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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.
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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
