How to choose an accountant

[Wild Goose]

Wild Goose had you any comment to the substance of the post?

I certainly have, Eamon. I think it lacks substance, mainly because you made it all up

Here are some real-world tips for choosing an accountant http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=189932

 

[Bob]

any comment to the substance of the post?

Did you proof read the post Eamon :| It's always probably a good idea before you click on the "Submit Reply" button.

 

[micheellereviews8]

9) Make sure your accountant keeps in touch with your business. That helps.. =)

 

[anna28]

Great, this is very useful

 

[Wild Goose]

9) Make sure your accountant keeps in touch with your business. That helps.. =)

Not everyone wants that. Some might regard you as an over-active busybody.

 

[internetspaceships]

Not everyone wants that. Some might regard you as an over-active busybody.

Yes, so you go for an accountant who agrees the level of involvement that you as a client want. Simples.

 

[Wild Goose]

Yes, so you go for an accountant who agrees the level of involvement that you as a client want. Simples.

Prices may vary dependant upon customer attitude.

It's dependent: "dependant" is the noun, "dependent" the adjective. Simples

Your wife and eight children are your dependants; the amount of your wife's housekeeping money is dependent on the 3.30 at Kempton Park.

 

[sbdongdong]

Is this not a breanch of confidentiality ? I've asked a couple of times and they have both responded with an 'As you would expect, we cannot provide you with details of current clients."


I just like what you think

 

[internetspaceships]

It's dependent: "dependant" is the noun, "dependent" the adjective. Simples

Your wife and eight children are your dependants; the amount of your wife's housekeeping money is dependent on the 3.30 at Kempton Park.

Bugger - a grammar n4zi.

It only took 2 years for someone to spot that one!

 

[David Griffiths]

Bugger - a grammar n4zi.

It only took 2 years for someone to spot that one!

There are those who observe but don't comment!

 

[internetspaceships]

There are those who observe but don't comment!

Lol any particular reason?

*note it's changed*

 

[David Griffiths]

Lol any particular reason?

Because life's too short to correct every grammatical error on the internet! If you corrected your and you're, their and there, its and it's . . .

Their wouldn't be enough time to get you're work done before the computer blew it's fuse.

 

[internetspaceships]

Because life's too short to correct every grammatical error on the internet! If you corrected your and you're, their and there, its and it's . . .

Their wouldn't be enough time to get you're work done before the computer blew it's fuse.

Haha, I belly laughed at that!

Top marks David, you owned me with that answer

 

[Bob]

Because life's too short to correct every grammatical error on the internet! If you corrected your and you're, their and there, its and it's . . .

Their wouldn't be enough time to get you're work done before the computer blew it's fuse.

Can I imply that you dont beleive its possible if everyone practiced enough :| I really loved grammer at school

 

[Wild Goose]

Their wouldn't be enough time to get you're work done before the computer blew it's fuse.

Oops David... it's its not it's. No possessive apostrophe on that inanimate pronoun.

 

[David Griffiths]

Oops David... it's its not it's. No possessive apostrophe on that inanimate pronoun.

Where is the smiley for something going whooosh over somebody else's head?

 

[Wild Goose]

Where is the smiley for something going whooosh over somebody else's head?

My apologies. Son #2 is takin' English Language, and Yours Truly has recently found himself dragged into the unnatural world world of past participles and subordinate clauses.

Next week, semi-colons and Dexy's Midnight Runners. :|

Sorry 'bout Team Cymru today.

 

[Bob]

My apologies. Son #2 is takin' English Language, and Yours Truly has recently found himself dragged into the unnatural world world of past participles and subordinate clauses.

... and for real excitement, there's always the pluperfect subjunctive and the future subjunctive

 

[David Griffiths]

It's very simple, just ask any prospective accountant the following:

"What is 1+1?"

If they answer "2", run for the door.

It can, of course, be 10.

 

[karloskars4]

Hi i think that good account is from AXA or citybank

 

[Nelson01]

Choosing an accountant is concerned to if they use fixed fees as against charging per hour and the accountant understands the drivers in any business and if they are your accountant will understand yours very well.

 

[accountancyextra]

CHOOSING an accountant is like choosing a dentist. You want one who will make things as painless as possible, but you won’t find out if you have made the wrong choice until it is too late.

You can cut down your risk, by asking the prospective accountant the right questions and asking them to provide proof on how they have helped their clients, in the form of case studies and testimonials

 

[Jenni384]

you won’t find out if you have made the wrong choice until it is too late.

