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Twinfield podcast secures deal

I received a rough translation of a case study from my friends at D2C the UK arm of Twinfield. Part of it says the decison maker listened to a spot on a radio station about the company and decided to look at it. Whassat???

At the time, the competition was Oracle???!!! As a hosted service. Can you believe that? Hey did Oracle forget about NetSuite?

When the case comes out, it will blow you away. It's really good.

So putting that into today's speak - a podcast case study could be a great idea.

Technorati Tags : Twinfield, Saas, software+marketing, podcasting, podcast+marketing, Oracle, Netsuite

 

15 minute news roundup

I had an idea. Partners are often too busy to read papers or stuff like this so how about a 15 minute podcast each week where I do a round up of what's been happening in the news? I was thinking of running a number of sections including tax, audit/compliance, technology.

All folk have to do is download and transfer to an MP3 player and then listen at their leisure.

Let me know what you think of the idea.

Meet The People

Show Notes - CitySlickrs Podcast show no. 2 - 8th December, 2005

This is a compilation of comments and thoughts on issues that are of interest to a professional business audience.

In order to listen to the show, you will need to download a copy of iTunes or iPodder. These are both free. Click here for a 30 second guide about how podcasts work and how you can use them in a portable fashion.

The podcast can be found at City Slickrs

00:00-00:42 - Intro with Father Rock
00:43-05:02 - Neville Hobson on the business value of podcasting as an adjunct to other marketing initiatives
05:03-08:53 - Shel Israel reviews big business blogging, changed perceptions and the new world of business opportunity
08:54-14:51 - Adriana Cronin-Lukas discusses the thorny issue of measurement and value add
14:52-16:30 - David Tebbutt looks at the changing face of education
16:31-18:16 - Hugh McLeod reviews the idea of the Global Microbrand
18:17-21:52 - Yat Siu talks about ousourcing and offshoring in the Far East and China
21:53-25:00 - Loic LeMeur provides insights into the experiences of M-E LeClerc in meeting the CEO time crunch
25:01-25:40 - Closing comments and thanks to all participants
25:41-26:06 - Outro with Father Rock

Technorati Tags : lesblogs

City Slickrs

Having rebuilt my setup courtesy of a total IBM R51 crash, I've also set up the new podcasting rig. It's a quantum leap from what I was using before but I think the results are better. A long way to go, a lot more to learn. Do let me know what you think of the overall production quality.

In order to listen to the show, you will need to download a copy of iTunes or iPodder. These are both free. Click here for a 30 second guide about how podcasts work and how you can use them in a portable fashion.

The show is hosted at LibSyn and you can find the download here. I've called the show City Slickrs, a name I've registered for later use when I've figured out how all this stuff works!

So, until I return from Les Blogs 2.0, here's the show notes:

00:00-00:41 - Intro including music from Father Rock
00:42-02:11 - An explanation of the new podcasting rig, all sourced from Dolphin Music
02:12-03:24 - Commentary around the Accountancy Age article: HMRC suspends tax credits portal over mass identity fraud
03:25-07:42 - Kevin Reed on Sage CEO Paul Stobart apologising to accountants, broadening into a discussion around the relative merits of SaaS offerings in the context of Sage's announcements.
07:43-12:26 - Norman Green on the 'pact' between investors and the board - Green puts up a dozy defence of Sarbanes-Oxley and convolutes that into claiming shareholders "only have themselves to blame" when the next scandal occurs. Nonsense, and I explain why.
12:27-16:46 - Nicola Ross Martin's analysis of the Arctic Systems appeal, widening into a discussion around comments left about the way the profession has responded and my views on consolidation.
16:47-18:56 - Offshoring and outsourcing of routine compliance work suggesting readers view Vinnie Marchandani's site
18:57-19:30 - Outro

Technorati Tags : podcasting+accountants, lesblogs

Breakthrough - a podcast with a lawyer

The other week I stumbled across Mark Lloyd, a London based lawyer. It seems we move in similar blogcircles. Anyway, I couldn't resist the opportunity to see what a blogging lawyer makes of this new medium. The resultant conversation was both fascinating and revealing. A must-listen-to.

You can download the entire show by clicking on the podcast icon to the left of this paragraph and then clicking on the OK button to 'save to disk.' In order to listen to the show, you will need to download a copy of iTunes or iPodder. These are both free.

Click here for a 30 second guide about how podcasts work and how you can use them in a portable fashion.

Show Notes
To guide you through this podcast, there follows a timed series of notes that give you an indication of the topics under discussion at different points during the show. You can simply skip through to the time check start point for the piece in which you're interested and start playing from that point onwards. Enjoy.

