How to choose an accountant

[teddys]

To me it looks like YOU are the brand much more than 'cheapaccounting'. Your media presence or embracing the social media early on etc and the resultant personal brand value created (like say celebrities) are carrying the business much more than the name of the business. Cheapaccounting in that sense looks like a byproduct of the whole branding exercise, whether intentional or unintentional. Should someone else rely solely on the pricing model to strategise their branding, that in my view, may not be the most sustainable idea in the long run.

PS: This comment is basically about branding and is not about a particular person.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

I am flattered that you think that but let's not forget it is the band of accountants that do the work and not me. Clients may come to us because of me (I am not sure that its always the case – some of them really haven’t heard of me! ) but they stay because of the great service delivered by our team of properly qualified accountants.

 

[teddys]

I am flattered

But my post is based on evidence. There was a thread on here a few days ago where:

a) Brand cheapaccounting 'pulled in' a lead. But the prospect was unconvinced. In other words the current 'features' of the business brand including the price weren't themselves convincing to a prospect
b) A few posts later the 'features' of brand YOU were known
c) And possibly the prospect signed up!

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

But my post is based on evidence. There was a thread on here a few days ago where:

a) Brand cheapaccounting 'pulled in' a lead. But the prospect was unconvinced. In other words the current 'features' of the business brand including the price weren't themselves convincing to a prospect
b) A few posts later the 'features' of brand YOU were known
c) And possibly the prospect signed up!

LOL a sample of one

Based on my experience some times someone just wants a recommendation - as is suggested at the top of this sticky

However that all aside .... cheapaccounting.co.uk and / or Elaine Clark where does one stop and the other start. :|:|:|

 

[Wild Goose]

Hi Emma

Someone has asked me what professional body you are a member of - can you reply with the details please. Thank you

We're starting to check out our competitors, having recently lost a client to a cheap fees practice which described itself as "qualified accountants" by virtue of its ICPA (Institute of Certified Practising Accountants) membership.

According to Wikipedia, the ICPA "is a professional organisation representing practising accountants." In short, a trade association!

According to the ICPA's website, the criteria for membership is to have worked as or for an accountant for five years. Just send £80, and you're in! No exams necessary; instant qualified accountant, complete with a "practising certificate"! Bezinga!

www.icpa.org.uk/membership-practice_how_to_join_.html

On what planet does belonging to a trade association for unqualified accountants entitle you to describe your firm as qualified accountants?

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

We're starting to check out our competitors, having recently lost a client to a cheap fees practice which described itself as "qualified accountants" by virtue of its ICPA (Institute of Certified Practising Accountants) membership.

According to Wikipedia, the ICPA "is a professional organisation representing practising accountants." In short, a trade association!

According to the ICPA's website, the criteria for membership is to have worked as or for an accountant for five years. Just send £80, and you're in! No exams necessary; instant qualified accountant, complete with a "practising certificate"! Bezinga!

www.icpa.org.uk/membership-practice_how_to_join_.html

On what planet does belonging to a trade association for unqualified accountants entitle you to describe your firm as qualified accountants?

You might want to add that to this post ...

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=279599

 

[Wild Goose]

On the same theme of unqualified accountants calling themselves qualified, it's actually quite difficult to check out many of the practices who claim to be qualified but don't say with which body. There's just no central register.

I'm looking at the website of a cheap fees accountancy practice which came up top of the paid ads on a Google. It's a one director UK limited company, and its website states quite clearly "Fully qualified chartered accountants". Another page informs us that "Our team is composed of a group of experienced chartered accountants..".

There's no logo to tell us which body of chartered accountants the firm or its director are a member of. So we checked out the director, who turns out to be a UK resident East European who, according to the company's records, recently changed her East European surname to an English name. A quick google on the former name reveals that she was recently convicted for a £35k mortgage fraud here in the UK, for which she received a long community service sentence and of course a criminal record.

