have undertaken an equal pay audit.

Rules of Kaplan Competitions in PQ Magazine

21/09/09

CIMAstudy.com –Flying high!

21/09/09

Well it’s a year since CIMA and Elsevier launched the last of the professional level of CIMAStudy.com - the online study resource for the professional qualification - and since then CIMA students in over 72 countries around the world have used the courses. In July we launched all 5 of the certificate in Business Accounting courses, which means we can now offer an end-to-end online study solution for all CIMA students globally at Certificate, Managerial and Strategic levels. So how does CIMAstudy.com differ from other learning resources for the qualification? Puts students in control of their learning Unlike many other study methods, students using CIMAstudy.com can choose when and where they study, can set their own timetable, study at their own pace and can revisit challenging topics as often as they like. Animations, intro videos, and interactive tests are used to aid memory and keep the student engaged. Full syllabus coverage Many resources try to predict what will be in the exam and therefore parts of th

ACCA results – mixed bag

07/09/09

ACCA EXAM RESULTS June 2009 F1 Accounting in Business 73% F2 Management Accounting 57% F3 Financial Accounting 55% F4 Corporate & Business law 43% F5 performance Management 41% F6 Taxation 61% F7 Financial Reporting 30% F8 Audit & Assurance 34% F9 Financial Management 42% P1 Professional Accountant 48% P2 Corporate Reporting 44% P3 Business Analysis 50% P4 Adv Financial Management 30% P5 Adv performance Management 32% P6 Adv Taxation 37% P7 Adv Audit & Assurance 37%

ICAEW Advanced results

07/09/09

Some 1,314 ICAEW students were celebrating at the end of August after successfully completing the Advanced Stage of their ACA qualification. Overall 3,270 students sat Advanced Stage exams in July. The pass rates for individual papers was 77 per cent and higher (see below), but just 55.7% students sitting all three final level papers passed them all. PQs from Deloitte, PwC, Landin Wilcock & Co, and Buzzacott all picked up prizes in the order of merit. Individual paper pass rates were: Business Reporting – 79.6%; Business Change – 82.1%; Case Study – 77.7% .

Go to jail!

07/09/09

KPMG director Andrew Wetherall is going to jail! He apparently swindled his firm out of a cool £500,000 to help fund a new wife’s £15,000-a-month lifestyle. Wetherall’s six-figure salary just wasn’t enough for the new woman in his life and it helped that KPMG didn’t check any fraudulent claims below £5,000, so they weren’t need authorised by bosses! This went on for five years during which time the KPMG man claimed for £480,000 of air travel (about half were supported by fake documentation). He was also able to claim for a £4,000 watch and £2,000 camera and computer equipment. He was only finally caught after a colleague became suspicious for one £18,000 expense!

Tax updates from BPP

07/09/09

PQ READER OFFER So how do you keep ahead of developments in the world of tax? Well now you can subscribe to www.bpp.com/taxonline and earn 22 verifiable CPD points while sitting at your desk! BPP online tax updates are available as a business tax, personal tax or combined subscription, which provide 11 online presentations delivered on a monthly basis explaining tax development supported by audio-visual. Downloadable MP3 versions for each update is also supplied as well as 10 questions quiz per update which gives you a chance to test your understanding. For more information about BPP online tax updates click this link: www.bpp.com/minisite/online-tax/default2.asp To book a BPP online tax update subscription and obtain a 20% discount off the retail price. Please contact the BPP customer service team on 0845 226 2422 or email enquiries@bpp.com quoting the reference TAX010.

Alternative awards

07/09/09

Christian Aid recently announced the winners of its new Alternative Tax Awards. The categories included Tax Haven Enthusiast of the Year, Low Tax Rate Achievement and Most Surprising Use of Tax Havens. The awards draw attention to the devastating effect corporate tax dodging has on poor countries. Christian Aid has calculated that companies ‘avoid’ $160bn in taxes in the developing world every year. There is a cost! Christian Aid says the lives of some 350,000 children under five would be saved each year. And, the money going missing is ending up in tax havens. Christian Aid said that means accounting rules must be reformed to prevent this happening. So to some of the winners: Greatest Potential for Tax Reform Joint winners – PwC, KPMG, Ernst & Young, Deloitte Most Surprising Use of Tax Havens CDC Group plc & its sole owner the Department for International development (DFID). CDC has 72 subsidiaries of which 40 are in tax havens. Tax haven Enthusiast of the Year Barclays plc. Some 315 of its companies are of

CIPFA on the up

18/08/09

CIPFA is extremely happy with the ‘excellent’ results achieved by its June sitters. There have been significant improvements in many papers and the yo-yo effect of previous diets seems to be abating. The pass rate for Financial Accounting was a full 10% up o December and at 79% was the best result since June 2004! All papers, bar two were part of the upward trend. Some 1,476 students sat the exams in June and E&T director Adrian Pulham was a happy man indeed.

