Accounts Working Papers Group Update

Our Accounts Working Papers (AWP) Group consists of Busola Odude (STR), Emily Hunter (CHE), Ben Turnbull (STA), Maureen Kernaghan (HAL), Gemma MacAndrews (COL), Calvin Footer (IPS). Please see below an update from this group.

As you may be aware, we have been working to align and standardise the accounts working papers across all of our offices, and these have been reviewed and approved by the board so should now be used on all new jobs going forwards.

This will help bring the following key benefits to the accounts service line and enable us all to work as one:

• Maximise efficiency and streamline the accounts preparation process
• To promote consistency across the accounts service line
• To enable more seamless integration when sharing accounts resources between the offices
• To create a standard process that’s ready to go as we add new business acquisitions
• To ensure we all cover key issues such as advisory matters and dividend planning

The AWP group member from your office will shortly run through these with you (if not already) to explain the key changes and answer any questions, however these will largely feel very familiar to what we have been using.

These should be created directly in CCH templates, and the template is called “AWP YE xxxx”. This version will be kept up to date so you always know you are working from the most up to date “live” version.

We’ve had lots of great feedback during the trial phase that’s lead to lots of positive changes. This will be a continual process, so the AWP group will meet on an ongoing quarterly basis to address any changes needed from your suggestions and upcoming legislation. Therefore as you use these please direct any feedback to the “Standard AWPs Group” which you should be able to find on Outlook and Teams.

Finally please view the working papers as a great starting point that will cover most bases on jobs and promote consistency, however these are by no means a rigid proforma or a one size fits all. Therefore do continue to use your own initiative on schedules to maximise efficiencies with the goal of producing a well supported accounts file that agrees to the TB for manager review.

If you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Kind regards,
The AWP Group