Questions for an acountant..

**philip@wellwoodhoyle** · 6 December 2006, 20:13

As far as I know, AIMS is just a franchise operation and may well accept "accountants" without the usual professional memberships. As a general rule of thumb, you should be looking for a "chartered" type of accountant, such as Chartered Management Accountant, Chartered Certified Accountant, Member of the Chartered Taxation Institute, member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. You need to ask them which professional body they are a member of, and regulated by.

You need to ask them how much they know about IR35, S660 and other issues of specific interest to contractors. How many contractor clients do they represent. Who do they refer their specialist tax problems to (i.e. most firms will refer to Accountax, QDos etc if there is a particular nasty problem!).

You need to ask them their fees and exactly what they will do - many firms charge the usual £50-£100 per month, but what they actually do for you varies enormously - some of the cheaper ones do everything and some of the more expensive still expect you to do some things for example.

Ask exactly who will do the work at their end. You may find that he will do everything, including answering the phone (!) or you may find that he gives everything to someone else to do. If you are going for his personality, do you really want to be fobbed off with the trainee a few weeks later?

Ask for his views on things like the low salary/high dividend practice, what he feels about your spouse being a shareholder/director to share the profits between you.

Most important though, is do you get on with him, can you work with him, etc.

Hope that helps.

**Spooner** · 7 December 2006, 23:09

Thanks for the excellant response.

I met with him today and will be going elsewhere.

**malvolio** · 7 December 2006, 23:19

Originally posted by Spooner

Thanks for the excellant response.

I met with him today and will be going elsewhere.

Good. So join the PCG and look at their QA scheme...

**MarillionFan** · 8 December 2006, 08:01

I think you should be looking at chartered. I had major problems with my accountants a while back and was unable to apply any pressure. Finally I had to threaten legal action which seemed to have the desired effect.

**Waldorf** · 8 December 2006, 08:16

I'm now with a umbrella, and yes I am going to start my own ltd company, when I had a company I used Nixon Williams and they were very good, will be going back to them.

**Nixon Williams** · 8 December 2006, 09:59

Hello Waldorf, not sure who you are but you will be welcome to join us again!

Alan

**kirk** · 8 December 2006, 10:30

I use SJD and so far I've had no problems at all with them; highly reccomend

Questions for an acountant..