Accountants not to blame

18/08/09

Accountancy rules were not the to blame for the current financial crisis, but the weakness in the application of rules has reduced the creditability of financial reporting, says a leading international report from the Financial Crisis Advisory Group. The group was set-up by the US and International Accounting Standards Boards and has just released its wide-ranging review of standard-setting activities. See September’s PQ for more debate on this issue.

How to pass TOPCIMA

18/08/09

1 Remember that TOPCIMA is supposed to simulate half a day at work – if you wouldn’t do it in a report to your manager, don’t do it in TOPCIMA. 2 Always practice TOPCIMA case studies under exam conditions before attempting the real thing. You don’t get off the ‘learning curve’ until you have done about 3 or 4. If you can get feedback, all the better. 3 develop the skills of TOPCIMA, by doing short exercises on: prioritise, application and analysis, structuring arguments, writing conclusions and recommendations, etc. For more help with exams and two final tips on TOPCIMA see our exam surgery page this month.

Today’s CFO shine

18/08/09

The economic downturn has raised the senior finance executive’s profile in organisations worldwide. More CFOs are involved in strategy development and priorities risk management, according to leading research from the ACCA. As we reveal in our essential guide – FREE with September’s PQ magazine – the board are more than ever interested in what the accountant has to say! For today’s CFO, not surprisingly, cash and liquidity have shot up the agenda and a host of other activities have been placed under the microscope – from capital expenditure to remuneration and bonus packages.

CIMA going online

12/08/09

Following a successful pilot, CIMAsphere, its new online community network, has been launched to the world. This new virtual community is aimed at practising and aspiring management accountants and interestingly, the ‘wider public’, In addition to many discussion boards, covering everything from strategic management and economics, to financial reporting and business ethics. Beware there will be blogs – but they are on technical issues. The launch co-incises with CIMA’s world conference in Malaysia.

Consultants under pressure

12/08/09

Recruitment consultants are really feeling the pressure of this latest recession. The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has found that 20% of consultants have been the victim of verbal abuse. They are also being pressurised to put forward candidates for jobs they aren’t necessarily suite to. The fall out in the consultancy world has been ‘extreme’ PQs will need to read PQ magazine to find out who they should be trusting with their CV in the future – we have a list!

Five years and counting

12/08/09

How long is it going to be before you qualifying – start to finish. Are you hoping three years? Well we have the latest stats from the Professional Oversight Board. And, it doesn’t look good. There are, according to research from PQ magazine some 100,000 students signed up to a UK accountancy body who are still ‘waiting‘ to get qualified. So who has the most students sit trying to get qualified after five years? Bet you can’t guess – the answer is there for all to read – see PQ magazine’s September issue. PQ magazine is the only UK magazine looking at the issues that count.

Accountancy is for rich kids!

12/08/09

Accountancy in the UK has become an elitist profession where only the rich kids get on. Who says? Well, a report from the Fair Access to the Professions Panel actually. They have found that even graduates from middle class and lower income families don’t stand a chance becoming qualified chartered accountants. The worryingly thing is that accountancy seems to becoming less ‘accessible’. The panel said that it still works that if you have been to an independent (private) school you get the nod – great to see the British class system still alive and well then! PQ magazine decided we needed to discover if this was true. Read the latest issue to find out.

Big 4 under attack

12/08/09

PwC is being sued for alleged racist bullying and E&Y is getting flake for its £3.2m fees in the Zavvi administration. The big firms are always vulnerable to being the news rather than making it, but sometimes they do seem to shot themselves in the foot. Deloitte, for instance, went bold into the political areana recently saying interest rates should stay at 0.5% until the end of 2011. Apparently Deloitte believe the huge government debt will have to be cut by increasing taxes and cutting spending and this will lead to rising unemployment. This is the same Deloitte that, if the papers are to be believed, had someone ‘on secondment’ with the Tories when they felt they would be better served if they worked even closer with them! Ex-Deloitte worker Chloe Smith is now the new MP for Norwich North. Deloitte will obvious hope she reads their economic analysis of what needs to be done to help UK and Deloitteplc work better.

Rules of Kaplan Competitions in PQ Magazine

12/08/09

The competition will run until the competition deadline advertised in the magazine. Kaplan and PQ magazine reserve the right not to give away any prize if no winner is found. Winners will be notified by email within 72 hours of the competition closing date. Incomplete entries and those received after 23.59pm on the Thursday 3rd September 2009 will not be accepted. The prize will be send by recorded delivery Kaplan Financial Ltd accepts no responsibility for lost or stolen prizes. Of the correctly completed entries, the winner will be selected by an independent adjudicator at random on Friday 4th of September 2009. Unless otherwise stated in the magazine, there is only one prize per competition and all prizes are offered in good faith. It is recognised that at times genuine mistakes can occur. If a mistake has occurred, then Kaplan, in its sole discretion will award the prize to the person(s) who in their view was the original winner of the competition. When instances like this occur, Kaplan will

CIMA – mixed results

25/07/09

CIMA has now published its May 2009 exam results. While the overall results show a mixed performance, the institute said it was pleasing to see the pass rates for both P1 and P2 showing ‘good increases’ when compared with previous exam diets. P5 and P7 at managerial level also showed improved pass rates. However, at P4 and P8 the story is not so positive. *For a fuller story on the results see next month’s PQ magazine

Tax is a winner!

