With the festive season fast approaching, ICAEW is reminding employers that even HMRC has got into the spirit of giving, by providing the means for a tax-free staff Christmas party 

In a landmark Employment Appeal Tribunal a group of workers has won a case over whether they were entitled to receive overtime payments as part of their standard holiday pay, which has sent repercussions through businesses and led to the establishment of a goverment working group within hours of the ruling

In this month's roundup of development news, MHA MacIntyre joins Baker Tilly International network, PwC offers £20k for best tax reform idea, FTSE 100 exec pay jumps 21% while CABA issues warning that retiring accountants cannot rely on resale value of their practices to finance comfortable retirement 

A group of big businesses have been appointed to enforce and raise awareness of the Prompt Payment Code, an industry-led initiative which aims to ensure that suppliers are paid on time and treated fairly, as part of government effort to change the culture of late payment

Scott-Moncrieff names two partners, Bradley joins Berwin Leighton Paisner tax litigation team and new directors head for Thames Valley based James Cowper

There has been a sharp increase in director disqualifications, which have risen 46% in the three months to September compared to the same period last year driven by the fall-out from the financial crisis, according to analysis by insolvency experts Zolfo Cooper

Company boards, particularly in the financial services sector, are strengthening the role and reach of internal audit functions to ensure their independence and visibility, in the face of increasing risks to business and greater regulatory scrutiny, according to research from the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)