Hello world …

The land and new homes industry is great for gossip and hearsay … I get feedback from many people  about what’s going on out in the field, and Bob (Hilder) knows practically everything about who’s going where, who’s leaving to move on, before people actually know it themselves.

Some of you are already responding to my Editor’s (Nicki Keeley) requests for feedback from her regular e-newsletters. I love getting news and views from those out in the field, the place where it’s really happening – so the natural thing to do seemed to be to start to my own blog – to share with you some of my thoughts and hopefully you’d respond with your own views and suggestions. I’ve discovered the benefits of networking by working with some great guys on a local magazine in our neck of the woods, but I’m keen to discover the power of the internet too.

So let’s get started - send me your news, views and great recommendations and I can then share them with the rest of my worldwide online friends and colleagues!   

A new job

My boss has asked me to write something interesting about my job and financial experiences for the next 4 weeks.  The word “interesting” doesn’t usually apply to the word “accountant” in most people’s minds, but here we go, let’s see what I can find to talk about.

I joined Land & Brand New homes in February this year and I already feel part of the team. That’s one of the benefits of working for a small family business. The family feeling extends to the employees. Taking over an accountant’s role in any company is similar as far as producing statutory accounts are concerned but there are always different ways of producing other financial reports such as cash flow forecasts and budgets. My predecessor was an absolute whizz at Excel reporting and set up some very complex reports which I initially attempted to follow. Having now been here a few weeks, I felt it was okay to make some minor adjustments to simplify the system. End results are the same but have arrived there by taking an easier route. We all have our own methods to produce the same results and as a logical person who has been used to working under severe pressure, I always look at the quickest and easiest way to get where I want to go.

I still have long way to go in learning all about the company and have used my logical approach to separate the different aspects of the business by putting the departments into “boxes”  which I am taking out one at a time. As I attain more knowledge from each “box” they hopefully should merge into one.

I have previously worked in the construction industry and have also “played“ with the property market, buying property, renovating and then letting. Over the next few weeks, I shall try and pass on some financial “hints & tips” gained from my experiences in that field, which should be more interesting than my role as an accountant although budgeting and cash flow forecasting are paramount to a successful project.

Watch this space – it can only get more interesting!!