Behind the Numbers – A Day in the Life of an Accountant

Behind the Numbers offers a behind-the-scenes look at life inside an accountancy practice. This series shares real experiences, daily routines, challenges, and insights from accountants supporting clients throughout the year.

4th February 2026

Fun with HMRC: Tales from the Accountant’s Desk

Behind the Numbers: When HMRC Gets Creative Accountancy might sound predictable, but sometimes our work brings unexpected — and often hilarious — situations. Over the years, we’ve encountered a few HMRC stories that make you shake your head, laugh, and appreciate the unpredictable side of accounting. Mistaken Identity: The Traveling Electrician One memorable example involved […]

4th February 2026

Interactions with the Police: A Day in the Life of an Accountant

Behind the Numbers: When Accounting Gets Unexpected A day in the life of an accountant might sound predictable or even boring. But sometimes, it isn’t. Occasionally, the work takes unexpected turns — like interacting with the police. Recently, I had a couple of experiences that reminded me just how varied life in a small practice […]

4th February 2026

What Happens to the Finances When a Taxpayer Dies?

Behind the Numbers: An Accountant’s Perspective It’s often assumed that tax matters simply stop when someone passes away. In reality, however, a taxpayer’s finances still need careful attention, and the process can be quite different from a standard tax return. Recently, I dealt with my first final tax return for a deceased person, and it […]

4th February 2026

3 Hours with HMRC

Behind the Numbers: A Morning in an Accountancy Practice Behind the numbers, accountancy is rarely quiet, predictable, or boring. From HMRC phone queues to digital tax accounts that don’t behave as expected, this post shares a real morning inside an accountancy practice — the frustrations, the challenges, and the very human side of the job. […]