To think accountancy isn't a "keyworker" job?

[hannabull]

One of the parents at school is a self employed accountant who works from home, but sending kids into school. The other parent works out of the home (not a key worker) how is this allowed? Claims to be an essential worker (doesn't work for the nhs or anything, just accounts for small businesses)

I think it depends on who they are an accountant for. Financial services are on the list though.

The argument that it’s tax return season so they are busy really doesn’t cut it however.

Before Xmas is super busy for my profession but we’re not keyworkers despite being in the public sector.

Some people will have children in the vulnerable category and not feel comfortable sharing why their children are at school.

I completely disagree with most. I don't think it should be classified as essential. Yes it needs doing. But it doesn't make you a key worker. And yes, I do accounts!

@ceeveebee when my partner was an accountant working busy season (now) he would often work 8am to midnight. There is sometimes no wiggle room.

And yes, having previously worked in practice, I know exactly what time of the year it is!
But I still disagree.

[quote nomorename]@Pikoty I already have it... not essential for me to switch is it [/quote]
You're still buying it. You didn't say anything about switching

I work beside an accountant dealing with farm and small firm accounts - I'm in Ireland where tax dates are different, the accountants were there throughout lockdown.
Their clients tend to arrive with carrier bags of books and receipts. They try to leave them with me on Christmas Eve (normal years)so they don't have to come back when the accountants are there.
They are back in work now.

It is essential BUT I don't understand why it can't be done working around childcare like everyone else in the world is doing.I just checked and it is NOT classified as keywork by the government. I appreciate this time of year is crazy busy, but doing a few hours very early in the morning and very late in the evening should be able to compensate. I work in professional services and fail to see how accountancy is any more important than most other work that there is no way it can be done with a child in the house.

So did they go into the office during the last lockdown then?

Yes

@Bunnybigears

So did they go into the office during the last lockdown then?

Yes

So they broke the law then

I dont think people get how insane January is in accounting land.

I normally work part time but work 5 days a week in jan plus overtime as the work literally cannot be done unless than about 10 solid hours a day, every day. No one in accountancy is ever allowed to take annual leave in january.

My kid got chicken pox in january a few years back and I had to get my mother to come and stay with us, I literally couldnt be off with DC at all.

Key work = the jobs which keep us in a bare, basic standard of living. Non key work = the jobs which make life worth living.

This is just job triage to get us through a pandemic physically and financially intact. It's not a competition or a value judgement.

[quote CorianderBee]@ceeveebee when my partner was an accountant working busy season (now) he would often work 8am to midnight. There is sometimes no wiggle room. [/quote]
I’ve been an accountant for 25 years including 10 years in audit, I’m fully aware of the long hours needed. I’m working for a PLC now running risk and compliance, it’s no less stressful believe me!
But can all be done from home and so no excuse for sending kids in.

This is not about the most efficient way of people working, or about whether kids get a great learning experience. It’s to save lives. The fewer kids in school, the quicker rates will fall.

Nomorename

No they didn't.through every lockdown the rules have allowed people to go to work if they cannot do their job from home. There are thousands of reasons why companies might need people to be there in person.

Yes it was abused but alas it's the problem with the guidance being vague in places.

So they broke the law then

No because even during the first lockdown you could go into work if you couldnt work from home and worked in a key worker role.

Financial services have always been on the list.

This is every accountants busiest month of the year. It absolutely is an essential job.

@Bunnybigears

So they broke the law then

No because even during the first lockdown you could go into work if you couldnt work from home and worked in a key worker role.

Financial services have always been on the list.

You didn't need to be a key worker, if you were self employed and couldn't work from home then you could continue to go to your place of work. The media added in "key worker" to their shit reporting, caused a lot of issues.

Financial services are regulated by the FCA
Here are the sectors they regulate
www.fca.org.uk/about/sector-overview

Accountants are not regulated by the FCA and are not actually part of the financial services sector. They are professional services.

So where on the list do accountants believe they appear?

God it’s like banging my head off a brick wall

I agree 100%. Our whole economy is interconnected. Everyone's job is important. Everyone pays taxes!

I'm just being pedantic here, but apart from a few people who are self employed and calculate their own taxes, accountants and bookkeepers literally pay taxes because they run payroll, complete VAT returns etc.

No idea whether this particular accountant can work from home (I lean towards the idea that they just don't want to share their life with the OP).

OP why are you stalking the person.
Clearly you are not busy either if you can monitor their activities on facebook.

The Government have placed a huge burden this year on accountants due to all of the extra work created by the Job Retention Scheme. This in turn keeps the employees off the benefits system, it keeps money in the economy and keeps the local shops going and keeps the bills paid and the family fed. I got behind in my usual work due to losing days each month to file claims to ensure that employers can pay their employees. The Government are refusing to extend the 31 Jan deadline despite highup bodies begging them to acknowledge the increased workload they have created for us this year.

If the Government can't acknowledge that our work is essential to the country's survival, then shame on them. Accountants are not shown on the Critical Worker list under any section, even Financial Services, so my DD's school refused me a place for her even though I said she wouldn't have access to a computer due to my workload and that I would not be able to assist her with any work.

My employee has been awarded a place by her DC's primary school, using the same criteria that was used by my school to refuse me.

I have worked relentlessly since March to keep clients advised, employees paid, and to advise people on how to find benefits when they have been made redundant. I have worked for free to help failing businesses who are closed for weeks on end. All I am asking for is 1 child place at school so we can meet the Government deadlines.

Accountancy is a keyworker job, the economy is pretty critical

my issue would be if they are at home they dont need the school spot, that should be for keyworkers who cant work from home and dont have a partner that can be/work from home.

What about all the other jobs on the list? I know many many people working from home 2 days a week for the NHS or utilities or whatever and they qualify for a key worker place and no one bats an eyelid?

The list is broad and therefore why shouldn't people use the place if they are on it? Working in an intensive job that requires silence and time for thought - home schooling is actually impossible to do for primary aged children while trying to do this kind of work.

Stop judging people. The schools have way fewer kids in than were in previously so therefore will be safer. And if the key worker list enables more people to work properly and keep their jobs in the knowledge their kids are not being left for hours to their own devices then surely that is a good thing.

DH told me that actuaries are classed as key workers. It does seem rather silly.