Friday 18th

The Final Blog:


Friday already, which means this is my final blog! You can tell the weekend’s here as the rain’s arrived.

Looking forward to a long weekend, I’m off on holiday Monday and it’s been a busy week in the office. No doubt though I’ll end up going home and working on the farm with dad. By Monday night I’ll be looking forward to coming back to work for a rest!!

I’ve had an interesting morning, part of it was spent looking into the different aspects of deer farming, a part of the industry where I didn’t have too much knowledge. (But I’m still not sure how they round them up?). Who said being an accountant is boring! It’s definitely a job where your knowledge is always increasing.

In my role I am occasionally requested to do work other than accounts and taxation, for example bid for some land at a public auction. I certainly find this interesting and it is an adrenaline rush bidding on behalf of someone else. This afternoon I was out of the office however it involved audit obligations as apposed to auction work, but again variety.

This evening I have the pleasure of attending a Chartered Institute of Taxation dinner with some colleagues, which I’ve plucked the short straw and offered to drive!

Well that’s the blog finished for the week, hope you have enjoyed reading about 5 days in the life of an accountant!

Thursday 17th

Day four of my blog this week:

The suns shining again this morning, hopefully it’s here to stop for the weekend but with the cricket season approaching the rain will probably return. Bet you’re not surprised to hear I play cricket!! My girlfriend (who also is an accountant) will become a cricket widow for the summer, secretly though I think she’s looking forward to it.

Now that springs here the office gets busier than usual and we have to begin organising all our summer agricultural events. Every year we are one of the main sponsors of Dalston show, so we try and organise our trade stand early in the year to ensure that it’s the best at the show. We are also sponsoring the Cumberland show and various other events so between work and play looks like I’ve got a busy summer a head.

I had an external appointment this afternoon to see a client before they started milking. I appreciate dealing with clients and contacts within the agriculture sector means you have to very flexible, this means that a lot of my appointments are weekends and evenings to fit around them so an afternoon one will be a nice change. This is one of my favourite parts of the job, getting out and meeting people, everyone has a different story to tell with different ideas and views.

Wednesday 16th

What a difference seeing the sun shinning early in the morning makes to you day, no matter of your trade/profession!

This was true of today as the day was relatively problem free but not say ‘boring’? It was however less hectic than yesterday, I didn’t have as many appointments which means I was able to spend time with the agricultural team within David Allen & Co. Part of my time is spent researching and ensuring all the team is up to date with any changes in the industry, and as everybody knows these changes can occur on a daily basis from different sources.

The morning was spent sorting out any queries that the team had with their work schedule and making sure all deadlines were adhered to. Our agricultural team (all with their own farming backgrounds) are out of the office part of the time at clients assisting with secretarial services etc, which means planning the workflow in the office carefully.

I also needed to look at some tax planning work for a client that came from yesterday evening’s appointment. This type of work is extremely enjoyable and satisfying knowing that careful planning and advice can and will save many £’s. Every meeting is different and each client requires individual advice therefore it is difficult to forward plan your time in the office.

My day in the office finished relatively on time today at 5.30, but then I’ve been roped into going home and doing my dad’s VAT. He knew something would come out of me becoming an accountant!!!!

Tuesday 15th

Day two of my blog:

It was one of those mornings when it was raining at Dalston and I was pleased that I was at my desk working rather than outside milking cows or lambing sheep!!! But no doubt I’ll get roped into this at the weekend instead.

Working as an accountant my days are sometimes extremely long too, I was in the office for 6:30 this morning reading emails and sorting out today’s workload. Each day certainly has variety and this morning was no exception as I was dealing with some complex legal work and liaising with solicitors then I was involved with office meetings. It certainly helps to be flexible but I know it’s a team effort.

My afternoon though was predominantly spent out of the office at clients, this a part of the job that I really enjoy as your never know what you are going to be faced with or asked, it can be anything from how much tax do I have to pay to can you help me move my sheep. Which is where my farming background, really helps me in my job.

My day ended at 8.20pm with a late visit to a client, as this is usually a good time to sit down with then at the end of the day. Today was certainly not 9 to 5, but I know tomorrow probably won’t be as long and I am happy to be flexible with my clients timetable.

Michael Peile – Chartered Accountant

David Allen & Co Chartered Accountant

Good Morning,My name is Michael Peile, I am a chartered accountant and work for David Allen & Co Chartered accountants based in Dalston. I am the agricultural businesses manager within the firm and deal with predominantly agricultural related clients. I also deal with largerLimited companies and complete statutory audits for our larger corporate clients. I have worked for David Allen & Co for nearly 7 years. I joined the firm after leaving schooland qualified as a chartered accountant in 2006. David Allen & Co was set up in the garage of David Allen ten years ago. Now the firm has over 70 members of staff and we have just extended the purpose built building which we constructed in 2002 on Barras Lane Industrial Estate in Dalston.Some of you may have been past and seen the new building but if not this is what to lookout for; As the agricultural business manager my main day to day job is to run the agricultural department of the firm. We deal with all types of agricultural businesses from dairy, beef,sheep, poultry and even goat farmers. I grew up in the farming industry with my wholefamily being involved in running various types of farms. Initially I thought that I wouldfollow this path and go into farming then I realised that I that wanted to play an activerole in the industry but not so hands on. I decided that being an accountant meant that Icould add value to industry without getting dirty! (I still remember telling my granda Iwasn’t going to farm and decided I wanted to be an accountant; he thought I was crossingto the dark side.) I feel that my background helps immensely as over the last few yearsthe industry has changed so much but by being involved in a farming family really meansI know what challenges the sector is facing.Outside the office we have on show our firms farming mascots, some of you may haveseen these as they have become quite a local talking point, so much so the local auctionnoticed that we did not have them tagged and sent us out some tags for them, if you passby look out for our herd of cows;
As a firm of chartered accountants we do not only offer an agricultural team but we offera whole range of other services, from dealing with Limited Companies, PAYE, we haverecently taken on an ex VAT inspector to deal with any vat queries and also an ex taxinspector to deal with any issues that our clients face with the Revenue.We offer a comprehensive and value for money service whilst helping you make the mostof your business.Well I had better get back to work now ….. lots to do.