It's good to ask for references. Any accountant can obviously cherry-pick the good, happy clients to give references to prospects, but I would recommend asking for references from people who have been with the accountant for at least 2-3 full years. It's very easy to be a happy customer in the first 6-12 months, especially if the accountant talks a good talk, but keeping a client happy for 2 years+ is a good indicator, especially if the level of service is consistent.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

The word of accounting means is very simple.If you want to add 2+2=4.That is called accounting and the person who perform this activity that is call accountant.

nope that is called maths

 

[Posilan]

nope that is called maths

Looking at "his" other posts, i'm convinced it's a spambot testing the water with posts loosly related to the subject line of the thread

Steve

 

[David Griffiths]

nope that is called maths

Sums, actually!

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Sums, actually!

In your day maybe

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

I recruit an accountant last year, he sold all my business secrets to rival company only for $10,000.

Because of this now we are on 4th position in the market and suffered around $2,50,000...

:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|

 

[thebiznizdotcom]

Getting the right accountant is all about finding someone you can trust. Someone who has a real interest and passion for "your" company. Someone who will give you tips and help you avoid pitfalls. I know its important to keep costs down but if you get the wrong Accountant it might cost you alot more than you could have saved. Its always best to get a recommendation and have someone you can get on with. Cheapest is not always best!

 

[xinghu]

I got my accountant through Business Link. They have a list of remommended suppliers for your area. I choose 4 and had meetings with each of them. I based my choice on the one that not only gave me what I thought was the best value for money, but the one that I got on better with. I had a specific type of accountant I was looking for, so I went for the one I felt comfortable with.

Hope this helps
Andrew

 

[xinghu]

I got my accountant through Business Link. They have a list of remommended suppliers for your area. I choose 4 and had meetings with each of them. I based my choice on the one that not only gave me what I thought was the best value for money, but the one that I got on better with. I had a specific type of accountant I was looking for, so I went for the one I felt comfortable with.

Hope this helps
Andrew

 

[mike_hugh]

I've been using a site called onlinetaxcalc.com - they're pretty good for the self employed - and cheap too!

 

[teddys]

We have seen prospective clients asking (in certain cases) for minimum two satisfactory references before signing up!!!

 

[apacarada]

You could use this free website http://accountancysearch.co.uk/

 

[David Griffiths]

You could use this free website http://accountancysearch.co.uk/

To find an accountant who has paid to be on there?

Superb results with a local postcode - one about 30 miles away, 2 with Gloucester postcodes, one in Salisbury and one in Manchester.

 

[apacarada]

To find an accountant who has paid to be on there?

Superb results with a local postcode - one about 30 miles away, 2 with Gloucester postcodes, one in Salisbury and one in Manchester.

This is a directory run by KashFlow and it is free for accountants as well.

 

[Jonathanus]

Our site, cmypitch, provides a 'find-an-advisor' service which can get you free no-obligation quotes from local service providers. We have some excellent accounting and book-keeping firms from across the UK signed up - rather than trawling through a list of names and numbers in a directory, you fill out a short form and get three accountants calling you and pitching for your business!

 

[DFL Accountants Ltd]

Our site, cmypitch, provides a 'find-an-advisor' service which can get you free no-obligation quotes from local service providers. We have some excellent accounting and book-keeping firms from across the UK signed up - rather than trawling through a list of names and numbers in a directory, you fill out a short form and get three accountants calling you and pitching for your business!

We would be interested in signing up to your site - but it doesn't seem to show up well on Internet Explorer, so cannot make any sense of it?

Kind regards

 

[nathanial]

How do you choose an accountant. Is there anything to look for? Things to
>avoid?

1. Charges agreed in advance - check exactly what you get for your money
2. Go for someone who is familiar with one man companies
3. A local guy can be better than a big firm of specialist contractor
accountants, on the basis that they will have a long (and hopefully
good) history with the local tax office.
4. Don't go for one of those really cheap e.g. 35ukp a month firms.
Remember - you get what you pay for.

 

[crphillips]

My acountants are amazing and i'm so glad i found them. They're a very modern accountancy company with really good ideas and a fresh way of looking at things. They give up information easily. They take a genuine interest in my business and are always coming up with ideas of how to improve things. They'll meet up out of hours for a pint and a chat free of charge and go over the business via our management accounts. I can't recommend CGA accountants in Escrick in York enough! Chelle is great.