Harrison Beale & Owen??

**northernladuk** · 2 September 2014, 11:12

After a quick glance at their website I wouldn't. They might be on the PCG list but they don't seem to specialise in contractors. The fact we are bottom of the options on their page makes me wonder.

If you then go to the contractors page there is little to nothing of any detail about contractors. Just a calculator and, rather worryingly, the only article is about AWR which doesn't apply to us anyway. Nothing on there gives me any confidence at all. Nothing about contract reviews, IR35, expenses nothing....

On that basis I would be out...

SJD Accountancy have an office in Sutton Coalfield which is a bit of a trek to be fair but I have been with them 6 years or so now and never once had the need to go to the office. On that basis I would also suggest speaking to InTouch or Nixon Williams. All three post on here regularly with good solid advice so know contractors well.

Just have a look at the website for all three of those and see how much contractor based info there is there for starters.

EDIT : I would just like to say I don't get a bloody bean off any of them for recommending them.... b*****ds

EDIT 2 : If you go for InTouch tell them TheFaQQer sent you.

**Ebenezer** · 2 September 2014, 12:12

I'm inclined to agree with you; I was with a "general purpose" accountant previously but I'm well aware that this was during a gentler age...

I'm aware of the offerings of the contractor specialists, and agree that face-to-face contact is pretty unimportant these days - the rise of Crunch is evidence of this trend.

That said;

Being a "little guy", I'm generally in favour of supporting other "reasonably little" guys where possible
It would be nice to have the head office close enough to be able to drive over and leave a flaming dog turd on the doorstep after getting out of jail for VAT fraud

Will reserve judgement until a "user review" comes along - or fails to come along, which would be significant in itself.

**Sausage Surprise** · 2 September 2014, 12:12

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

After a quick glance at their website I wouldn't. They might be on the PCG list but they don't seem to specialise in contractors. The fact we are bottom of the options on their page makes me wonder.

If you then go to the contractors page there is little to nothing of any detail about contractors. Just a calculator and, rather worryingly, the only article is about AWR which doesn't apply to us anyway. Nothing on there gives me any confidence at all. Nothing about contract reviews, IR35, expenses nothing....

On that basis I would be out...

SJD Accountancy have an office in Sutton Coalfield which is a bit of a trek to be fair but I have been with them 6 years or so now and never once had the need to go to the office. On that basis I would also suggest speaking to InTouch or Nixon Williams. All three post on here regularly with good solid advice so know contractors well.

Plenty of business from the pitmen eh?

**northernladuk** · 2 September 2014, 12:17

Originally posted by Ebenezer View Post

.

That said;

Being a "little guy", I'm generally in favour of supporting other "reasonably little" guys where possible

Fully bought in to this idea. I buy local where I can. When it comes to legal responsibility of company finance I go for the best where ever it is.

It would be nice to have the head office close enough to be able to drive over and leave a flaming dog turd on the doorstep after getting out of jail for VAT fraud

There are many much better ways of leaving your mark on the online world than having a paddy at headoffice, to which they won't bat an eye lid. Review sites, their twitter page and on here are far more damaging and satisfying.

Will reserve judgement until a "user review" comes along - or fails to come along, which would be significant in itself.

Fair enough but basing your choice on one or two user reviews that are often sickies of said company or some biased view isn't the best way to make your choices in this area. They are clearly not suited to contractors so why the hell are you even considering them?

Each to their own..... unless you work for them of course....

**LisaContractorUmbrella** · 2 September 2014, 12:19

Anyone else wondering

**Sausage Surprise** · 2 September 2014, 12:25

Originally posted by Ebenezer View Post

Hi,

New to the site, second offense as a contractor.

Came across Harrison Beale & Owen accountants whilst searching; they seem to tick a couple of boxes:

On the PCG list
On the FreeAgent List
Based in the midlands, so you aren't paying for your accountant to sit in a fancy office in Lower Thames Street

However, I can't find them mentioned in any thread ever on this site.

Any experiences, positive or negative, to report?

Cheers,

E

"Offence" in the UK

**Ebenezer** · 2 September 2014, 13:13

For the avoidance of doubt, I don't work for them.

I won't continue this thread further.

**JB3000** · 2 September 2014, 18:41

Originally posted by Ebenezer View Post

Hi,

New to the site, second offense as a contractor.

Came across Harrison Beale & Owen accountants whilst searching; they seem to tick a couple of boxes:

On the PCG list
On the FreeAgent List
Based in the midlands, so you aren't paying for your accountant to sit in a fancy office in Lower Thames Street

However, I can't find them mentioned in any thread ever on this site.

Any experiences, positive or negative, to report?

Cheers,

E

From the website they look like a very good firm of accountants. They are ICAEW regulated (many contractor firms of accountants are completely unregulated), they are members of IPSE/PCG, they have partners, e.g. contractor mortgages and IFA's, they use Iris OpenBooks, their staff seem very well qualified, etc, etc. They only downside is that they are probably quite expensive. If they charge a reasonable fee (no more than £120/month including VAT) then you should definitely give them a call. I'd be stunned if they turned out to be bad. Anything more than £120/month including VAT is a complete rip off.

Harrison Beale & Owen??