Becoming a Locum Pharmacist Contractor

As the popularity of the 100-hour pharmacy contract increases, there are more and more vacancies for pharmacists of all types and even more demand for locum pharmacists. And this requirement is further increased by the new Responsible Pharmacist legislation which will be coming into effect in October 2009. All of which means that you might well be thinking about moving from full time employment and becoming a locum instead.

This more flexible arrangement means that, to a certain extent, you can choose when, where and for how long you work - and subsequently, how much holiday you can take! 

You are also free from internal politics and can often find yourself in situations where you are learning new things and gaining valuable experience of different pharmacy environments while you work. 

But the decision to become a locum brings with it a whole range of other questions, as it is very different from being employed as a pharmacist, and there are many other factors to consider.

In fact, contractors almost always earn more than their employed counterparts, which is only fair considering the loss of holiday pay, sick pay, pensions and other employee benefits. Our online take home pay calculator can show you how much more you could earn by contracting through your own limited company

The first step is to decide how you will operate - the two most common options being to work through an umbrella company or to set up and form a limited company. 

If you do choose to set up a limited company, SJD Accountancy can give you a wealth of information and advice - as well as providing a low cost fixed-fee accountancy service which has been developed specifically for contractors. 

If you have any question about contracting or would like any further advice please contact our new client services helpdesk on 0500 152500 / 01442 275789 or e-mail rachel@sjdaccountancy.com.

SJD Accountancy

SJD Accountancy are the UK's largest specialist provider of fixed fee, limited company accountancy services to contractors; we've been acting for contractors across the UK since 1992 and have more than 11,000 clients.

We are the only National specialist firm of accountants with offices in all major UK cities so you’ll never be far from your accountant. SJD also have more qualified staff than any other firm in our market with qualifications from the following major tax and accountancy bodies - ATII, ATT, ACCA, CA, ACA, FCCA, ACMA. You’ll also be pleased to know that we are one of the lowest priced as well.

SJD have also won every relevant industry award possible, including:

• 'Best Contractor Accountant' - Winner ContractorUK readers award 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 & 2006
• 'Small Firm of the Year' - Winner Accountancy Age 2007
• '100 Best Companies to Work For' Award - Sunday Times 2007
• 'AXA Business of the Year' - Finalists National Business Awards 2007
• ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ and ‘Business of the Year’ – Finalists Chamber Awards 2008
• 'Outstanding Two Star Status' - Best Companies Accreditation 2006
• 'Accountancy Age Award for Excellence' Winner 2004
• Winners of the "Sunday Times Best Small Companies to Work For in the UK" Award, achieving the highest position ever for a firm of accountants.

We offer all clients:

Free face-to-face meetings. This is another unique service, only SJD offers free face to face meetings - tax is complicated and sometimes only a meeting will do.
Unlimited access to your own dedicated accountant. No call centres, no outsourcing, no automated call handling. Simply telephone, e-mail or meet your own dedicated accountant face to face.
Money backed service guarantee. All your telephone calls and e-mails will be answered the same day or we will refund your monthly fee's.
Outstanding reputation. We have won more awards for customer service and accountancy excellence than any other firm in our market.
All inclusive low cost monthly package which includes completion of accounts, payroll bureau, dividends and corporation tax computations, personal taxation, free bookkeeping software, unlimited access to your accountant and all company returns. 

All this for a fixed monthly fee of £110 plus VAT, which is one of the lowest prices in the market. And most importantly, in a recent survey 98% of our clients rated SJD as 'better than other accountants' - we are working hard to convince the other 2%!

If you have any question about contracting or would like any further advice please contact our new client services helpdesk on 0500 152500 / 01442 275789 or e-mail rachel@sjdaccountancy.com.

Appoint SJD Accountancy and never worry about your tax or accountancy affairs again!

You may also find the following pages, guides and case studies useful:

Take home pay calculator - How much could you be taking home
Contractor FAQ - All your frequently asked questions and their answers
First time Contracting or Freelancing? - A summary of the alternatives along with pros and cons
Choosing an accountant - For a full review
Step-by-step Guide to Contracting - Download a FREE copy of our guide
Limited or Umbrella? Can't decide? - We help you decide which is best for you
Guide to Contracting - All the best guides to contracting in one place
Expenses Guide - Know exactly what you can claim
Umbrella company guide - Everything you ever wanted to know about umbrella company services
IR35 Guide - A great plain English guide to IR35.