25/07/09

The June professional results have hit the streets and those studying tax will be particularly pleased! Of the 2198 candidates sitting the exam a whopping 91.8% passed with flying colours. Overall some 3,888 ACA PQs sat the June test and some 76.5% passed all the papers they sat. Just under 1,000 PQs now move on to the Advanced Stage.

First time passing

25/07/09

Less ACCA and CIMA final level PQs are passing their exams at their first go, according to the latest figures released from the accountancy regulator – the Professional Oversight Board (POB). Just 54% of CIMAs are currently passing the final exams at their first sitting, this is down some 6 percentage points.

What is your CEO paid

25/07/09

We are one year on and three accountancy bodies are still not prepared to tell its members exactly what the salary is of their highest paid employee! The AAT, CIMA and CIPFA continue to hide their CEOs exact annual pay packet in a ‘range of numbers’.

CIPFA changes

25/07/09

The routine annual review of the CIPFA syllabus has now taken place. PQs will be told of any changes in December 2009, so everything will be ready for the June 2010 exam sitting. A major review is also taking place and the plan is to release these findings at the June 2010 conference. Consultation will start this autumn, says CIPFA.

CIMA Exam Review Board

10/06/09

The feedback is in from the PQ magazine CIMA Exam Review Board for the May exams

FRS 29 amendment

10/06/09

The Accounting Standards Board (ASB) has issued 'Amendments to FRS 29 – Improving Disclosures about Financial Instruments'.

Kaplan goes public

10/06/09

The public sector is going private!

ICAEW first for Asia

10/06/09

Mark Billington ACA has been appointed as the ICAEW's first South East Asia regional Director

BPP takeover

10/06/09

Top accountancy trainer BPP has agreed an all-cash £304m takeover by Apollo Global

CIPFA goes private

10/06/09

Kaplan Financial has won the major contract to provide the Audit Commission with a new public audit variant of the CIPFA qualification

PQ magazine to the rescue

27/05/09

What would you do if you lived in the UK but when you applied to sit the ACCA exams you were told your exam centre was New Delhi?

Tipping the balance

27/05/09

Where else are you going to get the tips you need to pass the next set of accountancy exams?

Get your CPD points with PQ

27/05/09

Reading PQ magazine is worth its weight in gold

Taking on the taxman

27/05/09

Keele University students have taken on the taxman

Accounting standards

23/05/09

The Chancellor's announcement in the Budget to intensify tax-reporting rules for corporations has been met with opposition in the finance industry.

iLiad Book Edition E-reader giveaway

19/05/09

PQ is giving away an e-reader worth over £400. To be in with a chance of winning Irex technologies' iLiad Book Edition e-reader

Exam tips are us!

19/05/09

Need help with your exams? Desperate for some exam tips? Well remember what the examiners always say – don't question spot and don't cram!

AATs on computer

19/05/09

AAT is going full steam down the computer based exam route. The AAT introduced IAC as a CBE in January 2008.

Rotation questioned

19/05/09

The UK's audit watchdog, the Auditing Practices Board, has come under fire for suggesting partners should be allowed to oversee large company audits for seven years.

Big isn't better

19/05/09

Apparently less is more and big isn't beautiful, according to the results of PQ magazine's latest poll.

iLiad Book Edition E-reader giveaway

19/05/09

PQ is giving away an e-reader worth over £400. To get in with a chance of winning Irex technologies' iLiad Book Edition e-reader

Exclusive to PQ: ACCA revision aid for £5!

13/05/09

Are you sitting ACCA exams in June? Do you need additional help with your revision? PQ has teamed up with ATC International to offer you the chance to order ATC International\'s 'Passport' revision aid for only £5.

The expenses debacle

13/05/09

Where are the accountancy bodies' in their condemnation of the 600-plus MPs who seem to be on a perpetual gravy train?

The Equality Bill

13/05/09

In an attempt to cut the 17 per cent gender pay gap the recent Equality Bill included measures to force firms by law to conduct pay audits.

CIMA goes global

13/05/09

The world is CIMA's oyster, as it branches out in to Pakistan with new offices in Karachi.

Who's in the money?

13/05/09

Trawling through The Times' 2009 rich list, a catalogue of the world's most moneyed, we found one tax planner amongst its ranks.

Where's the urgency?

07/05/09

The swine flu pandemic could have a catastrophic impact on revision and the whole exam process for the UK's accountancy bodies. However, despite this most of the accountancy bodies

Yes you can

07/05/09

CIMA and BPP have joined forces to offer graduates subsidised courses if they want to study the certificate and managerial levels.

Reality not that bleak

07/05/09

There is an unjustifiable lack of confidence in the UK graduate job market

Go public

07/05/09

The current economic climate means for many professionals employment in the public sector is becoming increasingly appealing

Let them do IFRS

07/05/09

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the UK's independent regulator responsible for promoting confidence in corporate reporting and governance, has told the US Securities and Exchange Commission

Long arm of the law

29/04/09

The Big 4 – Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC – are getting ready for a surge in legal cases against them from investors and liquidators as the economic crisis goes on.

