My Accountant Online DOESNT use Indian subcontractors

[MyAccountantOnline]

We have been somewhat inundated with calls and emails from Indian companies offering 'partnerships' and subcontract services having seen our details on this forum.

For the record My Accountant Online doesn't, and will not use, ANY overseas subcontractors!

So please dont waste my time and yours:mad:

[E Storey]

Just tell them you charge a £5k join up fee. That'll soon put them off!

[MyAccountantOnline]

Just tell them you charge a £5k join up fee. That'll soon put them off!


Dont worry any such calls are dispensed with very quickly....but that's a thought:)

[E Storey]

At least you get calls! The only person that calls me is Daniel from Sage!

[MyAccountantOnline]

At least you get calls! The only person that calls me is Daniel from Sage!

They've given up - thankfully.

[elainec100@cheapaccounting]

Luckily we never get such calls - they are too scared!

Plus they know that we are all UK based qualified accountants - so no overseas outsourcing for us.

[MyAccountantOnline]

It just seems to be a spate over the past few days so be prepared....

[GGGSurrey]

We have been somewhat inundated with calls and emails from Indian companies offering 'partnerships' and subcontract services having seen our details on this forum.

For the record My Accountant Online doesn't, and will not use, ANY overseas subcontractors!

So please dont waste my time and yours:mad:

For the record, We do, and will use, overseas subcontractors! With Internet based ease of communciation, why wouldn't we have an architect in France for example........

[Vikas]

Nicola, unfortunately alot of these guys are better at spam than they are as accountants and will probably ignore your post anyway.

[MyAccountantOnline]

Nicola, unfortunately alot of these guys are better at spam than they are as accountants and will probably ignore your post anyway.

I suspect you're right, but it made me feel better anyway and if it stops one call it was worth it:)

[MyAccountantOnline]

For the record, We do, and will use, overseas subcontractors! With Internet based ease of communciation, why wouldn't we have an architect in France for example........

I'm not preaching - it may work for some but not for us.

Its a business decision we all make on how we run our businesses and after much thought and research its most definately not for us.

If it works for you great!

[wizzard]

For the record, We do, and will use, overseas subcontractors! With Internet based ease of communciation, why wouldn't we have an architect in France for example........

Big difference is would an Indian subcontractor, know the ins and outs of the British tax system?

If the HMRC cannot get it right and they're supposed to be collecting the taxes from us, what chance does a subcontractor from another country have?

[elainec100@cheapaccounting]

You beat me too it.

Happy to use accountants who know the UK tax system - I just find that this means that they need to be UK based in my experience.

[David Griffiths]

Big difference is would an Indian subcontractor, know the ins and outs of the British tax system?

If the HMRC cannot get it right and they're supposed to be collecting the taxes from us, what chance does a subcontractor from another country have?

Some of the outsourcing operations in India are substantial operations, and produce high quality work. Their staff are well trained in UK (or US if that is their target market) accounting, tax and systems and produce good work, properly reviewed. It is of course down to the UK accountant to finally review and approve the work.

To be honest, the systems and controls in the both of the Indian centres that we have used were highly impressive and better than ours - as they would need to be in such an organisation.

To tar all outsourcing operations with the same brush is highly unfair. If HMRC cannot get it right, it will be that they do not train their staff to the correct levels, or have inadequate systems or numbers of staff, possibly all three. There is no reason that an independent organisation cannot beat HMRC on all three counts.

[MyAccountantOnline]

Some of the outsourcing operations in India are substantial operations, and produce high quality work. Their staff are well trained in UK (or US if that is their target market) accounting, tax and systems and produce good work, properly reviewed. It is of course down to the UK accountant to finally review and approve the work.

To be honest, the systems and controls in the both of the Indian centres that we have used were highly impressive and better than ours - as they would need to be in such an organisation.

