Choosing your accountant
The most important point in dealing with your accountant is communication - it is through regular communication that they will know what is best for you. Here are three golden rules in getting the most from your accountant
Golden rule one
Keep to any agreed deadlines and provide records in time
Golden rule two
Let your accountant know if there are any changes to your business or circumstances
Golden rule three
If you are about to make drawings, change salary amounts or pay a dividend then check with you accountant to any tax implications that may crop up as a a result
Here are some simple questions to help figure out if the accountants right for you and your business
- What qualifications does your accountant have?
- Do they have experience of dealing with businesses your size and at your point of growth?
- Do they understand your business and if they don't do they seem willing to learn about it to give you the best advice?
- Who will be your main point of contact on a day to day basis?
- Do they have guaranteed response times?
- Ask if they offer any additional service which may help you out?
- What are their fee structures?
- What value do they add to their services?
- Opening times and flexibility to visit you?
How To Change Accountants
The best place probably to start when looking to change accountants is to look and see why you are changing, these reasons are very important and should be considered when looking at new accountants - it is worth asking the questions about how your new accountant would deal with what made you unhappy before
So - Why change accountant?
- You are unhappy with the service
- You can get a more cost effective service elsewhere
- You can get a better and more comprehensive service elsewhere
- Your current accountant is closing their business
- Your company has grown and the current accountant cannot cater for your expanded needs
- You've been hit with a late filing fine thats not your fault
- Your payroll is being delivered late consistently
- You want a more flexible service
Steps to take to change your accountant
- Check your terms of business to see whether you have any notice period and penalties for changing accountants
- Find yourself a new accountant, and notify your existing accountant of your intention to change. At this point they will probably try to make you stay, be sure that if they do try to retain your business that you let them know exactly why you were changing otherwise you could end up another year on and no real change
- Your existing accountant should then deal with any outstanding matters and hand over to your newly appointed accountant.
- Please do bear in mind that if your existing accountant is a Chartered, Certified or has another professional qualification then they will be bound by their regulatory body to fully assist with the handing over of your books and any papers belonging to you/ your business within a reasonable timescale
- Your new accountant should then, in line with maintaining their professional ethics write to your previous accountant to request all relevant information and documents and gain professional clearance - this is needed to ensure your new accountant can fully take over your accounts.
- Could there be any handover fees? This is quite unusual as there is generally not much involved in a handover however expect to get charged up to an hour for them to compile the information. It may be slightly different if you have outstanding fees with your accountant.
- If you are disputing fees then this could prevent the handover taking place to a new accountant until this has been resolved as it is your old accountants only leverage.
We welcome all businesses, for a one to one service we cover Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. If you would be more interested in a online and telephone based service then we cover UK wide with regular visits so we can look through your business.
here to help businesses in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire
