bonus

Research & Development Tax Tips for Accountants with Mike Dean (Uncut)

Published on: 31st October, 2021

On today's deep dive bonus episode, Rob Brown of the Accountants Influencers Podcast interviews Mike Dean of WhisperClaims on the opportunities research and development or R&D gives accountants.

Mike Dean is a co-founder of WhisperClaims, which helps accountants deliver an in-house research and development (R&D) tax service using the best possible tools and support. He has a 15 year commercial career mostly working with tech businesses and public sector business support programmes, and was a board member at Marconi. An assignment with one of the larger R&D tax consultancies exposed him some of the challenges facing the industry. WhisperClaims' white label technology saw that the market was commoditising and recognised a need to streamline processes provide support for businesses to prepare their claims much more quickly and easily, whilst ensuring compliance.

Key shownotes from the whole interview include:

◆ How government incentives encourage companies to do more research and development

◆ Examples of R&D projects and why innovation has so many different forms

◆ Which sectors struggle to innovate and which ones thrive in R&D

◆ The commercial benefits for companies of innovating and investing in R&D

◆ The 2 main eligibility rules for businesses to make tax claims for R&D

◆ The importance of science and technology to drive progress in business

◆ Why governments need to get involved in R&D rather than just leaving it to individual businesses

◆ How R&D incentives operate in most countries to deliver economic value

◆ The role accountants and CPAs play in the R&D tax claim process for businesses

◆ The main options for businesses who seek external help in putting together R&D claims

◆ The similarities between the R&D market in different countries

◆ Who dominates the R&D tax world and how they make their money

◆ How R&D is a lucrative advisory based non-compliance service for accountants

◆ The advantage for accountants of using R&D software to avoid them having to be an expert in this area

◆ The drawbacks of a contingent-based pricing model vz fixed fees for R&D tax claims

◆ The importance of a business model in R&D that puts the accountant at the hub of the client relationship

◆ The problem for many accountants and business clients in understanding R&D tax without dedicated time and resource

◆ How WhisperClaims R&D tax software works for accountants to help their clients

◆ What accountants should know about what is coming up in the unregulated R&D tax space in coming years

◆ Best advice for accountants who want to add value to their clients with an R&D tax service

Outside of work, Mike has grown up twin boys, a passion for cycling. After a stellar amateur velodrome and road racing career, a mountain bike accident means he now cycles for leisure and enjoys camper van holidays with his wife Fiona.

WhisperClaims website: https://www.whisperclaims.co.uk/

Mike Dean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeanwhisperclaims

NOTE TO LISTENERS:

This is a full-length interview (usually 20-30 mins long) from which the highlights show earlier in the week was taken. You can listen to this on a previous episode.

Martin and Rob love to hear from the show's 6000+ listeners in 140 countries around the world. If you have any questions, suggestions, comments or success stories, just type sayhi.chat/aip into your browser and leave us a quick and easy voice message. We may just feature you on the show!

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About the Podcast

Accounting Voices Podcast
Accounting Voices helps people in the accounting world stay relevant visible and vocal. Host Rob Brown interprets trends reshaping the profession and gives listeners insight to build authority influence and a stronger voice in firms and markets.
Accounting Voices, hosted by Rob Brown, helps decision makers and leaders in accounting and finance stay relevant, visible and vocal in a profession being reshaped by technology, private equity, regulation and shifting client expectations. Each episode interprets the trends disrupting accounting and finance such as AI, automation, M&A, talent and the move to advisory and translates them into practical insight that strengthens authority and influence.
Accounting Voices is also a platform for the wider ecosystem of networks, associations, educators, consultants, software vendors and technology experts who serve accountants and finance professionals worldwide. It extends into regular Accounting Voices networking sessions that connect this audience and amplify ideas that move the profession forward. With its international reach and long shelf life the show delivers credibility and commercial value for listeners and sponsors alike. Search for "Accounting Voices" on YouTube for all episodes and connect with Rob Brown on LinkedIn to find out more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

About your host

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Rob Brown

ob Brown is the creator and host of the Accounting Voices Network, a media platform that includes the flagship solo podcast Accounting Voices and the panel shows Accounting M&A and Accounting Tech. He chairs conferences, panels and virtual events worldwide and is recognised as a leading advocate for the accounting profession.

He is an accomplished speaker and authority on trust, reputation, employer brand, talent, succession, executive presence and the forces shaping the future of accounting. Rob is the author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and his TEDx talk The Personal Brand of You has been viewed more than 400,000 times.

A former co-founder of the Accounting Influencers Roundtable, Rob now focuses on amplifying the voices of leaders, firms, networks, vendors and influencers across the global accounting ecosystem.

Outside of work he is a stroke survivor, lives with epilepsy, holds a black belt in kickboxing and is based in Nottingham, UK. He plays chess and backgammon, loves orange chocolate and is allergic to grapefruit.