If you are a member of a Recognised UK Accountancy Body, that'd probably be enough to get you hauled over the coals by a disciplinary hearing and struck off, always assuming that the website's claim of being chartered accountants was true. But you see the problem - if people entering the "cheap accountants" market are allowed to describe their practices as qualified then that is at the very least misleading and at worse a fraudulent misrepresentation. Be honest, if you hired a company whose director was a convicted fraudster to look after your finances because you believed their website claims to be a qualified, regulated practice then you'd be left wondering how they're allowed to get away with it.

 

[teddys]

However that all aside .... cheapaccounting.co.uk and / or Elaine Clark where does one stop and the other start. :|:|:|

Well, as you know very well, broadly there are two areas: origination and execution. I would say branding helps in originating, and execution and the quality of it would strenthen the brand in later stages. Again I would say, once established, business brand should take the lead on its own as years down there may be issues like valutaion, succession planning etc. Not comparing, just for arguement sake, Virgin is a much bigger brand for their customers than the personal RB brand.

 

[Wild Goose]

You might want to add that to this post ...

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=279599

Cheers, Elaine, thanks for the heads up. I've pasted into that thread.

Lunch everyone...

 

[internetspaceships]

Hi Emma

Someone has asked me what professional body you are a member of - can you reply with the details please. Thank you

Did you get a reply to this or?

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Did you get a reply to this or?

No and I'm not likely to.

Did you see my blog today?

 

[internetspaceships]

I didn't actually no. I'll pop and have a look.

Edit: Ohhh that looks fun

Final edit: Yes do report them.

 

[old boy]

I would only use word of mouth Im afraid

Do you need an accountant or a bookeeper though?

 

[bizrep103]

Interest comments, I can also recommend a top accountant and bookkeeper called Alpha Limited. They also helped advice the Kashflow team on its development so if you are using that software also then they are worth a shout.

 

[Bob]

Interest comments, I can also recommend a top accountant and bookkeeper called Alpha Limited. They also helped advice the Kashflow team on its development so if you are using that software also then they are worth a shout.

Alan of Alpha is a long established and respected member on here and was for many years a moderator. Doesn't seem to be posting so regularly these days

 

[Croxgroup1]

Any one know jimmy cars ?

 

[old boy]

lol
No = but I know a man about Stamp duty and Capital Allowance claims !!!
OB

 

[Croxgroup1]

Tbh I have met 5accounting firms in a week some passed to me by the bank others I have found myself but none filled me with any great expectations

To moral for me, I want someone to say I will do everything within the parameters of the law but we will save you money


Not so far

 

[JohnWilson]

The best ways to find a CPA is to ask friends, relatives or business associates for recommendations. Try to focus on those people who are in a similar financial situation. You also want to check with other professionals, such as your banker or attorney, your local chamber of commerce, or small business owners whose establishments you regularly visit.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

A CPA is a term generally associated with a USA accountant and not widely used in the UK

 

[Anonymouse72]

Hi Emma

Someone has asked me what professional body you are a member of - can you reply with the details please. Thank you

An unashamed bump for this question as i see 'cheaper accountant' is back posting again tonight, perhaps a few other answers might be forthcoming too...

 

[Sean John]

CPA's are also very common in Australia. CPA Australia has an impressive 132,000 members!

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

An unashamed bump for this question as i see 'cheaper accountant' is back posting again tonight, perhaps a few other answers might be forthcoming too...

nothing so far funny to be ashamed of being a CCAB member

 

[Sean John]

Which accountants are CCAB member accountants?

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

see the web site here:

http://www.ccab.org.uk/

It's ...

• ICAEW
• ACCA
• CIPFA
• ICAS
• Chartered Accountants Ireland

 

[Kent_Accountant]

Broadly speaking people in need of an accountant are usually going to choose based on price or level of service, possible somewhere in between.

You may want to choose a local accountant if face to face contact is something that you value, or at least knowing you could meet.

If you want a cheap accountant, then internet based is probably for you.

