In this blog, we would like to introduce you to those members of our team who work with our Network Marketing clients, many of whom have been with PRB for years – if not decades! Over the years, our small team have developed an in depth understanding of the sector in general and client businesses specifically, enabling them to provide pertinent advice.
We catch up with Chris Whitley-Jones and Cherylin Brooker to find out a little more about them.
What does your role at PRB involve, and how long have you been with the company?
CWJ: I oversee the firm’s Network Marketing division which has been running for over 30 years. I review all of the tax returns that are sent out to Network Marketing clients to ensure that we have obtained most tax efficient solution for them. I also work closely with the DSA and regularly speak on a range of tax related topics for Network Marketing organisations at conferences and events.
CB: If you’re one of our Helpline Service clients you’re likely to have spoken to me on the phone. I have worked at PRB for 15 years and I run the Network Marketing Helpline Service, which involves me collecting all the annual income/expense information from network marketing clients to enable me to produce year end accounts and prepare and file their tax returns.
What do you enjoy the most about working with the Network Marketing industry?
CWJ: I love the enthusiasm of clients that operate in this sector. It makes them particularly enjoyable to work with.
CB: I enjoy working with network marketing clients as they are from all walks of life and all have interesting stories of how that have discovered network marketing and how it has changed their lives.
What is the one thing that you wish people knew about Network Marketing?
CWJ: I wish that people in general understood that Network Marketing is a legitimate business. The industry has suffered with a lot of negative press, whereas in reality, companies that are members of the Direct Selling Association are well regulated and well run.
CB: I wish that people weren’t occasionally told that they were going to become millionaires overnight. You have to be prepared to work hard, go out and meet people and build a team. I think that this is why the industry sometimes gets a bad press as they are told this and obviously the rewards happen over a number of months not overnight.
Tell us one accountancy or bookkeeping related tip you would give someone starting out.
CWJ: Get registered with HM Revenue & Customs as soon as you start to trade. There are heavy fines if HM Revenue & Customs discover that you are trading but have not submitted tax returns.
CB: Register with HMRC as self-employed and keep all your receipts somewhere safe.
What is the most memorable client story?
CWJ: I once had a new client that had been trading for over 10 years without preparing accounts, tax returns or VAT returns. He was very worried! We were able to bring everything up to date for him and ensure that he was on the right path for the future.
CB: I had a client who decided to save some money one year and file their own tax return. Unfortunately information was entered into the wrong boxes and they managed to create a tax liability for themselves that should really had been a tax refund. Once I had sorted out the return and re-filed it with HMRC they said that they were going to leave it to the experts going forward and never try to do it themselves again.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
CWJ: I am quite busy outside of work. I run a choir, play the organ, play squash and support Brighton & Hove Albion FC.
CB: Outside of work I enjoy going to classic car shows as we have a TVR Chimaera that we like to show, spending time on the Norfolk Broads in our boat and socialising with friends.