The May issue of PQ magazine

29/04/09

The May issue of PQ magazine is now available online. The digital issue can be found at http://www.itmps.co.uk/digitaleditions/PQ0509.html

Insolvency soars

29/04/09

Now is the time to be an accountant with expertise in insolvency.

Thinking ahead

29/04/09

'Generation Y' the good times are over and it is time to start planning your career.

May issue online

23/04/09

The May issue of PQ magazine is now available online. The digital issue can be found at http://www.itmps.co.uk/digitaleditions/PQ0509.html and has lots of great stuff, including CIMA tips for the May exams

Top of the tips

23/04/09

PQ magazine is here to help you pass, and in our recent roundtable debate, which brought together some of the country's leading tutors, we asked all the questions you want answers to.

Accounting standards

23/04/09

The Chancellor's announcement in the Budget to intensify tax-reporting rules for corporations has been met with opposition in the finance industry.

Convicted accountant

23/04/09

No matter how loud lawyers are there is no excuse for what happened in one London bar recently.

Quietly does it

23/04/09

Did you know that CIFPA has changed its logo? As a part of a wider rebranding exercise to create a new visual identity, CIFPA has redesigned its motif.

The last resort

17/04/09

Don't drain the talent pool! This is the latest advice from the ACCA, which says staff cuts should be the last resort.

The last resort

17/04/09

Don't drain the talent pool!

The blame game

17/04/09

The gloves are off as the accountancy giant KPMG has been hit

IFAC supports G20

17/04/09

The international federation of accountants (IFAC) has welcomed the outcomes from the G20

City Women

17/04/09

The city woman could become an endangered species

A turn off

17/04/09

Feeling ignored at work?

G20 shortfalls

08/04/09

The ACCA has expressed concern over what was really achieved at the recent G20 summit held in London

Students struck off

08/04/09

The ACCA is sending a clear message that cheating is unacceptable and it will be punished.

HMRC criticised

08/04/09

Taxpayers' letters are being binned and their calls ignored or purposely fobbed off

Redundancy risk

08/04/09

Redundancy is becoming a reality for many this year, with Ernst & Young the latest Big Four firm

An unfair affair

08/04/09

This is one race accountants should be happy to have come second in

April issue online

01/04/09

The April issue of PQ magazine is now available online.

First black CEO

01/04/09

Prudential group has announced it will be making history

Salaries plummet

01/04/09

Starting salaries at accountancy and professional services firms are expected to fall by 7.8 per cent this year.

FRC to review the Combined Code

01/04/09

The Financial Reporting Council has announced a review of the impact of the Combined Code

CIMA NHS students rewarded

01/04/09

Four PQ accountants took prizes at the latest CIMA NHS Student Excellence Awards.

An apprentice PQ

25/03/09

Top TV show The Apprentice starts this week and PQs finally have someone to 'get behind'!

Rotation questioned

25/03/09

The UK's audit watchdog, the Auditing Practices Board, has come under fire for suggesting partners should be allowed to oversee large company audits for seven years.

ICAEW and CECCAR agreement

25/03/09

Following the ICAEW's launch of the ACA qualification in Romania in June last year

Financial assistance

25/03/09

ACCA students have until Friday 15 May 2009 to submit their applications to the Simpson Scholarship.

Communication is key

25/03/09

Accountancy qualifications put too much emphasis on technical ability

And the PQ goes to

18/03/09

Some 300 of accountancy's brightest lights recently packed into Quaglino's

The ACCA F5 debate

18/03/09

There appeared to be a lot of pressure on the ACCA in Manchester to dilute the Performance Management paper

Living in an MA world

18/03/09

CIMA's examiners want students to live in a 'management accounting world'!

Going international

18/03/09

The Auditing Practices Board has announced its intention to update UK and Irish auditing standards

PQ mag online

18/03/09

The March issue of PQ Magazine is now available online.

PQ mag online

11/03/09

The March issue of PQ Magazine is now available online

University Challenge

11/03/09

Trainee accountant Sam Kay has caused a bit of stir in quiz-land recently after it was claimed he broke the University Challenge rules

Going concern updated

11/03/09

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has released a short update to help directors of smaller companies with their thinking on assessing going concern

PwC has work!

11/03/09

PwC has stated that it is 'business as usual' for its graduate recruitment programme

Turn it off!

11/03/09

You are sitting intently listening to the head of education at the ACCA give the opening address at the Lecturers' conference

ACCA results out now!

20/02/09

Record numbers of ACCA students sat the third exam in the new syllabus

Get it online

20/02/09

PQ Magazine is now just a mouse-movement away

REACH for accountants

20/02/09

If you are looking for role models then you need accountants

CIMA council suspended

20/02/09

It is business as usual in CIMA's top overseas division - Sri Lanka, according to CIMA.

Show us the love

20/02/09

Didn't find love on Valentines day?