To tar all outsourcing operations with the same brush is highly unfair. If HMRC cannot get it right, it will be that they do not train their staff to the correct levels, or have inadequate systems or numbers of staff, possibly all three. There is no reason that an independent organisation cannot beat HMRC on all three counts.


I'm not out to discredit the work they do or dont do.

I too spent a very long time researching and testing several of the leading outsourcing companies a while ago.

I know many accountants use them and good luck to them.

Personally I think some clients would be absoluetly astounded to know they were paying a UK accountant to send work off to be done cheaply in India for a few pounds but thats a whole different argument and raises many moral issues too.

Its not for me and My Accountant Online. We use qualified UK based only staff.

[KM-Tiger]

Personally I think some clients would be absoluetly astounded to know they were paying a UK accountant to send work off to be done cheaply in India for a few pounds but thats a whole different argument and raises many moral issues too.

But does that really differ in principle to a CA delegating certain work to a junior? Personally it doesn't matter to me who does the legwork, the real value I get is the advice from the top man (person!).

Would I want to deal directly with an overseas operation? No, thanks, I would not trust the advice.

[MyAccountantOnline]

But does that really differ in principle to a CA delegating certain work to a junior? Personally it doesn't matter to me who does the legwork, the real value I get is the advice from the top man (person!).

Would I want to deal directly with an overseas operation? No, thanks, I would not trust the advice.


For me moral issues do come into play, amongst other factors, and yes I do think its very different using junior staff based in your office as opposed to some unknown Indian worker being paid peanuts to churn out work.

[David Griffiths]

For me moral issues do come into play,.

And what "moral" issues would those be?

I'd be quite interest to know what immoral crime I created when I did outsource work

[Vikas]

Some of the outsourcing operations in India are substantial operations, and produce high quality work. Their staff are well trained in UK (or US if that is their target market) accounting, tax and systems and produce good work, properly reviewed. It is of course down to the UK accountant to finally review and approve the work.

To be honest, the systems and controls in the both of the Indian centres that we have used were highly impressive and better than ours - as they would need to be in such an organisation.

To tar all outsourcing operations with the same brush is highly unfair. If HMRC cannot get it right, it will be that they do not train their staff to the correct levels, or have inadequate systems or numbers of staff, possibly all three. There is no reason that an independent organisation cannot beat HMRC on all three counts.

I have seen decent quality work (particularly VAT) from Indian centres. But that is besides the point as I very much doubt the better centres of India are the ones spamming Nicola for work.

[Tom Egerton]

You can't have it both ways Nicola. You've advertised your website and contact details on all your posts and seem surprised that you're attracting sellers as well as buyers.

You probably need to review your spam filter. The system may not suit you but none of my spam ever reaches my inbox being retained by my mail server for 35 days and then deleted. It does mean I have to visit my mailbox once a day to double check for genuine mail but it seems a small price to pay to avoid the problem you're having.

[GGGSurrey]

Personally I think some clients would be absoluetly astounded to know they were paying a UK accountant to send work off to be done cheaply in India for a few pounds but thats a whole different argument and raises many moral issues too.

As a potential client of an accountancy firm, I'd be delighted if they had enough business savy to manage and sub-contract work to whomever was most economical.

[GGGSurrey]

And what "moral" issues would those be?

I'd be quite interest to know what immoral crime I created when I did outsource work

You didn't commit any moral crime.

Incidentally, anyone in favour of helping countries have less dependence on international aid would favour such outsourcing

[GGGSurrey]

I have seen decent quality work (particularly VAT) from Indian centres. But that is besides the point as I very much doubt the better centres of India are the ones spamming Nicola for work.

I think the point that you make about the quality of the service is exactly the point. The thread is called "My Accountant Online DOESN'T use Indian subcontractors".

If the concern is about being approached by phone rather than by email (which can be easily dealt with) then I have every sympathy.

[David Griffiths]

You didn't commit any moral crime.

Incidentally, anyone in favour of helping countries have less dependence on international aid would favour such outsourcing

I know that, I'm just interested in the spin that apparently brings morals into play.

