accounts query

[Matt1959]

Hi to all accountants here,

Could someone advise as to a particular problem I have at the moment.

I submitted my accounts (me =small one man band business not vat reg) to a firm of accountants and they have been drawn up and finalised and the draft accounts returned to me for signature. They have pointed out to me some descrepencies totalling some £800 which is unusual as my accounts are usually more or less ok. On checking the accounts again, I've found that aside of this descepency I have omitted to enter £2000 worth of my invoices for work done into the accounts (gawd knows how that one happened:redface: )

My invoice book shows copies of these missing invoices and my paying in book shows the monies having been paid into the bank but despite this it appears the accountants staff has not picked up on the fact that the entries are msing from the ledger.

Question is, is the onus on them to check and find such errors on the part of their client (me) or should I have been more careful and they can't be expected to second guess that I might have made an error?

I'm not looking to be heavy with anyone, I'm just interested in accountants responsibilities generally.

 

[bwglaw]

You cna query to the Accountant as to whether the accounts are correct but the onus is upon you from HMRC's perpective. Once signed you are confirming that the accounts are a true record of your business transactions.

If you have spotted some discrepencies then put these to the Accountant to rectify before signing the accounts off.

Jonathan

 

[Matt1959]

yes I realise all that. Has the accountant been careless? I'm guessing I wont get an answer to this one

 

[bwglaw]

It is an impossible question to answer because we don't know what information he/she has actually had to hand to produce the accounts so far. Why not put the question to the Accountant about your concerns as he/she may well have an answer for you or an explanation for the 'omission'

Is the Accountant qualified or have you used someone who just knows about accounts?

 

[Matt1959]

Its an accountancy practice owned by a firm of Chartered Accountants - they work within the same office. I've been using them for 10 years and been having accounts prepared for another 10 on top of that elsewhere by accountants, not part time book keepers, so I know when somethings not quite right. I think I'll let it rest at that for now!