Upcoming courses
You can download our booking form and brochure here.
Date – Time – Course – Presenter
15th Sept – 9.30-12.30 – Introduction to Audit part 1 – Gill Barron
22nd Sept – 9.30-12.30 – Introduction to Audit part 2 – Gill Barron
29th Sept – 9.30-12.30 – ISQM 1, Quality Reviews and RCA – Peter Herbert and Edward Rands
1st Oct – 9.30-12.30 – Data Analytics and AI – Peter Herbert and John Toon
5th Oct – 9.30-12.30 – Autumn Financial Reporting Update – John Selwood
Our 2026 AML E-Learning Programme is now available to purchase
“Excellent delivery, easily understood with some good points raised.” Delegate, Autumn series
FAQs from recent courses
Financial Reporting
Our client is a housing association. It has a number of properties which it leases. How do you square the new lease accounting requirements in FRS with the requirement to component account?
This is proving a particularly challenging issue for housing associations. That is because component accounting is a key area of focus for them, based on the requirements of the Housing SORP.
The first step will be to determine the lease liability in the normal way, taking account of the gross payments, the lease term and an appropriate discount rate. The corresponding debit to right of use asset will then need to be split between components, of which there might a number (building fabric, rooves, windows, bathrooms, kitchens etc). Each of these components will then need be depreciated over its own estimated useful life. As the point of replacement, the component would be written out of the books and a replacement component capitalised.
The challenge here might be splitting the right of use asset between components. There are no hard and fast rules about how this should be done. Ideally, it would be in proportion to the fair values of the respective components. It might not be a brand new issue though, as many housing associations had to grapple with similar challenges when component accounting was first introduced some years ago.
Auditing
During a recent cold file review we’ve been pulled up for not having letters of representation on client letterhead. Is this really a requirement?
For a letter of representation to constitute an effective defence in negligence, the audited entity must be appropriately engaged with the process. To this end, the letter should be produced on the entity’s letterhead. ISA (UK) 580 only makes brief reference to this in Appendix 2 and some firms wrongly conclude that this is an unimportant consideration. It isn’t.
Auditors should also give careful consideration to the entity’s approval of the letter. Reviews sometimes reveal that the entity’s finance director has reviewed and signed off the letter of representation but no other board member has had any involvement. If a letter of representation is to carry real weight, it is much better for it to be approved by the board in its entirety. Rushed processes for audit completion for many firms mean that this does not happen.
Practice Regulation
We’re aware of the incoming requirements regarding the Registration of Tax Advisors regime. However we’ve heard we don’t actually have to do anything. Is that right?
Registration came into effect on 18 May 2026 but, if you already have a Self-Assessment or Corporation Tax account, you don’t need to register until 18 August 2026. Furthermore, we understand that HMRC will contact you when the time is right.
Firms should not rest on their laurels though, because non-compliance can result in HMRC issuing a fine, or suspending or cancelling a firm’s registration. Our advice is to start preparing for the regime now by considering the following:
• Undertake a mapping exercise of who is likely to fall within the definition of a relevant individual within the organisation;
• Review roles and consider whether these should any be altered to ensure there are no ‘employee relevant individuals’;
• Ensure that appropriate training is given to all within the firm (but especially relevant individuals) of the conditions to reduce likelihood of breach; and
• Ensure any training includes ‘tax behaviours’ generally and personal tax breaches in particular.
Insight Training is supporting a number of clients on the introduction of the Registration of Tax Advisors regime. Please let us know if we can assist your practice.