General resources: contracts, pensions, well being
Financial Accountant
Online news and features from Financial Accountant magazine and around the web.
Accountancy Europe
COVID-19: 5 key steps for accountants to guide SMEs through the crisis
Actions for SME accountants to support their struggling SME clients. Many of these will also be relevant to small accountancy practices and practitioners themselves.
Coronavirus crisis: implications on reporting and auditing
Explores coronavirus’ effects on:
- accounting and reporting for companies as of 31 December 2019
- accounting and reporting for companies with year-ends in 2020
- auditing financial statements on 31 December 2019 and beyond
- practical matters for the audit of financial statements
Accountants helping SMEs during coronavirus
Podcast featuring Accountancy Europe’s President Florin Toma who discusses how SMEs can protect themselves in the face of the global pandemic and the relationship between accountants and SMEs.
Baxter & Co
Newsletter bringing together resources available to small business
Navigating the crisis (PDF 1.4MB/10 pages)
British Business Bank
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Schemes and Fund is managed/arranged by the British Business Bank. They are designed to support UK businesses that are losing revenue and seeing their cashflow disrupted as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
You can find the scheme most suited to you and a list of accredited lenders at:
CIPP
Cicero/AMO
An overview detailing the latest COVID-19 national exit strategies as countries begin to re-open their economies and lift restrictions, and information on the curbs that remain in place. This overview covers all EU countries and selected major international economies (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, Taiwan, UK & US).
Deloitte
Dentons
Useful information for the UK and overseas including:
- Covid-19 government announcement tracker (60+ countries)
- Global tax tracker
- Labour and employment hub
- Force Majeure hub
- Competition and anti-trust
ICO
Data protection and coronavirus information hub
ICSA
The IFA recommends ICSA's initial guidance about AGMs and the Stay at Home Measures which has been reviewed by BEIS.
IFAC
IFAC small business continuity checklist
A diagnostic tool to help small businesses navigate times of disruption, covering two key areas of financial management tasks and strategic management tasks. While not intended to be an exhaustive checklist of requirements it will help identify priority actions for immediate attention.
McKinsey & Company
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): staying ahead of the risks
- A summary of Government measures to help businesses
Smallbusiness.co.uk
- Access to government grants - £3,000 grant for businesses that do not pay business rates to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic
- Access to business interruption loan
- Reclaiming of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
Your money
Does being on furlough affect benefits?
Personal finance website helpful advice on being furloughed and benefits.
Contracts
Lexology
International legal updates, analysis and insights.
- Coronavirus COVID-19 and frustration: Is your contract at risk?
- Coronavirus and contracts: Force majeure clauses
- Coronavirus FAQ: Key corporate and commercial considerations
Economic data
OECD
Coronavirus: The world economy at risk
This Interim Economic Outlook report examines the economic impact of both a base-case contained outbreak scenario and a domino scenario illustrating the potential effects of a broader contagion.
IR35
The Government announced that the reform to the off-payroll working rules that would have applied for people contracting their services to large or medium-sized organisations outside the public sector will be delayed for one year from 6 April 2020 until 6 April 2021.
This is part of additional support for businesses and individuals to deal with the economic impacts of Covid-19. This means that the different rules that exist for inside and outside the public sector will continue to apply until 6 April 2021.
This announcement is a deferral of the introduction of the reforms, not a cancellation. The Government remains committed to introducing this policy to ensure that people working like employees, but through their own limited company, pay broadly the same tax as individuals who are employed directly.
Pensions
The Pensions Regulator
Automatic enrolment and DC pension contributions: COVID-19 guidance for employers
This new guidance recognises that:
- from 1 July 2020, staff on furlough under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme may work part of the time for their employer
- for claims starting on or after 1 August 2020, employers will no longer be able to claim a grant for up to the statutory minimum automatic enrolment (AE) employer contribution.
COVID-19: an update for trustees, employers and administrators
Trustees of both defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) schemes, employers and administrators should focus their activities on the key risks to pension savers:
- benefits need to be paid
- the risk of scams needs to be minimised
- employers need to continue contributing
- savers need support to make good decisions in these challenging circumstances
- some administrative breaches of the law may occur and TPR will maintain a proportionate and fair approach to any action it may take.
Travel restrictions
IATA
Coronavirus outbreak: Latest updates on travel restrictions
Frequently updated, comprehensive page listing travel restrictions by country or territory for passengers and airline crew. There may be restrictions on entry, changes to visa exemptions, and requirements for testing or quarantine.
Well being, help and advice
Citizens Advice
A network of independent charities throughout the UK that give free, confidential information and advice to help people with issues like benefits, employment, debt, housing, relationships and lots more.
Contact your local office for online and telephone advice. The best time to speak to the Citizens Advice is as soon as possible, so that you can take a proactive look at how to deal with things like debt, before it starts to get worse.
NHS well being
Advice, tips and tools to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing.
Mind
Reliable information and tips to help you cope with worrying about what COVID-19 means for yourself and your loved ones. Those already living with mental health problems are facing extra challenges too.
Public Health England
Guidance for the public on practical steps people can take to look after their mental wellbeing and specific guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)