Category Archives: finance

How An Insurance Loss Assessor Can Help Following A Disaster

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If you run a successful small business having good insurance cover is crucial, and you would assume this would cover you sufficiently following a fire, flood or burglary. This isn’t always the case and when you require your business to return to normal as quickly as possible this will need to be addressed.

We all know that insurance companies will try and wriggle out of paying the premium when it comes to insurance claims – and when you are expected to deal with nuances of the claim yourself it can be nigh on impossible to get the kind of money you need to take your company forward following the disaster. In addition to this the insurance company will have appointed a loss adjuster to the case to investigate your liability and the extent of the cover as it relates to the claim.

If this all seems a little unfair then I would suggest you may be right. However a small business can use a secret weapon to combat the insurance company – know in the industry as an insurance loss assessor. An insurance loss assessor will be working for, and representing, you and your company. Working solely with you and your business in mind the insurance loss assessor (who will probably work on a no win no fee basis) will carry out the same research as the loss adjuster, will complete all the relevant paperwork for the claim and negotiate on your behalf. Because they are working for you (and on a no win no fee basis) you can rest assured that they will get the best possible financial payment for your business.

The insurance loss assessor will provide a true statement of what you have lost in the disaster and negotiate the settlement with the insurance company – getting you and your business what you are rightfully owed. Insurance loss assessors tend to specialise in fire insurance claims, flood insurance claims, theft insurance claims and business interruption claims. They do have access to a multitude of other professional in specialist areas so can accommodate virtually any claim you need them to.

When you have poured your life in to creating a successful business you don’t want to disappear into the dust following a disaster.

Search for a job in the comfort of your own home

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Gone are the days when finding a job was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. With the rise of the internet and the superior ways of communication it now seems all that is needed is a PC and broadband. Once both of these are achieved, it is easier than ever (and often faster) to find jobs that are applicable to you. There is even a wealth of resources giving you advice on how to find a job.

Whether you are looking for a job in accounting and finance or hospitality, travel and leisure or fancy something completely different, there are now search engine for job available where you get to view all jobs from major job boards on one search engine.

Once signed up you can choose to receive email alerts for jobs that match your criteria, subscribe to the RSS feed and manage all of your job offers in your very own menu section.

All you need to do is type in the job you want, where in the country you would like to work and with one click you will have, displayed in front of your very eyes, all the jobs available along with the information you require to apply.

Find the right course for you

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If you have found yourselves at a crossroads in life and you are either hindered in your career or you have found yourself unhappy with the career you are in, you would probably benefit from looking at additional qualifications to boost your potential.

All too often people find themselves compromising their careers due to a lack of training and whilst finding time to pursue training and managing to fund it can be a challenge to some, the benefits are sure to be worth it. A course offering a business management diploma, for example, can provide you with a professional qualification which could help you gain an advantage over your peers for a career in business.

Search engines for education are now available online which offer users a gateway to a wide variety of information on courses along with the opportunity to contact course providers and discuss your requirements. Finding the right course, whether it is in business or something totally different becomes less of a daunting task and easier than ever before.

These search engines can also help keen business owners who would like to train their staff because they understand the notable benefits investing in their manpower will bring them and their business.

Cash bonuses in the spotlight.

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cash bonuses in the UK

George Osborne, the shadow chancellor of the Conservative Party spoke out yesterday against Britain’s Retail banks paying ‘significant’ cash bonuses to employees in finance jobs. He believes there should be a drive to plough profits back into new lending and rather than paying out large bonuses, the money should go into the banks balance sheets explicitly to support new lending. Osborne, who named no individual institutions, is believed to have been alluding to the four big high street banks, Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC and Barclays.

He called on the Treasury and Financial Services Authority to work together and stop retail banks ‘paying out profits in significant cash bonuses’. Osborne’s reaction comes after Gordon Brown said that he would crack down on unreasonable bonuses, the Prime Minister said “We are continuing to act on unfair and excessive bonuses being paid in the banking system that your money helped save.” Liam Byrne, chief secretary to the treasury said ‘We have stopped short of banning all bonuses for retail banks because it is unworkable, but we are presently negotiating with RBS and Lloyds on the payment of 2009 bonuses.”

Osborne’s call for a ban, which is the strongest attack yet by the Tories on banks suggested the bonuses be paid in shares to employees in banking jobs and that they should not be cashed for at least three years and he claimed that billions of pounds in ‘subsidised profits’ threatened to worsen the credit crunch.

With the tax payers bailing out the bank to help increase lending again, Osborne argued that the move wasn’t intended to leave Britain in a position where credit was being rationed while banks return to their big bonuses.

An argument that will continue to grow and develop I am sure, but who is right? Do we run the risk of losing invaluable financing and accounting staff in the haste of a total ban of bonuses or is it ludicrous to think that any member of banking staff should receive bonuses after the tax payers bailed the banks out last year?

The challenges and trends of Public Sector Employment in today’s environment.

