Industry News - February, 2008

Short-term performance in accountancy marketing will rely heavily on maintaining reputation, a leading industry expert has warned.

Gerald Russell, senior partner at Ersnt & Young in London also suggested that any knee-jerk reaction from regulators could be damaging, reports Accountancy Age.

The news comes as fears of a crisis in the US have been confirmed by losses in excess £128 billion ($250 billion) in the subprime crisis, where it is also showing signs of having sp... more...

Brokering services marketing should focus on supporting the introduction of new technology into the industry, according to the Association of Finance Brokers (AFB).

Raising standards throughout the sectors will also need to be a focus for financial services marketing, following the AFB's key industry initiatives for 2008.

According to director of the AFB Robert Sinclair, there are a number of challenges faced by the unsecured loans sector during the current financial year.
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Accountants have been urged to take the lead on global warming by one of Prince Charles' chief aides.

Speaking at the accountancy body Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Sir Michael Pleat claimed that accountancy firms need be at the forefront of addressing the global problem.

The comments follow the Accounting for Sustainability report published on December 12th, which called for a new approach to reporting an organisation's sustainability more clear... more...

Those assessing company reports will now be able to consult legal experts before sending final letters to the chairman.

The Financial Reporting Review Panel (FRRP) changes to operating will provide an opportunity for law firms marketing professional services to refocus some of their advertising strategies.

Measures will mean legal service firms could contribute crucial information towards the final letter signalling the intention to apply to court.

Companies will also ... more...

Banks and credit card suppliers are missing the opportunity for free financial services marketing, according to one industry expert.

Financial services firms are not using valuable advertising space on statements and bills, reports UTalkMarketing.

According to research by Pitney Bowes, the equivalent of 24 per cent of annual direct mail spend is being wasted in lost unused space across five major European economies.

This could also solve pressing environmental issues c... more...

Domain names can be key to the marketing of professional services, but availability is fast-becoming a major issue, Discount Domains has revealed.

While the price of domain names has actually fallen in recent years, their availability to the whole of the English speaking world means that they are in short supply.

According to the domain name seller Discount Domains' managing director Adrian Lawrence, availability becomes more of an issue depending on business identity.

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One quarter of independent financial advisers (IFAs) believe that the new generic advice model will cause a decline in the uptake of savings products, new research suggests.

A survey carried out by Unbiased.co.uk also delivered another blow to the financial services marketing of generic advice, with 61 per cent of IFAs not confident the new Financial Services Authority's (FSA) Retail Distribution Review (RDR) proposals will have any impact.

Chief executive of Unbiased.co.uk, Da... more...

Buy-to-let landlords are facing a crackdown on their tax payments on earnings, HM Revenue and Customs has announced.

With as many as 500 self-assessment taxpayers believed not to have correctly declared their income, accountancy marketing for landlords could well pay off as their books come under increasing scrutiny.

The stakes are high too, with a miscalculation capable of resulting in fines and penalties equal to 100 per cent of the tax owed.

Peter Goodman, a senior ... more...