Read the E-magazine!

11/02/09

PQ Magazine is now just a click away. If you want to read the digital edition of the February issue then simply click on the link below!

Shiny happy CIPFAs

11/02/09

CIPFA students 'shined' in the latest exams, according to the institute's exam department

Free revision notes

11/02/09

Students are being offered free revision notes for CIMA P9, ACCA F9 and ACCA P4 by top tutor Sunil Bhandari

JOIN THE PQ MAGAZINE COMMUNITY

11/02/09

Thousands of jobs online at our website built just for you!

Fight me

11/02/09

Here's an interesting tax collection dilemma. There is someone you know who owes 12 years' of unpaid tax.

CIMA results out

29/01/09

The November 2008 results show "a variance of performances from students around the world", according to CIMA

Be prepared

29/01/09

The ICAEW is claiming good tuition and thorough preparation enabled 2,814 candidates pass all the papers they sat in December's ACA professional stage exams

Four-day week

29/01/09

No one is immune to the economic downturn, even the Big 4 accountancy firms

New education head

29/01/09

Dorothy Wood has been appointed the new head of education at ACCA UK

Nothing is safe

29/01/09

Hackers have reportedly stolen millions of personal details from the Monster online jobs board site

Profit warning

23/01/09

Grant Thornton has the dubious distinction of being the first big accountancy firm to report a fall in profits for 2008

Student swap

23/01/09

You may be struggling with the ACCA exams, but whatever you do, don't do what two students in Pakistan did recently

Extra resource

23/01/09

ACCA students sitting P2 exams have a new, FREE resource to help them

Know your verbs

23/01/09

CIMA is seriously considering putting a table of verbs and their definitions on the back of every exam paper

NUS Extra

23/01/09

Want free fries with that Big Mac?

ACCA exam feedback

14/01/09

The majority of December's exam papers were challenging but fair, according to PQ magazine's new Exam Board Member, Vicky Taylor

The future is CIMA

14/01/09

Four levels (it was three), a reduction in OTs

Student discipline

14/01/09

There has been a spate of cases coming out of the ACCA Disciplinary Committee recently

CIMA's global credentials

14/01/09

CIMA has signed what it is calling an historic agreement with the ICWAI

Suits you, girl

14/01/09

Calling all you PQ girls out there – you can look professional for less this winter with the ADSA suit for under £20

Recession bites

07/01/09

The cold wind of recession appears to have finally hit the accountancy profession – big time

AAT exam feedback

07/01/09

It was all quiet on the AAT front for the winter diet, according to the PQ Magazine Exam Review Board

Time to move abroad?

07/01/09

More than 50% of accountants are now looking to Europe in search of career development

Tax shelter convictions

07/01/09

Two former KPMG employees have finally been found guilty in what has been billed as the largest tax-shelter trial in history

The big kiss

07/01/09

Each month we ask you to tell us what you think of a key issue

In bed with the examiners

17/12/08

CIMAFuture, the new 2010 chartered management qualification, was unveiled at the recent Lecturers' Conference in Warwick

ICAEW success – if you say so!

17/12/08

Some 3,727 ICAEW students walked into the exam halls recently hoping to progress their careers – some 2,100 walked out as newly qualified ACA members

Just a bunch of moaners!

17/12/08

AAT exam sitters have been accused of being a bunch of moaning whingers – by fellow students

Awards deadline looms

17/12/08

The PQ magazine awards deadline has been extended to 26 January

Feeling stressed?

17/12/08

It has all gone pear-shaped and 'it makes me feel sick', said one respondent in a recent ICAEW survey!

CIMA exam feedback

10/12/08

The November CIMA exams were a rich and varied smorgasbord ranging from familiar and comforting dishes to the downright unpalatable

Special arrangements

10/12/08

The AAT is working with both the ACCA and CIMA again to ensure that its students can move on with their professional studies as quickly as possible

FRS 8 amendement

10/12/08

The Accounting Standards Board has issued an amendment to Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 8 'Related Party Disclosiure'

The class size debate

10/12/08

When asked if class sizes of approved colleges should be limited to 40 students a whopping 88% of PQ readers said

Nowhere is safe

10/12/08

Revenue officer Richard Moore is someone who always gets his man

A top PQ

03/12/08

Sally Zhang walked off with the top student prize at the CIMA awards recently

ACCA students disciplined

03/12/08

Two ACCA students were recently removed from the register

Women will cope better!

03/12/08

Female entrepreneurs may be better placed to survive the recession than their male counterparts

CIMA offers exams in Arabic

03/12/08

CIMA has announced that it's Certificate in Islamic Finance can noww be sat in Arabic as well as English

A patron saint

03/12/08

Did you know that accountants have a patron saint! Well the choice was pretty obvious – it's Matthew

Be my friend!

19/11/08

PQ Magazine is now on FACEBOOK and we want you to be our friends!

