Rob Brown of the Accountants Influencers Podcast interviews Mike Dean of WhisperClaims on the opportunities research and development or R&D gives accountants - Accounting Influencers Podcast

Episode 40

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Published on:

29th Oct 2021

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

Episode 40. On today's 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 condensed highlights version of the full interview (usually 20-30 mins long), which you can catch as a bonus episode at the weekend.

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About the Podcast

Accounting Influencers Podcast
Host Rob Brown shows accounting professionals and leaders how to be more influential, grow their personal brand and be more authoritative, relevant and high profile in their roles..
The Accounting Influencers Podcast, hosted by Rob Brown, is a must-listen for accounting professionals looking to strengthen their leadership presence, stay informed on disruptive forces in accounting and build credibility within their firms. Geared toward firm leaders, managers, partners and influencers, the show covers key topics like career development, influence, personal branding and interpreting the evolving trends impacting the accounting world. Rob brings his expertise to each episode, offering insights and guidance on how to grow your personal brand and stay strategically important in a rapidly changing profession. Whether you're aiming to influence within your firm or expand your reputation outside of it, this international podcast offers practical advice and forward-thinking insights that will keep you informed and prepared for the future.
Accounting leadership
Executive presence for accountants
Building influence in accounting
Accounting industry trends
Personal branding for accountants
Accounting firm strategy
Accounting business models
Leadership in accounting firms
Talent management in accounting
Authority in accounting profession
Career development for accountants
Accounting firm growth strategies
Influencers in accounting
Accounting firm management
Disruptive forces in accounting
Accounting leadership strategies
Accounting career success
Accounting firm decision-makers
Accounting business trends
Building credibility in accounting

About your host

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Rob Brown

Rob Brown hosts the multiple accounting podcast and chair conferences, panels and events globally for the accounting and fintech profession. He is co-founder of Accounting Influencers Roundtable (AIR) which helps vendors, experts and influencers serve the accounting and finance world. He is a dynamic speaker and accomplished expert on trust, reputation, employer brand, talent, career development, succession, gen z/generations, employee advocacy and executive presence. Rob is author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and his TEDx talk ‘The Personal Brand of You’ has been viewed 400,000 times on YouTube. He is a stroke survivor, has epilepsy, is a committed Christian and has a black belt in kickboxing. He is based in Nottingham UK, home of Robin Hood, plays chess and backgammon, loves orange chocolate and is allergic to grapefruit.