Our model is based on providing a high quality service and it works, clients appreciate the level of service and demonstrate this by providing regular referrals from other businesses looking to change their accountant.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Our model is based on providing a high quality service and it works, clients appreciate the level of service and demonstrate this by providing regular referrals from other businesses looking to change their accountant.

Certainly applies to us to and I expect many other good, qualified accountants on here.

 

[Bob]

Broadly speaking people in need of an accountant are usually going to choose based on price or level of service, possible somewhere in between.

You may want to choose a local accountant if face to face contact is something that you value, or at least knowing you could meet.

If you want a cheap accountant, then internet based is probably for you.

Our model is based on providing a high quality service and it works, clients appreciate the level of service and demonstrate this by providing regular referrals from other businesses looking to change their accountant.

Kent Accountant
Sorry - private joke

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Kent Accountant
Sorry - private joke

come on Bob - spill

 

[Bob]

come on Bob - spill

There was a previous KA on here - can't think who he was :| - but clearly a new member also thinks it's a good name - Checked his website and he is a qualified accountant - a member of ICAEW. Shame you can't check the bona fides of all newer members on here as easily

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

There was a previous KA on here - can't think who he was :| - but clearly a new member also thinks it's a good name - Checked his website and he is a qualified accountant - a member of ICAEW. Shame you can't check the bona fides of all newer members on here as easily

I remember the previous Kent Accountant - he was actually a very nice man. Have no idea what happened to him. I think he retired.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Shame you can't check the bona fides of all newer members on here as easily

Yes although I cannot understand why you would hide your accounting body - I think clients like to know.

The only time I have come across someone hiding this is when they were not really an accountant - can you believe that

 

[Kent_Accountant]

[QUOTEYes although I cannot understand why you would hide your accounting body - I think clients like to know.

The only time I have come across someone hiding this is when they were not really an accountant - can you believe that [/QUOTE]

...because they're not qualified and probably don't have PI insurance either.

Always suspect when you go to a website and the only form of contact is an enquiry form - no name, no phone number or e-mail address.

 

[Kent_Accountant]

There was a previous KA on here - can't think who he was :| - but clearly a new member also thinks it's a good name

I use the same name on other forums - just trying to be consistent

 

[Kent_Accountant]

Certainly applies to us to and I expect many other good, qualified accountants on here.

Elaine, there is usually a compromise between being cheap and providing a high quality service, value for money is a different proposition and depends on the value the client perceives in the service he/she gets- don't you think?

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Elaine, there is usually a compromise between being cheap and providing a high quality service, value for money is a different proposition and depends on the value the client perceives in the service he/she gets- don't you think?

With respect I absolutely disagree as well you know from previous discussions

I tend to find that those that cannot understand how taking advantage of technology, stream lining processes and keeping overheads at a minimum have this view.


Providing a cheap service does not mean a substandard service in any way. We would not have grown as we have, been around for nearly 6 years, won awards, been on Radio 4 if we did not provide a quality service!



I did think that most had woken up to this by now and the need to explain how this works had past. I suppose I will always get the odd naysayer.


Welcome to the forum by the way. Hope you have checked out the rules.


Good luck on here - I hope you will become a productive member and contribute useful content

 

[Bob]

I remember the previous Kent Accountant - he was actually a very nice man. Have no idea what happened to him. I think he retired.

The rumour that I heard was that he went to the dogs after he stopped posting regularly on here

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

The rumour that I heard was that he went to the dogs after he stopped posting regularly on here

I heard that he was pretending to be someone else

 

[Bob]

I heard that he was pretending to be someone else

This is getting confusing because I thought someone was pretending to be you and that they were also pretending to be someone else but, at my age, one does get confused sometimes but I can remember that I am definitely a member of ICAEW :|

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

This is getting confusing because I thought someone was pretending to be you and that they were also pretending to be someone else but, at my age, one does get confused sometimes but I can remember that I am definitely a member of ICAEW :|

One or two try to copy me but fail miserably. Others just sling mud from the side lines.

It all confuses the professional heck out of me