Times Up....

Good evening from Okato.
Turned the clocks back last night, but my body clock refused to budge, so awake early as usual. Was really nice to walk down to the shed this morning without the aid of a light, but did seem strange for daylight to show its face at around 6.30. Sunrise was lovely and orange this morning, but the day hasn't been up to much. Cloudy but warm, with a light shower this afternoon.
Very lazy day for me, visited my Mum in Okato for the morning, as I usually do on a Sunday. Called into see our son Jared as well, had a chat with him, he is as busy as ever, and getting new work all the time. Only problem some of the new work people have wanted him for, he hasn't got the machinery to do........so if anyone has a spare seed drill.......
Once again sent myself off to the bedroom after lunch to finish scraping that underlay, from that gorgeous pink carpet, off the floor. This last lot, I'm sure they used super glue as it was a mission to get it off. Finally finished at around 3pm, so good job out the of way. Next two bedrooms will be a breeze as the carpet and underlay are separate and underlay not glued.
Colene did the last milking in her shed this morning. Tomorrow, she will put a final hot detergent wash through the plant, and we will take all 14 units out of the shed incase there are more light fingered people out there that decide they need our plant!
I gave her the afternoon milking off.Not sure how we will work it from now on. I thought perhaps she could do the morning milking and I would do the afternoon....Tomorrow morning, the two herds will be milking through our shed, Colenes cows being on once a day milking. We get one herd in and half way through that go get the other herd. Think we will be all dried off within the next week.
Cows across the road again today, so 3.15pm start , and my chance to play on the white line in the middle of the road again. Sunday afternoon, so not much traffic up and down the road. Cups on before 3.45. Tried to rain while I was hosing down, and still trying. According to the weather it should have been raining all weekend. In early this evening well before 5.30.
So as I end this diary I would like to thank Steve for giving me the chance to tell you a little of my daily life, and I bet he didn't realize I could "ramble" so much or as we say here in New Zealand "waffle on". I have enjoyed it..... thank you.
As we head into winter now, we hope that your warmer weather will arrive before too much longer.
So as I end my week at the helm, I leave you with this little gem for you to ponder on....

"Did you know that animals that lay eggs don't have belly buttons!!!

Take care folks
Regards ~ Carolyn

Penultimate Online Diary

Hi folks,
Well down to the second to last day of my efforts in the literary department.
Usual start to the morning, 4.20 up with a cuppa, then down to the shed. Once again very dark, and a very cool wind. Cows were a bit ratty this morning, don't know what their problem was, but they were pushing each other, and fidgety and messy. Maybe they are ready to end for the season as well. Milk weight down once again. Drafted out ones to dry off as well.
Clever tanker driver managed to leave a water tap on last night when he collected the milk at 10.25pm. Of course we didn't find it till 5.25 this morning, and Jim reckoned around 2000 litres of water went down the drain.....a driver has done that once before and managed to get water in our milk sample and they tried to give us a grade for excess water in the milk. Got it sorted when the tanker driver admitted he could have put water in our milk sample. We have let our liaison officer know the problem and await the outcome. At a time when water is short, 2000 litres is a lot to loose.
Very red sky this morning, and windy and cloudy, felt very much like rain. But it never happened, and remained a dull day.
Not much done today although I do think it was a productive day. Spent 4 hours on my hands and knees stripping the underlay off the floor in our bedroom. Why the previous owners felt the need to glue it to the floor is beyond me. Maybe they thought everyone liked pink nylon carpet and would want to keep it forever!!!. Most of the underlay was perished, so would not just strip off. Had to use a putty knife, and there is no way a spade would have worked like I was told......I know my back is going to complain tomorrow long and loud!!!
3.30 start this afternoon as the cows are across the road. I am the dairy farmers answer to a lollipop man, and stand in the middle of the road to either stop the traffic, or stop the cows crossing when the need arises. Some days it goes well, and all the cows get across and no traffic. Other days I am forever shutting the gate on the cows, letting a few across, shutting it again, etc etc. Its amazing how some people have no idea how to drive when they see cattle crossing a road.....townies I guess!!! Probably go "yuck" when they squelch through the cow muck as its hits the underside of their 4 wheel drives!!!!. Anyway cows decided this afternoon to spread themselves out and head up the road, but the dog sorted them out without too much problem or any traffic.
Did outside chores and inside at around 5.30, early tonight!!
Off to Colenes for tea tonight, I cook the roast she does the vege, and the best thing is I don't have any dishes to do, she has a dishwasher!!!
Catch you tomorrow or my final online diary....Cheers