Law to protect the Title of Accountant /Eire Duped by Ahern

[corelli]

hell, i passed a test in company law, can i set myself up as a corporate lawyer? thats more than bertie has done.

and (taking your first point) until bertie can prove he can prepare a set of accounts, he shouldn't be allowed to call himself an accountant.

Actually yes you can set yourself up as a corporate lawyer. But I think you'd immediately be found out - lack of knowledge, inability to appear in court etc etc.

In answer to another poster, that bookkeepers prepare accounts - thgat is correct, most do prepare accounts but in addition to their main task of maintaining books of records and accounts.

Whats one set of accounts for one accountant may not be a set of accounts for another. US GAAP, local GAAP, IFRSs, management accounts, statutory accounts, abridged accoutns for co secretarial purposes, who's going to decide ? You ?

Don't know so much about that. A couple of years ago this guy, well dressed etc, got hold of wig and gown and went about the Law Library in the Four Courts stealing peoples cheque books etc. Quite funny, I thought.

[eddiebatt]

As someone who made social partnership work and who was closely involved in the Good Friday Agreement Berie has qualifications that are way over and above that of the average qualified accountant.

[odie1kanobe]

So where does the Turf Accountant come in all of this ?

[Rich OC]

As a qualified accountant of one of the major bodies - this is a ridiculous idea.

What is accounting ? Its when something is accounted. People can account for things all the time. There already is legislation in place to stop people advertising themselves as 'Chartered Accountant' or auditor and so on and so forth, thats enough. Or should we similarly legislate for description of 'driver' etc etc or maybe those professions which marteenpak deeems worthy ?

The proposal at the moment with the Company Law Review Group is to protect the term "Accountant", though there will be exceptions for the likes of "Turf Accountant" and maybe "Fund Accountant.

[Rich OC]

An accountant is just someone who prepares accounts. Anybody can and has the right to do that. Phrases like Chartered Accountant or Certified Accountant are already protected by law so there is no need for legislation. Auditors are also protected by law. This legislation is just a sop to make accountants believe they are a profession like Lawyers or Doctors whenm in reality they are just number crunchers with little imagination.

What imagination does it take to stick your finger up someones butt and look something up in a leaflet.

I dunno what sort of lawyers you've had but I suggest you consider getting a new one.

Yeah. They really shouldn't be putting their finger anywhere. A complaint to the Law Society/Bar Council may be in order.

Don't be so hasty now, it depends how much he charges per hour.

[zakalwe]

As a qualified accountant of one of the major bodies - this is a ridiculous idea.

What is accounting ? Its when something is accounted. People can account for things all the time. There already is legislation in place to stop people advertising themselves as 'Chartered Accountant' or auditor and so on and so forth, thats enough. Or should we similarly legislate for description of 'driver' etc etc or maybe those professions which marteenpak deeems worthy ?

The proposal at the moment with the Company Law Review Group is to protect the term "Accountant", though there will be exceptions for the likes of "Turf Accountant" and maybe "Fund Accountant.

there's a difference?

[futurefastfoodworker]

hell, i passed a test in company law, can i set myself up as a corporate lawyer? thats more than bertie has done.

and (taking your first point) until bertie can prove he can prepare a set of accounts, he shouldn't be allowed to call himself an accountant.

Actually yes you can set yourself up as a corporate lawyer. But I think you'd immediately be found out - lack of knowledge, inability to appear in court etc etc.

In answer to another poster, that bookkeepers prepare accounts - thgat is correct, most do prepare accounts but in addition to their main task of maintaining books of records and accounts.

Whats one set of accounts for one accountant may not be a set of accounts for another. US GAAP, local GAAP, IFRSs, management accounts, statutory accounts, abridged accoutns for co secretarial purposes, who's going to decide ? You ?

You can't set yourself up as a lawyer. If you in any way imply that you are qualified as a solicitor without being on the Roll of Solicitors, then you are guilty of an offence. You could get up to two years imprisonment.