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Man sitting in front of Big Ben

Not surprisingly, as the financial crisis continues to grip the UK, there is an increasing shift on demand from private to public sector jobs in finance. An inevitable trend which sees finance jobs in the realms of Central and Local Government, Health, Housing, Education and charities, a preferable role with added security. Commitment to investment and borrowing from the government to protect and increase the scope of public sector jobs makes it more of an enviable sector to be in. Differences continue to divide the private and public sectors and some of the challenges that will always remain in public sector recruitment continue to be the complexity and importance of the accounting positions in the sector and the demand of specialist knowledge and capabilities within those roles.

Salaries, benefits and the general tone of working have always segregated the sectors but a continuous push from the public sector to become more in line with the private sector is starting to make a difference. Targeting candidates from industry and banking due to their results-focus and business intelligence provides more commercial awareness and increases business efficiency and performance for the public sector. Adopting a more commercial structure and identifying the transferable experience an individual has into non-profit environments are key factors to ensure public and non-profit organisations get as much value for money in a time when government reviews and motions are becoming increasingly more demanding.

However transferable and relevant a private sector individual has to the public sector still won’t deter from a greater need for understanding and empathy with the ‘product’ of the non-profit sector. Nor will it be acceptable for individuals to see public sector recruitment as the safest avenue, gaining employment in this sector requires a high level of commitment to integrating within the team and meet the public sectors demands and expectations and attaining highly accountable targets. There are certain roles within the private sector that lend themselves better to public and non-profit sectors than others and individuals from the private sector who have highly technical finance skills within a banking background find themselves well equipped with highly regulated organisations like government departments for example. For a true insight into getting into public sector roles based on your experience to date contacting a specialist recruitment agency will provide you with the vital information you need.

The Risks of Driving Uninsured

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CCTV cameras for ANPR technology

An ever increasing number of people are currently driving without car insurance on UK roads. As financial pressure grows on UK household’s people aren’t shopping around for the best car insurance deals; they’re simply not buying any.

The implication of this growing trend is very worrying for the car insurance industry and injury compensation companies alike.

The penalties for driving without insurance include:

  • £200 fine
  • Your vehicle being seized
  • Six penalty points added to your license

With the methods of catching uninsured drivers increasing, and more and more of them being caught (up to 500 a day, according to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau also known as the MIB), it’s becoming harder to get away with not having insurance.

There is even a database that shows which parts of the country contain the highest number of uninsured vehicles (Greater London – 13%, Merseyside – 12%, Greater Manchester – 10%, West Yorkshire – 7%, and the West Midlands – 7% are the top five, if you’re interested) so police know where to concentrate their efforts.

The MIB has begun a campaign to point out the risks faced by driving uninsured. It’s not just when people get caught that they run into problems. Anybody involved in an accident whilst they’re uninsured risks being taken to court over road traffic accident claims, and if you don’t have an insurer to pay compensation, you’re going to be paying out of your own pocket.

With the number of No Win No Fee companies around, having to pay compensation on a injury claims is a real possibility and one that could result in enormous financial difficulties for all those involved.

When all of this is considered, skipping insurance to save money suddenly doesn’t seem like such a good idea.

Common Road Accidents That Can Be Avoided by Driving Carefully

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road traffic Accident

Accidents happen all the time. Unfortunately they are a way of life, yet some of them can be avoided. It seems that more and more people are making personal injury claims due to road traffic accidents.

It would be fair to say that the majority of us don’t drive to the same standard that we did when we passed out test. Over time we have become lazy and less cautious of the dangers that lay in front of us. So what can we do to become safer drivers? We need to remember some of the things we were taught whilst learning to drive and combine it with a little common sense.

1. Accidents at junction. The two main factors for this type accident include:

a.      A lack of awareness from the person pulling out of the junction. Very often they don’t look long enough and refuse to slow down enough at the junction to register the flow of the traffic.

b.      Unfortunately responsibly also lays in the hands of the other driver in regards to their speed. The two combined can cause a fatal mistake for some.

2.      Over Taking
With so many other road users such as caravans, lorries, cyclists and tractors it becomes all too easy to be impatient with these slow moving travelers. Many drivers find themselves taking unnecessary risks to overtake and gain a few seconds over this type of traffic. It’s worth while remembering that you should not be over taking on a corner or on the brow of a hill. You also need to remember at all times, that when over taking ‘what if some one is doing what I’m doing on the other side of the road?’

3.      Always look right
Roundabouts are always another popular place for an accident. By not looking properly and becoming impatient whilst waiting for a gap an accident is on the horizon for many car drivers. Consider these two factors with the thought that people using the round about might not be in the correct lane and you should approach the roundabout with a little more care.

These three tips alone could help you avoid any un-necessary collisions with other road users. Just remember to be considerate and un-agitated and driving will become more of a pleasure than a chore.

