Author's posts
Feb 14
How can HMRC have missed this?
After all the revelations about alleged tax evasion at HSBC’s Swiss Private Bank came a further shocking disclosure. The whistle-blower at the centre of the scandal, Herve Falciani, offered information on bank account holders in Switzerland to HM Revenue and Customs and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 2008. How can they have missed it? …
Jan 12
The Story of Johnny Head-in-Phone
A modern cautionary tale As he walked his dogs each day It was always Johnny’s way To be looking at his phone And the current playing tune; But what just before him lay, In his way, Johnny never thought about; So that every one cried out “Look at Johnny, all alone, Little Johnny Head-In-Phone!” This …
Dec 13
Be a Star this Christmas
This is my niece Rebecca. In March last year, in the middle of her studies to become a doctor, she found out she had a brain tumour. By watching her video, you’ll see that she was one of the lucky ones. Find out more at http://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/raising-funds/be-a-star-this-christmas
Nov 23
Leasing’s part in FIFA corruption
Both Russia and Qatar were cleared by a Fifa judge on Thursday before the process descended into chaos when Fifa’s own investigator Michael Garcia complained that a summary of his report misrepresented his conclusions. Among the report’s findings was an observation that the Russia bid had destroyed documents and emails were now unavailable – hampering …
Apr 03
What is Technology?
“Téchnē is a state of capacity to produce with a true logos,” Aristotle defined. Logos was a central notion in Greek philosophy, broadly meaning reason and discourse. Because Téchnē (Art) had its own reasoning and discourse, it was knowledge, as distinct from opinion (doxa) and mere experience. Many arts existed, among others Aristotle cited architecture, …
Mar 14
Would you buy a used car off this industry?
2014 started with some good news for the British Car Industry and for Vehicle Finance. The latest figures announced by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that car production rose 3.1% in 2013, surpassing 1.5 million units. This is the highest volume since 2007, and is a positive sign that the UK economy …
Feb 14
The Bank that likes to say “Woof”
“If you want a friend on Wall Street, get a dog,” quipped Gordon Gekko, the cold-hearted protagonist of the film “Wall Street”. Now it seems that if you want a bank on the High street, then get a dog. Metro Bank “understand how important man’s best friend is to our dog-loving customers so we actively …
Sep 13
Dear IASB
Comments on Exposure Draft ED/2013/6 I generally welcome the reconsiderations of the IASB and FASB Boards in response to the feedback on the first exposure draft, ED/2010/09. However a number of issues, inconsistencies and unnecessary complexities remain. I summarise my main concerns below. Letter to IASB re Leases ReExposure Draft
Jun 01
Painting yellow lines under the car..
The Back Office can party as well as any Sales Team. But at a gathering at the end of last year of Leasing Operations and Accounting folk, the festive spirit concealed dark problems and challenges to be faced in 2013. I carried out a straw poll and somewhere between a third and a half of …