AAT exam tips

19/11/08

The December AAT exams are now looming large

ICAEW told to get it right

19/11/08

THE ICAEW has been told to ditch the idea of a 'high-flyers' network, by its Young Professionals Advisory Board

Race for Opportunity

19/11/08

Ernst & Young is celebrating after taking a Race for Opportunity's award for increasing the diversity of its workforce

White shirt man

19/11/08

Throw away your stripped shirts what you need is a plain white shirt to put on to go to work

Tidy yourself up

12/11/08

The ACCA should be giving students lessons in handwriting and layout skills if it wants to see an increase in pass rates this December!

Leave your phone at home

12/11/08

CIMA students beware: Failing to turn your phone off can have serious repercussions!

Men work longer!

12/11/08

Scottish male accountants could soon be clambering for more equality

OFT investigates recruitment agencies

12/11/08

The Office of Fair Trading is investigating eight recruitment agencies for allegedly breaching

Accountancy contributions

12/11/08

The US election for president and congress cost a record $5.3bn

Great way to start the day

06/11/08

Kellogg's European Compliance Team needs a CIMA/ACCA PQ or equivalent to work in its Reporting and Metrics Team

PQ shortlist for industry prize

06/11/08

PQ magazine was recently shortlisted for our July front cover Grand Theft Audit IV'

League tables 'now possible'

06/11/08

CIMA should soon be able to publish official college pass rates,

ICAEW results out

06/11/08

Some 70% of ACA PQs passed all the papers they sat at September's professional stage,

Qualifieds are a happy lot

06/11/08

Most ICAS accountants, nearly 80%, are happy with their benefit package,

Are you sitting comfortably?

03/11/08

CIMA students note: the institute says it is happy with its exam arrangements for November!

There are jobs out there!

29/10/08

If you are a CIMA/ACCA PQ or equivalent there are still some great jobs out there!

Crunch time for exams?

29/10/08

The credit crunch is affecting nearly every part of society

Check your exam docket

29/10/08

Chinese student, Yizhe Wang is a bit of a star!

The roar of the crowd

29/10/08

So you are a Liverpool FC supporter working in Manchester

Breath in

29/10/08

Finally there is a poll where accountants beat those lawyers

Tip heaven

24/10/08

This month's Pq magazine was an exam tip special

Love tax

24/10/08

The PQ magazine campaign starts here! At PQ magazine we believe tax needs more love and understanding

New ICAEW certificate

24/10/08

A new Certificate in Business Accounting and Finance (CFAB) has been launched by the ICAEW

AAT moves on CBE tests

24/10/08

The AAT's pilot computer based exam for Introductory Accounting (IAC) has been hailed a huge success

Standing out from the crowd

15/10/08

The UK economy and accountancy market is now sailing in unchartered waters

Tip heaven

15/10/08

This month's Pq magazine was an exam tip special

Where women want to work

15/10/08

The Big 4 firms feature heavily in the latest Times Top 50 list of where women want to work

Number 75,

15/10/08

Michelle Forrest, a management accountant with UK Premiership outfit Bolton Wanderers, has become CIMA's 75,000th member

ACCA Scholarships

15/10/08

The first five winners of the new ACCA Simpson Scholarships have been announced

Think concrete

01/10/08

Forget about a glass ceiling – instead most women they are facing a reinforced concrete ceiling

The Apprentice

01/10/08

BPP has announced it will be offering Apprenticeship courses in AAT at 13 of its training centres across the UK

International Guide

01/10/08

Accountancy students coming to the UK to study must make sure they start passing exams straightaway,

Get half right!

01/10/08

The ACCA's CAT qualification just got harder!

The big and the powerful

01/10/08

The Daily Telegraph recently did a big list of the most powerful people in British business

Final level on the up

25/09/08

PQ accountants will be pleased to hear that the overall pass rates at the final exams are on the up

Super-size me

25/09/08

Anyone who needs evidence about the growing burden of UK legislation needs to look no further than the tax bible

You are out

25/09/08

Provisional member Robert James Williams has been declared unfit to become a member at an ICAEW disciplinary hearing

Top earners

25/09/08

Brazilian footballer Robinho took all the headlines recently when he joined Manchester City

Feed me

25/09/08

It is a sad fact that nearly 80 per cent of UK accountants are living on unhealthy snacks

Best dress men

22/09/08

PwC's accountants are stylish and dapper, and the best dressed men in the capital

ACCA student to defect

18/09/08

ACCA students could soon be switching over to degree programmes if the pass rates continue on the same downward slide

FDs say

18/09/08

If you ask your FD about the state of the current market don't expect them to say anything positive

Be a winner

18/09/08

Time is running out if you want to get on the short-list for the PQ magazine Awards

CIMA reaches 75,000

18/09/08

Michelle Forrest, a management accountant for UK Premier League Bolton Wanderers Football Club has become CIMA's 75,000 member

ACCA results head south!

04/09/08

The pass rates for the second sitting of the new ACCA exam syllabus don't make pretty reading

US to go IFRS route?

04/09/08

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has voted to publish for public comment a proposed Roadmap

CIMA online launch

04/09/08

Following the highly successful launch of the CIMAstudy

Snow-capped institute?