Is getting work done by somebody from India any different from buying household goods imported from China or clothing made in the far east?

[E Storey]

My target audience, unlike perhaps Nicola's and Elaine's are local businesses. Even where I do work remotely, I still meet with them initially and they only have to ask and I can go and visit them. For this reason I would not subcontract work abroad.

When you are marketing yourself as a completely remote service, you can never meet with your long distance clients face-to-face so in a sense it doesn't matter where you are.

We've all experienced the ordeal of Indian call centres (though the one I got most complaints about was actually based in Bradford!). There can be issues with the quality of the work. However there are also issues with language skills and knowledge of the local market.

The fact is, as we have seen on this forum, there are Indian graduates with the same chartered accountancy qualifications as Nicola and Elaine who are prepared to work for £2 per hour.

It's a big threat to all of our business models. I negate that by staying local, Others need to look at they can do to manage this risk, be it subbing out work like David, or playing on peoples dislike of [to be blunt] Indian call centres.

[GGGSurrey]

Is getting work done by somebody from India any different from buying household goods imported from China or clothing made in the far east?

Yes, it doesn't have the negative environmental impact that physically shipping stuff does.

[GGGSurrey]

I don't understand how

My target audience, unlike perhaps Nicola's and Elaine's are local businesses. Even where I do work remotely, I still meet with them initially and they only have to ask and I can go and visit them.

leads to

For this reason I would not subcontract work abroad.

Also, although it doesn't seem relevant to sub-contracting accontancy work I've never had issues - let alone ordeals - with Indian call centres, be they National Rail, IT helplines, etc.

[MyAccountantOnline]

The thread is called "My Accountant Online DOESN'T use Indian subcontractors".

If the concern is about being approached by phone rather than by email (which can be easily dealt with) then I have every sympathy.

It was - thank you.

[NextPoint]

Also, although it doesn't seem relevant to sub-contracting accontancy work I've never had issues - let alone ordeals - with Indian call centres, be they National Rail, IT helplines, etc.
You should host your website with 1&1.

[GGGSurrey]

You should host your website with 1&1.

I don't know 1&1, but I guess you're being ironic.........

[elainec100@cheapaccounting]

My target audience, unlike perhaps Nicola's and Elaine's are local businesses. Even where I do work remotely, I still meet with them initially and they only have to ask and I can go and visit them. For this reason I would not subcontract work abroad.

When you are marketing yourself as a completely remote service, you can never meet with your long distance clients face-to-face so in a sense it doesn't matter where you are.



A few swiping assumptions about our operation there.

As we have Associates all around the country and our network is growing then our definition of local is national!

We meet clients if there is a need / desire to do so but do not have a meeting for the sake of it :p

We find that most clients prefer the cost savings that this brings. :)

[NextPoint]

I don't know 1&1, but I guess you're being ironic.........

Nope, just telling it how it is. I've never had an experience with any other company where their customer support make it impossible for you to pay them because they don't understand what you are saying and then later send you a legal letter to demand payment.

[Strontium Dog]

I have started a new thread on the positives of outsourcing as it interests me marginally and is better than reviewing an utterley boring file on a sunday afternoon.

[GGGSurrey]

Nope, just telling it how it is. I've never had an experience with any other company where their customer support make it impossible for you to pay them because they don't understand what you are saying and then later send you a legal letter to demand payment.

I think therefore you were being ironic (or trying to ruin by business) when saying:


You should host your website with 1&1.

I'll make a note not to use them....

[mike1337]

Answer the phone calls with a soundboard :)

[stugster]

A Family Guy soundboard

[MASSEY]

You didn't commit any moral crime.

Incidentally, anyone in favour of helping countries have less dependence on international aid would favour such outsourcing

India are not short of money,

[GGGSurrey]

India are not short of money,

Agreed, international trade (in addition to aid) has helped India become able to help itself.