00:00-00:35 - Intro with music from FallOutBoy
00:36-01:26 - Mark tells us about his background as a lawyer
01:27-02:32 - The similariaties and differences between lawyers and accountants
02:33-03:49 - Bridging the gap that exists in understanding each others' worlds
03:50-05:23 - The Law Society, ICAEW and snobbery
05:24-06:58 - The changing face of advertising
06:59-09:37 - Money laundering and its impact for lawyers in different circumstances. Includes a discussion of the Three Rivers Case
09:38-11:02 - Linking and how Mark sees his early and recent experiences as a blogger
11:03-12:16 - The difference it is making to Mark's day to day and business lives
12:17-13:15 - The balance in language between 'passion' and 'thoughtfulness'
13:16-16:03 - The legal consequences and risks attached to professionals as bloggers
16:04-17:52 - The US v UK/European scene
17:53-18:48 - The dying nature of mainstream media
18:49-20:00 - Engaging with local people as the trusted source for local news - references Naked Conversations, Shel Holtz in error, should've been Shel Israel - apologies to all concerned
20:01-22:37 - How Mark uses Wikis as a way of managing the business
22:38-23:45 - Document management with wiki as a cost saver - references JotSpot
23:46-24:19 - Security and wikis
24:20-25:25 - Blogocircles, interlinking and the fun of discovery
25:26-25:44 - We'll meet again - this time in person at Les Blogs 2.0
25:45-26:44 - Outro with music from Automatic

All music is sourced from either the Podcast Music Network or PureVolume and is considered 'podsafe.' Each offers material that is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Technorati Tags : blogging+lawyers, UK+legal+profession

Tax guru Simon Sweetman says...

Simon Sweetman is 'poacher turned gamekeeper' (my phrase) in the tax world. Earlier today, I recorded a conversation with Simon which is reproduced below as a podcast.

Highly knowledgeable and vigorous defender of the small businessman, Simon discusses a variety of issues including IR35, revenue investigations, s.19A and the publican's scare from possible VAT visits. He also has a take on ELS/FBI.

The central message that comes across regarding IR35, investigations and VAT visits is simple: DON'T PANIC. The situation in all cases has been overblown (especially in the popular Accounting press) and that in Simon's practical experience to date, HMRC have as many hurdles to overcome as you do.

The good news is that the small business investigation is proving something of a dead duck for HMRC and they are looking at ways of going after the really big fish - following KPMG's experience, there is a sense that HMRC fancy having some of that kind of action...

Click here for a 30 second guide about how podcasts work and how you can use them in a portable fashion

  << click here to download the MP3 file

Show notes to guide you to stuff you're interested in (remember, you don't have to listen to everything - you can skip through to things of interest to you:

00:00 - 00:30 - Intro including music from Sinch - Identity Theft
00:31 - 02:14 - Simon's background and the services he offers to practitioner
02:15 - 05:48 - The current anti-avoidance climate
05:49 - 07:34 - a demoralised HMRC, IR35 not producing as anticipated
07:35 - 08:52 - more case, but no problems arguing status
08:53 - 11:03 - construction industry status cases
11:04 - 13:03 - penalty issues in status cases
13:04 - 15:33 - managing appropriate contracts
15:34 - 18:03 - is the government trying to help ease the burden of small business? Apparently so.
18:04 - 22:12 - VAT compliance letters are effective. "I got one" (Simon helped frame the wording for the VAT folk)
22:13 - 22:53 - the reality of unannounced publican visits - forget it - they're back peddling to some extent
22:54 - 23:10 - take advice early, especially if you're uncomfortable with the 'new' regime
23:11 - 24:48 - s.19a cases and current revenue attitudes (combative!)
24:48 - 26:32 - avoid the big boys...and lawyers (mostly)
26:33 - 27:33 - government consultation groups activity
27:34 - 29:25 - average tax take on small business investigation cases? c.£500 -  uneconomic, for everyone
29:26 - 34:03 - big boys and major schemes at risk, but HMRC and big boys cosying up
34:04 - 37:19 - Small Business Review - government may not deliver
37:20 - 41:48 - ELS/FBI - HMRC unlikely to move start date
41:49 - 43:32 - can 'we' learn from the French (yes!)
43:33 - 43:48 - closing remarks
43:49 - 44:38 - outro and closing music: The Honour Recital, Pain Will Ease

Music for download can be found at PureVolume

In order to listen to this podcast, you will need an MP3 player like Real Audio. If you want to download to your iPod then you will need iTunes. This podcast has been automatically uploaded for RSS so if you want to access it from FeedDemon for future listening then you can grab it from there.

What's this podcasting stuff?

Sorry people - I had a number of inquiries asking me to explain a podcast - us techies should be taken outside and given harsh words about not explaining things we introduce. I'm suitably chastened. In reparation, here's my guide to grabbing and listening to podcasts.