04/09/08

"My institute is snow-capped," claimed a black member at the recent ICAEW AGM

Sleep patterns

04/09/08

So if you want to learn you need a good nights sleep, everyone knows that

Life of a student

18/08/08

So what will you be doing in five years time? Governing body reveals the results

Just scan it

18/08/08

Markers concerned over new technology

Can you write it?

18/08/08

CIMA investigates summer exam pass rate

Don't forget to enter

18/08/08

Fame and fortune is just a nomination away

Don't use the F-word

18/08/08

Outrage at use of expletives in exams

The Yo-Yo effect

08/08/08

CIPFA is hailing improved pass rates for the June sitting

All 4,000 of you sit down

08/08/08

Some 4,000 ICAEW PQs sat the professional exams in June. These were the last set of exams where students could choose between the old and new syllabuses

ACCA pass rates drive

08/08/08

The ACCA is pushing ahead with plans to appoint regional educational experts to help improve worldwide pass rates

MCQ's future in doubt?

08/08/08

It may be time to say good-bye to multiple choice questions!

Time for a bit of Sweding

08/08/08

AAT student Mark Wong is making a bit of a name for himself

CIMA pass rates jump

30/07/08

The CIMA May 2008 pass rates jumped in every paper except one this time around

Transition completed

30/07/08

Nearly 4,000 ICAEW sat the professional exams in June

Deloitte is No 1

30/07/08

Deloitte has been named as the best graduate employer in finance and professional services at the Target National Graduate recruiter Awards

Time to nominate

30/07/08

The search has begun this month for nominations for the PQ Magazine Awards

Give us feedback

30/07/08

Keep us on our toes and focused, pleaded CIPFA's E&T director at the recent NSF conference

AAT exams are like marmite!

24/07/08

Errors in the ECR and BTC June exams meant the AAT exams didn't get a clean bill of health this time around

A climate of fear

24/07/08

A continued climate of corporate fear forces many gay people to keep their sexuality secret

AAT CEO awarded OBE

24/07/08

AAT CEO Jane Scott Paul has been awarded the OBE in Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2008

Well done Kevin

24/07/08

Kevin Coyle, the finance services manager for North Lincolnshire Council

Get it on tap

24/07/08

The UK spends £2bn on bottled mineral water a year, so we are told

Seen it before?

17/07/08

The ACCA examiners have come under fire from the latest sitting of the PQ Magazine Exam Review Board

Professional test

17/07/08

The ICAEW Audit & Assurance exam went all ethical on students in June

Head: Wanted: examiner comments earlier

17/07/08

CIMA students want the post-exam examiner comments earlier

NSF has a new chair!

17/07/08

CIPFA's National Student Forum has a new chair

ICAEW opens up shop in Romania

17/07/08

The ICAEW is launching its ACA qualification in Bucharest

CIMA works wonders

24/06/08

PQ Magazine has discovered that CIMA staff worked small miracles to ensure its students in Birmingham could sit their exams

AAT CEO awarded OBE

24/06/08

AAT CEO Jane Scott Paul has been conferred the OBE in Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2008

Oh happy day!

24/06/08

Exam time is never the happiest days of your life, surely!

ICAEW sets up shop in Romania

24/06/08

The ICAEW is launching its ACA qualification in Bucharest

CIMA moves into Dubai

24/06/08

CIMA has opened its first office in the Middle East

Brum CIMA fiasco

18/06/08

CIMA sitters in Birmingham got a nasty shock when they turned up to the Aston Villa exam hall as usual

CIMA pass rates to drop?

18/06/08

CIMA pass rates in P4, P5 and P8 are all predicted to fall

Combine code update

18/06/08

The Financial Reporting Council has announced rule changes to the Combined Code

Glamorgan goes gold

18/06/08

The University of Glamorgan has been awarded gold status for its teaching by the ACCA

The ultimate test

18/06/08

There is talk that students may need to be tested for brain-boosting drugs as they become more widely used by healthy people!

Hero accountant

10/06/08

Certified accountant DW Perrin nearly became a hero to PQs everywhere

Job losses at top firm

10/06/08

KPMG is reported to have axed nearly 200 staff in its corporate finance

New degree for AATs

10/06/08

A new foundation degree has been approved by Wolverhampton University

ICAEW arrives in Singapore

10/06/08

The ICAEW has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Singapore

Be an apprentice

10/06/08

Apparently, record numbers of students are trying to get a place on the degree course completed by the Apprentice contestant Alex Wotherspoon

CIMA exams pass muster

02/06/08

It was all quiet on the CIMA exam front this May, according to PQ Magazine's panel of experts

New CEO named

02/06/08

Insiders' favourite Helen Brand, 43, will be the new chief executive of the ACCA come September

AAT exam tips

02/06/08

The AAT exams are fast approaching, but don't panic

PwC is the greenest

02/06/08

Big 4 firm PwC has been awarded top place accountancy firm

AAT and ACCA join forces

02/06/08

The AAT and ACCA have agreed to streamline their employer accreditation processes

No CIMA cap, honest!

