Professional Development – Common accounting queries

Being a freelance author can feel overwhelming when it comes to dealing with your finances, but we’re here to help. Join us for this no-nonsense session on common accounting queries where we’ll cover the basics every author needs to know, from record keeping and Making Tax Digital, to how to find affordable help with your accounts.

We welcome questions sent in advance of this event.

Please note that this session will not provide detailed guidance on tax or royalties. For more information on tax or royalties, please see the recordings of our related previous #SoAatHome events further down the page.

Members in need of bespoke advice should contact the SoA directly.

This event will be hosted by SoA’s Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Burton and our Chief Operating Officer, Katharine King.

#SoAatHome Professional Development events – free for SoA Members

As of Feb 2025, #SoAatHome professional development sessions will continue to be free as a member benefit. However, for non-members, the price is £35 including VAT.

Not a member, sign up here with our special #SoAatHome offer and get 20 per cent off for the first year of membership – use code SOAATHOME20.

Programme

• Welcome, introductions and housekeeping from Sarah Burton – Deputy Chief Executive, SoA (3 mins)
• Presentation by Sarah Burton and Katharine King – Chief Operating Officer, SoA (60 mins)
• Comfort break (5 mins)
• Q&A with audience  (20 mins)
• Summary and closing comments (2 mins)
• This event will be moderated by Ambre Morvan – Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager & Contracts Advisor, SoA

Who is this session for?

Authors just starting out, or those who are more experienced and could do with a refresher on common accounting issues.

What will this session cover?

This session will provide a broad overview of the following areas:

• Registering as self-employed
• VAT registration
• Limited companies
• Record keeping and Making Tax Digital
• Expenses
• Self Assessment tax returns
• Accountants and affordable alternatives
• Dealing with HMRC
• Worker status
• Tax on prizes and grants
• Universal credit difficulties
• Pensions
• Invoicing and late payments
• Receiving payment from abroad
• Signposting to other resources

Send us your questions

If you would like to send questions in advance, email Ambre Morvan at AMorvan@societyofauthors.org with ‘Common accounting’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day.

#SoAatHome Fundraising Bookshop

Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in the #SoAatHome. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund, giving authors support for travel, subsistence, childcare or access needs for events, residencies, and retreats.

The Line-up

Sarah Burton, SoA

Sarah Burton is the Deputy Chief Executive at SoA. Sarah also leads the advisory team and advises members on all business aspects of the writing profession, including vetting contracts. She also works across the SoA’s list of literary estates, licensing rights in titles by authors such as Brendan Behan, Rose Macaulay and John Masefield. As co-coordinator of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group, she has a particular interest in industry issues affecting creators of children’s books.

Katharine King, SoA

Katharine King joined the SoA in 2019. As Chief Operating Officer, Katharine is part of the senior management team and is responsible for managing the operational and financial actions of the SoA. This includes overseeing operational functions, financial planning, budgeting, and managing cashflows, as well as preparing and analysing the quarterly Management Accounts, taking into account the external economic environment.

Katharine manages the finance and accounting for the SoA, ensuring that all the SoA’s financial reports are accurate and completed in a timely manner.

Additionally, Katharine manages the finances of 14 charitable funds. She is also responsible for overseeing the annual audits, tax, payroll, compliance and dealing with all financial requests.

You can watch the recordings from some of our previous tax and royalties related #SoAatHome events via our Vimeo Channel below:

Need to know

Accessibility

• Attendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript, to watch with subtitles
• If you require BSL interpretation for this event, please email events@societyofauthors.org

Before the event

• Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation email with the Zoom link
• If the confirmation email doesn’t arrive in your inbox, please check your junk/spam email folder
• Please add events@societyofauthors.org to your Safe Senders list so you receive our confirmation and reminder emails

During the event

• This online event will take place on Zoom Webinar; you will not be visible on screen but will be able ask questions via the Q&A function or interact via the chat box
• This event will be recorded but you won’t be on screen
• Attendees have the option to turn on the live transcript
• This event is 90 minutes

After the event

• Hashtag for this event: #SoAatHome
• SoA Members and paid attendees of this event will be able to catch the recording on our Vimeo channel (password protected) or members can access via the SoA website.

Booking

SoA Members: Please use the ‘Register – SoA Members’ form below and provide your details, including your membership number. If you’re unsure of your SoA ID, please email info@societyofauthors.org.

Non-members: Choose one of the two ticket options below, complete the registration form, then fill out the billing info to finalise your payment.

For event or registration questions, email events@societyofauthors.org.

SoA Members – Free

Non-Members – £35