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How to Select a Good Accountant

The quick and easy answer to how to select a good accountant is to say, “Select me!” That, however, is not the purpose of this article, so we will provide you with some additional criteria for the selection of an accountant for your business. Before we discuss the attributes of a good accountant and accounting firm, let us review why you need the help of any accountant, good or bad.

At the very least, you will require an accountant to assist you in the preparation of your tax return. The tax department views your business as a series of taxable income and deductible expense transactions. The income tax return summarizes these transactions and calculates your contribution to the national revenue system. Unless taxation is a major hobby of yours, you will need an accountant to sort this out for you. Therefore, it is in the area of taxation that you need a good accountant.

The next reason to use an accountant is to prepare your monthly, quarterly and annual reporting to the government. Each report to the government, be it sales tax, payroll taxes or whatever, requires the completion of forms that are governed by strict regulations… regulations that, if not followed, will result in the taxing agency levying heavy fines. Again, unless you have a outside interest in this, it’s best left to people who work with it every day.

You may be thinking that the above reasons for using an accountant imply that you will be financially punished by the government if you do not do so. Partially, this is true. Inadvertently, the powers that be have devised a tax collection and reporting system that places a large burden on the independent business owner. With few exceptions, the reporting required by a five-person operation is similar to the reporting required by an organization employing thousands of people. The difference is the resources available to accomplish the task.

Now let us turn to some positive reasons for using an accountant in your business. After handling your compliance issues with the various levels of government, a good accountant should go further and help you with the financial circumstances of your business. This leads us to the first major criteria of a good accountant. Will you and your accountant be able to fully understand each other? It is extremely important that the lines of communication are clear, and the accountant takes the time to review the financial information provided. A good accountant will drop the jargon and speak to you in a way that helps you better run your business. When selecting an accountant, select someone who appears interested in your business and someone with whom you feel you can develop a rapport. The second step is to ensure that this person is the one with whom you will talk. Is the person selling the service the one who will work with you? How will this contact be made? On what schedule and under what circumstances will your calls be returned? You cannot expect this accountant to be available 24 hours per day, but it is reasonable to expect a return call within 24 hours.

How to Choose a Good Accountant

With so many accountancy firms to choose from, how do you choose a good accountant? Remember, what’s good for one business, may not be quite right for the next. Certainly, with your startups’ finances, you’ll want to choose an accountant you can trust. Not only that, but one that’s qualified and ensures you’re compliant with Companies House and HMRC. Therefore, choosing an accountant for your startup is definitely an important decision. The right accountant will keep on top of your accounts. In addition, mitigate fines and penalties and any other unwanted tax bills. Ultimately, this supports good cash flow & your ability to grow, so choose the right accountant for your startup.

How to Choose a Good Accountant?

It’s a good idea to ask people in your network. For instance, ask them how they went about choosing a good accountant and do they have an accountant they trust. Most importantly, what has been there experience with the accountant(s) they’re using or previously used? Try to drill down as much as you can. Whilst it may seem like a ball ache, avoid choosing an accountant without checking them out for the sake of ticking it off your to do list.

In addition, compare this with a general online search for local accountants. Compare at least 3 accountancy businesses and weigh up the pros and cons for each. As a startup and particularly in the early stages, cost is a driving factor for a lot of the choices we make. On average, you’re looking at around £500-750 for annual accountancy services. For example, for account filing and tax returns, although the more complicated and niche your startup, the higher the price. Your location may also affect price, but as a ballpark figure in and around London, this is what you can work towards and compare quotes with.

Choosing an Accountant for your Startup

First of all, decide what accountancy services you need and why. It’s important to be clear in your mind about what you need and who can provide this to your expectations. Remember, accounting and financial reporting requirements differ according to your business structure.

Secondly, check that your shortlisted accountant(s) are qualified. For example, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA). This gives you the chance for recourse in the unfortunate event that mistakes, or other issues crop up.

How to choose the best contractor accountant

The right contractor accountant will take care of your tax paperwork and help you make sure you don’t pay more than you have to. More importantly, they’ll advise you on complicated rules like IR35, so you can crack on with your work without having to worry about what would happen if HMRC were to investigate you.

When should you hire a contractor accountant?

Before we discuss how to choose a contractor accountant, a quick word on when to hire one. While you might think it’s a big expense — especially if you haven’t made any money from contracting yet — it’s worth hiring one before you even start

What qualifications do they have?

It goes without saying, but you should only work with an accountant if they’re suitably qualified. At a bare minimum, they should have an AAT foundation certificate. This is an entry-level qualification which gives a good grounding in bookkeeping, costing, and other basic issues around financial administration.

Do they specialise in contracting?

As a contractor, you have to comply with complex and tricky legislation such as IR35 and the rules around expenses. These can have dire financial consequences if you get them wrong.

Individuals vs accountancy firms: who should you go for?

Like other businesses, accountants can vary enormously in size — from one-man bands to large firms with thousands of employees across the country (or even across the globe). Both have their pros and cons.

How to choose a good accountant for a new business?

When starting a new business, what are some important considerations for choosing a good accountant? What should one look for / ask for? What are some red flags?

Choosing the right accountant is one of the most important steps a new company can make. Here are some tips to consider while choosing for an accountant:

Consider a certified of chartered accountant – a qualified accountant will be able to add value to your company, especially if you expect your business to grow

Relevant experience – could be beneficial for you if the accountant you choose has experience and expertise in the market sector or industry of your business

Accounting software – if you already have an accounting software set up it’s best if your accountant already has knowledge on it

Ask for referrals

Determine the fees and costs – the accountant could offer various services for which other fees may apply, have a clear communication regarding payments

Consider whether you would prefer to hire an individual accountant or an accounting firm depending on your business’s needs

Some red flags to watch out for:

Communication and the lack of

They don’t know your industry, especially if it is something specific

They only have short contracts in their portfolio – clients would not want to let go of a good accountant

Bending the rules – a good accountant will always maintain their integrity as otherwise could get you into trouble

They are vague when answering your questions

You don’t feel confident in choosing them

How to choose the right accountant

When it comes to choosing an accountant, you’re looking to build a business relationship with someone, who ideally you’re going to be with for long haul. Of course it’s possible to switch and change, but it’s not ideal, so it’s definitely worth putting in the groundwork right from the start so you can find the right solution.

THE FIT

The first consideration is the fit.  Think, are you happy discussing the inner workings of your business with the accountant you’re considering? Would you be comfortable asking them various questions about your accounts and would they explain things in a way that you understand? Do they appreciate the general ethos of what you’re trying to achieve with your business?

CREDENTIALS

In short, is the accountant you’re considering up to the job?  In this video I explain that accountancy isn’t actually a regulated profession, which means anyone can potentially call themselves an accountant. So you might want to check they’re a member of a professional body

THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT

It’s important to think about what support you’ll need. Remember, you don’t need to have an accountant. So start considering what’s required and whether your potential accountant can support you with what you want now.

And also perhaps more importantly, coming back to the idea of building a relationship with someone, can they support you going forward with where your business wants to be? There’s no point in working with someone who will be great for a year or two and then suddenly you’ll have to swap and change. So try and think a bit longer term.