19/05/08

CIMA has said it will not put a cap on the number of times a student can take its current exam syllabus

AAT hot tips

19/05/08

AAT sitters this June need to get back to the basics

ACCA June exams

19/05/08

ACCA optional paper students need all the help they can get!

NSF conference

19/05/08

Manchester Town Hall is the venue for this year's NSF conference for CIPFA PQs.

Just sleep on it

19/05/08

Taking an afternoon nap will make you brainier.

Venue change shock

16/05/08

CIMA London students are upset about the sudden change of one of the leading exam venues.

CIPFA prize winner tips

16/05/08

F1 not helping students

16/05/08

Pass in double-quick time

16/05/08

AAT students have a new benchmark to adhere to.

08/04/08

The AAT is bowing to recent legislative changes...

May the force be with you

08/04/08

So, what is going to come up in the next CIMA exam sitting in May?

Time to get commercial

07/04/08

Five-year high

07/04/08

The ACCA just got bigger!

AAT reduced rates

07/04/08

The AAT is bowing to recent legislative changes regarding age discrimination and is now offering reduced rate subscriptions to more low-earners.

Bugs in the system

25/03/08

CIPFA's new Student Learning Centre has come under fire from disgruntled students.

Get technical

25/03/08

More regulation and the increasingly complex business environment is changing accountants' roles and skills

ACCA seminars

25/03/08

Help at Once again the Central London

E-porfolio concerns

25/03/08

AAT students are struggling with the new online e-portfolio, PQ Magazine has discovered.

Cross-dressing accountant

25/03/08

Did you read the story recently about the cross-dressing accountant who police believe may have done a Reggie Perrin?

And the winners are..

10/03/08

Top London Nightspot Floridita was packed to the rafters for the fifth annual PQ Magazine Awards night

ACCA results poor

10/03/08

No matter how you look at them the ACCA December don't look good!

Where do you do it?

10/03/08

Tell us where you study to win

FREE IFRS seminar

10/03/08

Birmingham and London locations available

Bizpod offer

10/03/08

Get 10 per cent off

The PQ awards shortlist revealed!

18/02/08

You have to be in it to win it

CIMA launches new e-zine

18/02/08

New e-title for CIMA students

Rolls-Royce to cull over 2,000 jobs

18/02/08

The axe hovers at Roll-Royce as cuts are made

What makes a winner

18/02/08

Excel in your exams first time if you want a medal

Big rise in numbers

18/02/08

CIPFA student numbers are on the up

ACCA and ATT suffer stolen and lost scripts

11/02/08

Paper problems blight accountancy bodies

ACCA and ATT suffer stolen and lost scripts

11/02/08

Paper problems blight accountancy bodies

AAT drives CBE exams

11/02/08

Computer-based exams launched officially

IASC to review constitution

11/02/08

The committee is considering a new monitoring group

Over half of UK workers secretly fancy their colleagues

11/02/08

Office romances are on the up

CIPFA launches online learning

04/02/08

New blended learning concept begins

Get ahead with CIMA and PQ

04/02/08

Get ahead by coming to a student conference

CIMA's new portal starts off Chinese New Year

04/02/08

CIMA launches into the Year of the Rat with new website in Mandarin

The Budget date is announced

04/02/08

KPMG economist has words of advice for Darling

Looking sharp

04/02/08

Super-cheap suits hit the shops

CIMA pass rates are a mixed bag

28/01/08

Neither good news or bad news

Outlook still good for skilled candidates

28/01/08

Worries may be unfounded suggests new survey

Capital gains tax reforms are a 'climbdown' says ACCA

28/01/08

New arrangements not that great

Firms and public bodies \'must cooperate\'

28/01/08

Business leaders encourage their peers to engage with governments

Where were the accountants?

28/01/08

French bank is left red-faced after the rogue trader whom no-one noticed is discovered

ACCA cocks-up winter sitting

21/01/08

Disaster strikes December exam sittings

Sit those papers!

21/01/08

Get into those exam halls to do well in your ICAS qualification

MPs could vet financial appointments

21/01/08

Select committee hearings proposed for key roles in financial regulatory bodies

More challenges on the horizon for employers says ACCA

21/01/08

Employers are struggling to find the right candidates

How to get to the top

21/01/08

It may all be down to Brown Owl

Calling all CIMA PQs

14/01/08

PQ Magazine and CIMA team up for invaluable conferences

The future looks bright

14/01/08

Recruiters and tutors say it is going to be OK

Real results hidden

14/01/08

What\'s going on underneath the numbers

New faculty launched

14/01/08

ICAEW react to financial reporting changes

Time to get rich

14/01/08

Who wants to be a millionaire

AAT exams: less predictable

07/01/08

You must have good underlying knowledge says lecturer

London boroughs search for finance talent

07/01/08

Your local borough needs you

FRC consults on possible changes to the Combined Code

07/01/08

FRC begins consultation on Combined Code changes

Local authority accounts to follow IFRS

07/01/08

Two-year programme to be implemented for local councils

Learning makes you fat

07/01/08

Studying and weight loss don\'t mix