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I am going to show you how, without possibly even realising it, you could actually be the reason you don’t have a better relationship with your accountant.

I am going to give you a little reality check, so you can decide whether it is your accountant you need to change or your attitude.

To download the audio file to your computer, please right click on this link and choose save link as, or save target as, depending on your browser.

If you would rather read while you listen or you prefer to just read without the audio or video, we have provided the full transcript further down the page for you.

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Transcript

If you watched my video “Is it Time to Fire Your Accountant?” I gave you some red flags to be aware of so you can move on with a clear conscience.

If you haven’t seen that one, make sure you do.

In this one I am going to show you how, without possibly even realising it, you could actually be the reason you don’t have a better relationship with your accountant.

Coming up, I am going to give you 9 tips you can use to decide whether it is time to change accountant.

Today I am going to give you a little reality check, so you can decide whether it is your accountant you need to change or your attitude.

How many times have we been dissatisfied with a supplier or service? Replaced them with another supplier and then in no time found we are dealing with the very same issues that caused you to change suppliers the last time.

Maybe the problems did not begin and end with the supplier. Because most people are professional, they are loathe to call us out on our crap, so we can continue on oblivious to the consequences of our actions.

Changing providers even for the better is a hassle, so if you have an opportunity to resolve, why not take it.

Some things to watch out for are:

1. Your accountant has to remind you over and over to provide your paperwork. And when you do, it is at the last minute and then there is a mad panic to meet tax or compliance deadlines.

2. You don’t do or have any proper bookkeeping or record keeping system so the accountant has to start from scratch or unravel a tangled unfinished mess.

3. You contact your accountant at all hours of the day and night and expect an immediate response.

4. You try and get services or advice over and above the initial agreement for free. If you catch yourself starting conversations or emails with the words “Just a quickie…” “Or I hope you don’t mind…”, check how often you do it. Are you taking the ……

5. You rarely pay your fees on time, even though you mean to. Maybe you need an instalment plan.

6. You have successfully negotiated a lower fee but still want to receive higher fee service.

7. Deep down you resent or don’t value accounting fees anyway so no matter who your accountant is, they have their work cut out trying to impress you.

8. You don’t follow advice, but still complain or stress that things are not working out.

9. You keep changing accountants and it is always “their fault”.

You can hold your head up now; lightning is not going to strike you where you sit.

I just wanted to highlight that there are 2 sides to every coin and it does us no harm to check our own perception, expectations and behaviour from time to time.

You are just caught up in your world, just like the rest of us.

Plus being an entrepreneur is no walk in the park, it is hard work.

If you recognised yourself in any of those, don’t despair, you are not a bad person.

Just promise me the next time you catch yourself cursing out your accountant; even if it is just in your head.

Maybe stop, count to ten and think about how you may be contributing to the situation.

And in the words of Dizzy Rascal “Fix Up, Look Sharp”

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How do you know you are getting a good service from your accountant? If you are not happy with your current accountant:

Are you right about them? Are you misinformed? Or are you just plain picky.

Well I am going to give you 9 tips you can use to decide whether it is time to change accountant.

To download the audio file to your computer, please right click on this link and choose save link as, or save target as, depending on your browser.

If you would rather read while you listen or you prefer to just read without the audio or video, we have provided the full transcript further down the page for you.

Be a part of the Financial Gym Inner Circle for Free and be amongst the first to get:

• Updates on ways to improve your day to day business money and productivity issues
• Real life stories
• Free video tips and tutorials
• Downloads and templates to keep and use in your business

Click here to subscribe to my mailing list

Resources and Items Mentioned

Check out Resources – Georgette Recommends page

Transcript

How do you know you are getting a good service from your accountant? If you are not happy with your current accountant:

Are you right about them? Are you misinformed? Or are you just plain picky.

Coming up, I am going to give you 9 tips you can use to decide whether it is time to change accountant.

There are some amazing accountants and accountancy firms out there, but they are not all created equal. Forget whether they are experts in tax, or compliance or any other service for that matter.

What you need also need to be looking at is how they interact with you. Business person to business person.

Be aware that even if your accountant messes up, the buck still stops with you. So if your accountant files your returns late or there is later found to be an inaccuracy. It is you who are legally responsible. And any financial penalties or fines have to be paid by you, not them.

“It’s not my fault”

Just won’t wash with the authorities.

So you can’t afford to be complacent about the service you are getting.

But it is not just the practical things that should be red flags, there are more subtle things which you are probably aware of on some level; but do not feel are serious enough to make a fuss about.

See if any of these apply to you:

1. Your accounts, tax returns, benefit declarations etc are filed late despite the fact your accountant had everything they asked for ages ago.

(Though if you are the give information at the last minute in a shoebox person, then my friend, you only have yourself to blame).

2. You deal with different people each time, who have to familiarise themselves with your business before you can move on, so causing a delay in getting your questions answered.

3. If you deal with one particular accountant, they ask you the same questions again and again, showing they clearly are not interested in your business besides doing the paperwork.

4. You are charged on an hourly basis.

In a world where value for money is more important than ever, hourly rates promote inefficiency. Why should slower service cost you more?

5. You are quoted a fee for the year but you get additional bills that you were not expecting. So you avoid asking for help; in case it ends up costing you more money.

6. Your accountant doesn’t explain what your numbers mean in a language you understand.

And closely related

7. Your accountant makes you feel stupid.

8. If you do find yourself in hot water with the tax office your accountant doesn’t have your back and leaves you to it.

9. They are unaware or are unwilling to explore of new trends in business that could improve quality & efficiency e.g. cloud technology, virtual services. – This one is very common in the finance industry.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. You can probably come up with others that I haven’t mentioned here. I am just using the most common complaints that I get from the hundreds of businesses that I have dealt with over the years.

So if after that you think “You know what, I am getting a raw deal here”, do something about it. Even if it is just tactfully bringing any concerns you have to your accountant’s attention.

It could be that it is you who is actually not being a good client.

WHAT?!!

Go watch my video 9 Reasons Your Accountant May be About to Fire You……..If you dare