Hey all! My name is Rich (but Rich is normally always taken so I end up with this strange username which, unsurprisingly, is never taken).
I am a scientist by background, was an analytical chemist for a long time - means I am very technically minded. But as a result of working in pharmaceuticals and QA/QC got involved with SAP a lot, especially the QM (quality management) module. Ended up on their implementation team and before I knew it, was a bit of an expert and all-round know-it-all, so I was snapped up pretty quickly by my current employers to become a consultant as they specialise in this area (SAP in pharma and QM) and they were branching into the UK. And in this position I have been for the past 3 years.
However the UK operation did not go very well and is being wound down at the moment thus making me redundant. However because I was very easily sellable and capable the German office used my skills and I have been on projects pretty consistently for all this time anyway implementing SAP (QM and PM more specifically).
So it means that I was on the job market. However I have a very good relationship with the guys in Germany (arguably better than my boss it would seem at the momen under the circumstances) so I have received a very, very good offer from them to continue working for them on a contract basis (so from my perspective it ends up that I continue working on a very similar basis as before) and thus this brings me here. I am just waiting for the contract to be drawn up as we speak and I then need to go "into business".
It's all a bit of a new area for me, although I have tried to do some reading. If I understand correctly, I need to find an accountant who can help me set up all this stuff and give me the necessary advice.
I somehow need to conjure up some fantastic company name in the bear minimum of time
And then I need to sort out a bank account.
And also this constant spectre of IR35 (I was talking with one of my friends last night who is an accountant). I don't know whether they are going to be awkward because I am still working for the same company (although technically I am not as I was made redundant) even though I will be on a bona fide contractual basis and not the equivalent of being employed (which permanent employment is problematic for the German office with their law and unnecessarily constraining for me).
But demand for my skills seems to be very brisk and I don't think I will have any issues given by the rate I am getting my hands bitten off (I have to ring up two prospectives and let them down gently, and I had to let down another on Friday who were very upset by this development due to the short notice of their start with an unfilled position).
So, sages, do you have any words of advice for a young upstart like myself?
I am a scientist by background, was an analytical chemist for a long time - means I am very technically minded. But as a result of working in pharmaceuticals and QA/QC got involved with SAP a lot, especially the QM (quality management) module. Ended up on their implementation team and before I knew it, was a bit of an expert and all-round know-it-all, so I was snapped up pretty quickly by my current employers to become a consultant as they specialise in this area (SAP in pharma and QM) and they were branching into the UK. And in this position I have been for the past 3 years.
However the UK operation did not go very well and is being wound down at the moment thus making me redundant. However because I was very easily sellable and capable the German office used my skills and I have been on projects pretty consistently for all this time anyway implementing SAP (QM and PM more specifically).
So it means that I was on the job market. However I have a very good relationship with the guys in Germany (arguably better than my boss it would seem at the momen under the circumstances) so I have received a very, very good offer from them to continue working for them on a contract basis (so from my perspective it ends up that I continue working on a very similar basis as before) and thus this brings me here. I am just waiting for the contract to be drawn up as we speak and I then need to go "into business".
It's all a bit of a new area for me, although I have tried to do some reading. If I understand correctly, I need to find an accountant who can help me set up all this stuff and give me the necessary advice.
I somehow need to conjure up some fantastic company name in the bear minimum of time
And then I need to sort out a bank account.
And also this constant spectre of IR35 (I was talking with one of my friends last night who is an accountant). I don't know whether they are going to be awkward because I am still working for the same company (although technically I am not as I was made redundant) even though I will be on a bona fide contractual basis and not the equivalent of being employed (which permanent employment is problematic for the German office with their law and unnecessarily constraining for me).
But demand for my skills seems to be very brisk and I don't think I will have any issues given by the rate I am getting my hands bitten off (I have to ring up two prospectives and let them down gently, and I had to let down another on Friday who were very upset by this development due to the short notice of their start with an unfilled position).
So, sages, do you have any words of advice for a young upstart like myself?
Comment