Celebrity Property

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Jimi Hendrix Childhood HomeIn times like these paying the bills can be a most stressful commitment. Meeting the needs of the bank as well as keeping the family fed can be a balancing act that many are unable to undertake. It seems that houses all around the world are at risk of being lost by the owners and those with a celebrity style status have become no exception.

The former home of Jimi Hendrix made news recently when it came to light that the home was to be torn down. Hendrix’ childhood home was declared a ‘shack’ and is to be demolished by local authorities. The Seattle council claimed that the property has become an eyesore after years of neglect. Many fans are mourning the loss of the house as to them it wasn’t a wreck but considered as the childhood home of the great legendary rock star. One of the most famous musicians to be born in Seattle some considered it a shame that no city body stepped in to intervene.

The building was purchased by developer Peter Sikov but after many attempts to relocate the property to reside opposite Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery (where Hendrix is buried) had been turned down it seemed that the endeavor was a lost cause. Yet Sikov is still looking on the demolition of the property as a positive thing. The remains of property can be auctioned off for charity he explains “Can you imagine a guitar made out of wood from Jimi’s house?” he asks. “Who wouldn’t want that?”

John Lennon Childhood houseYet not all houses of the famous fall foul to the redevelopment of the local area. The National trust continues to make a great deal of effort in maintaining and preserving the family homes of the famous. One such house that the trust is now responsible for is that of former Beatle John Lennon. The property at 251 Menlove Avenue in Liverpool was the childhood home of this Rock ‘n’ Roll icon. Raised there since the age of 6 by his auntie and uncle, Lennon was brought up in the semi detached property and stayed there for many years, the national trust boasts that some of the earliest Beatles tracks where written there.

For many people the change of a developer or the National Trust buying up their house in their hour of need is a fantasy at best. There are many companies that offer a Quick Property Sale and a Cash for Property service. This service will enable you to get your finances back on track and a few of the companies also offer you the chance to stay in your home with a Sell your Property and Rent Back option. For more information on this service follow the links to the site.

Accident Compensation Claims and How Some People Deserve Them

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Back pain can entitle you to a compensation claim

In life there are many things that you can’t prepare for and one of which are accidents. If you are the victim of an accident then you could be entitled to an accident compensation claim.

An injury could leave you with long or short term pain and why should you have to suffer? If the accident was not your fault than there is a good chance that you will be able to make a claim. Perusing a UK accident claim is becoming more popular and more excepted in society. Getting justice for an accident as well as financial aid could help with the burden of any loss of earnings that might be incurred.

Many accident sufferers are unable to work due to the nature of their injury. The pain in some cases can be quite intense. A broken rib from a car traffic accident or an injured back from a work related mishap are some just some examples.

An accident, bedsides having physical implications can have a massive impact financially. This is never more true that those who have a family to look after. A reduction in income can leave the family short of money which can impact on all areas of family life. Things like, being unable to make payments on bills, loans, and the mortgage. Being unable to provide basic essential things like food, without having to borrow money from friends and family. Just these few key problems can put a lot of extra pressure on other members of the family and those around you.

There are some great accident compensation claim companies out there that will be able to help you. Taking all of these elements into consideration and being honest will maximise your claims potential. Ensuring that you get the most from your injury and offering a no win, no fee service can be a great way to know you have a good deal and really get all that you are entitled to.

Different roles within the Accountancy Sector

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If you are looking for accountancy jobs then you will probably already know about the professional bodies that regulate the training and work of accountants. But for those of you would like to know more, we have put together a brief guide to the professional bodies and types of accountancy jobs you will qualify for.

accountant job

ACA – Chartered Accountant Audit

ACA jobs involve visiting clients in audit teams and reviewing financial records and business operations to ensure the company’s accounts are in order. Employers will be chartered accountancy firms of all sizes.

These jobs benefit from lots of variety as you will be visiting lots of different business, you will be given lots of responsibility and will deal with a wide range of people. The downside to the job is the long hours that you will spend on training and the job itself. Employees with good exam results and that work hard can look forward to early responsibility and fast promotion.

CIPFA – Chartered public & finance accountant

These roles involve managing financial services such as income collections, providing advice to management of massive organisations. The business that will employee people in these roles will be local authorities and public sector bodies. These roles are very satisfactory as you get to be directly involved with running large and important organisations. The downside is that the areas you will be working in a rife with financial constraints and politics.

ACCA – Chartered Certified Accountant

ACCA jobs deal with managing accounting systems, auditing financial records, investigation anomalies, preparing financial statements, improving processes and procedures and advising clients on tax and financial issues. These accounts can either work for private practices, public sector organisations or private sector companies.

The positives with this type of job is that you can specialse in any industry and you get an overview of the whole enterprise.

Negatives are that the qualification is hard work to get, the job is quite high pressured and there is a negative image of it.

CIMA – Chartered Management Accountant

CIMA jobs are more management related than the other qualifications. The role deals with providing financial information to help protect companies financially. You will provide management information, improve existing procedures and processes and select implement and develop management systems. These roles are lot less number crunching than the others and involve a lot more management.