Posts

Back to School – Contractor’s Edition: Upskilling for Independent Professionals

  As the cool breeze of September sweeps in, it's not just students who should be gearing up for a fresh start. Independent professionals also referred to as contractors, can benefit from a return to the learning mindset with the back-to-school season well and truly underway. Just like students need to acquire new knowledge to excel in their studies, independent professionals should continuously upskill to stay competitive and be adaptable in the ever-evolving job market. So, this September, dust off your learning mindset, set your goals and make a commitment to invest in your professional growth. In this blog, we'll explore what upskilling means for independent professionals, how often they should engage in it, and practical ways to do so. What is Upskilling? Upskilling is the process of acquiring new knowledge, skills, or certifications to enhance your professional capabilities. For independent professionals, this can mean keeping up with industry trends, masteri...

The Icon Accounting community and our partners - let's investigate our contribution

In the dynamic world of independent professional work, Icon Accounting aims to stand as a prime supporter and advocate for the contractor community. With a commitment to continuous improvement, Icon Accounting has cultivated an impressive network of partnerships and platforms that enrich the contracting experience and provide a comprehensive range of services for our clients. Achieved through our core focus on a guiding principle of “You do your job, we'll do the rest,” the combination of these partnerships and platforms has been instrumental in driving forward Icon Accounting's mission over the course of 2023. Let’s examine a few of them now! Humdinger Mortgages: Navigating the Homeownership Journey Mortgage applications can be a daunting task for anyone to navigate but also one of the most exciting times of your life. Our partnership with Humdinger Mortgages has proved to be very beneficial and rewarding to our clientele. With a wealth of experience in the Independen...

Independent Professional in the 2023 Workforce: Your Voice Matters!

Since our formation in 2008, we have always stood firm in our commitment to championing the Contractor Community in Ireland. As part of our ongoing commitment to this cause, one pivotal action that enables us to continue advocating for the contracting sector involves gathering insights from professional contractors in Ireland . These insights illuminate the current experiences and challenges faced by these experts, playing a crucial role in helping us shape a brighter future for the community in the future.   Every year, we conduct an Annual Independent Professional Survey. This concise, 10-minute survey explores the current thoughts, perceptions, optimism, and key decision factors harbored by the Independent Professional workforce in the contracting sector, along with the Irish economy. We would encourage every Independent Professional to take 10 minutes out of their day and use the survey as an opportunity to have your say as an Independent Professional in Ireland. ...

We all want flexibility, but is 100% remote too much to ask for?

  Remote and hybrid work models have remained in place as numerous companies now deliberate over future workforce arrangements in response to professionals' demand for sustained flexibility. As a mutually advantageous scenario, the prevailing favorable approach for both parties involves implementing a hybrid work arrangement—a move that signals a positive evolution in how we perceive the concept of a workplace. In the early months of 2020, the global workforce encountered an unprecedented challenge—the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. While this crisis expedited the adoption of flexible work arrangements, the transition towards remote and hybrid work was already in progress. Enabled by technological innovations, digital communication tools, and collaborative platforms, teams found ways to collaborate seamlessly regardless of their physical locations. This shift allowed organizations and professionals alike to see that productivity and bottom-line results can be achieved outside trad...

The Contractor Corner - Gonzalo Aune’s Story

Welcome to the second edition of The Contractor Corner: Building Insights from our Community, a blog series dedicated to exploring the world of contracting. In this blog series, we hope to provide valuable insights and first-hand experiences from contractors who have embarked on this journey. Our goal is to shed light on the benefits, challenges, and opportunities that come with being an independent professional, along with answering the most common questions and topics contractors have when starting and throughout their contracting journey!  In this installment, we delve into the world of independent contracting, focusing on the process of setting up a personal limited company and obtaining a mortgage as an independent professional. We are thrilled to introduce our guest writer, Gonzalo Aune, who brings a wealth of experience and invaluable insights to our discussion. Join us as we explore Gonzalo's contracting journey and gain valuable knowledge that will empower and guide a...

The Icon Accounting App - Your Contracting Companion

At Icon Accounting, we recognize the changing nature of independent professional work and are committed to constantly enhancing our services to provide even greater value to the contractor community. An essential element in achieving this goal lies in our cutting-edge technology - we are determined to ensure that our valued clients never settle for anything less than a seamless contracting experience that feels effortless. In this blog, Sanda Rusu from our Business Development team, unveils the latest features that propel the Icon Accounting App to new heights.  Keep reading to find out why downloading the app should be your top priority as a contractor. All Your Contractor Needs in One Place You do your contract job; we’ll do the rest – that’s the ultimate goal at the core of Icon Accounting. We understand that as a contractor, your time is valuable. That's why we continuously invest in improving our technology, our user experience, and the essential functions required by...

Celebrating the Independence of Being a Contractor

As an independent professional, you can experience a whole new level of freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment in your career. You can take control of where, when, and how you work. You can choose to take on projects that fit around your life commitments and of course, your passions too, allowing you to ultimately achieve the work-life balance and career satisfaction desired. In this blog post, we'll dive into the exciting benefits of being a contractor that has professionals around the world cheering for independence. Unleash Your Flexibility As a contractor, you have the power to shape your own working hours. If you need to work around family requirements or changes to schedules, contracting can allow you to accommodate these important aspects of your life. Want to start your day with a sunrise yoga session? No problem! Need a mid-afternoon break to pick up your kids from school? You've got it! Being a contractor allows you to design your workday to fit your personal ...