A podcast is a digital audio file, usually in the MP3 format. The great thing about this is that it is downloadable AND detachable. That means you can say:

"Oh - I like this but I haven't got time to listen now. I'll grab it and put it on my iPod or other MP3 player and listen to it on my way home."

We do show notes. These are a running guide to what's on the recording. That allows you to scroll through the file to find those things that are of interest to you. You don't have to listen to the whole thing if you don't want to and you can print out the show notes page for later reference. It's a choice thing.

We believe this an important aspect of communication and gives clients more choice about how they access you as people.

I have to say my first attempt was hard work. Here's what it took

• I spent 15 minutes thinking about the question areas.
• Then we did the recording, which after technical glitches took around an hour.
• Next I had to edit the files to get rid of unnecessary stuff, coughs, splutters and the rest. That took about an hour.
  
• Then I had to figure out a way of putting an intro together plus an outro. That took a couple of hours, finding music, working out how to stitch a bit of speech to some music and
• Then assembling the whole thing. That was tough as I didn't understand how to stitch two different files.
  
• If that wasn't enough I then had to post the whole thing and get it into RSS. That was another hour's work as I didn't know how the stuff I use works for this kind of thing.

Next time out, I reckon I'll get it done in under an hour + the time taken to record the discussion. There's a tutorial here somewhere but frankly I'm really tired. I'll do it if enough people ask.

Compliance podcast

Yesterday, I recorded a podcast conversation with Jeremy Roche, CEO of CODA Group. I've known Jeremy ever since he arrived at CODA and during that time, I've found him excellent at explaining technology to the business in a way that most people can understand. This podcast is the first of what I hope will be many that address issues of importance to professional accountants. Many of the issues relate to large companies but the principles we discuss are the same for large and small organisations.

Download the MP3 file here

Show notes to guide you to stuff you're interested in:
00:00 - 00:30 - Intro including music from Sinch - Identity Theft
00:31 - 02:30 - Setting the scene, the legislative landscape
02:31 - 06:40 - Auditing processes rather than transactions, gaining business effectiveness and avoiding pitfalls
06:41 -  09:39 - US experience to date:
09:40 - 17:45 - Looking at specific examples like bad debt provision, how that impacts cross departmental processes and how these processes might change over time.
17:46 - 19:50 - Mitigating audit costs by shifting the focus from transactions to process
19:51 - 21:16 - Benefits to be found from taking a process approach
21:17 - 24:23 - Is this real? What about the lessons to take away?
24:24 - 26:54 - Looking to the future
26:55 - 27:13 - Customer reference - sorry folks, it's a month away but I will go back and get it!
27:14 - 28:15 - Closing discussion
28:16 - 29:08 - Outro and closing music: The Honour Recital, Pain Will Ease

Music for download can be found at PureVolume

In order to listen to this podcast, you will need an MP3 player like Real Audio. If you want to download to your iPod then you will need iTunes. This podcast has been automatically uploaded for RSS so if you want to access it from FeedDemon for future listening then you can grab it from there.

As always, we didn't cover everything and some of Jeremy's remnarks are contentious. If you have comments or questions about this show, or suggestions for our future shows, email me at dahowlett@gmail.com or call my SkypeOut number in the UK at +44 207 7193 2146. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 5Mb attachment, please!). I'll be happy to see how I can include your audio contribution in a future show.

Skype and podcasts

I bang on about Skype a fair bit but here's a new use. Over the next few weeks I'll be having conversations with a number of people who have interesting things to say about issues affecting professional accountants. These will be recorded and then made available on this site for download or streaming in the MP3 format. This makes the podcast portable - you won't be tied to a computer to  hear it. You can take it in the car, whatever is most convenient for you. For lstening and organising podcasts on your compter, I'd recommend downloading either iTunes or iPodder - both free. If you have an iPod then iTunes is already integrated to it.

Each podcast will be no longer than 20 minutes and will be accompanied by 'show notes' so you can decide whether to listen to all, some or a part of the conversation.

If you want to learn more about podcasting then I encourage you to look at Podcasting 101. If you want to hear a business podcast then try FIR.

Most podcasts will fall into the general area of compliance but if people want other stuff, then we'll do our best to accommodate. First up will be Jeremy Roche. He's CEO of CODA and has a good amount to say about the issues impacting end customers. I'm also lining up David Carter. He's the Excel guru at AccountingWEB but we'll be talking about the new Sage V.12 product of which he's had a sneak preview. Others are in the wings but I can't talk about them...yet.

What I'm really interested in is hearing from clients who use professional accountants beyond the annual accounts/tax service. If any of you have customers out there that are willing to talk about their experience and what it means to them then drop me an email or Skype me. The contact details are in the sidebar to the right. We can then discuss and take further.

Think of it this way - when your clients have something interesting to say about you then you're interesting. Gettit?