Do you use a PCG quality accountant?

[ashleymoran]

I need some advice on finding an accountant, I've seen the list of PCG certified accounts, and wondered if there is any advantage to approaching them first.

Do they understand the needs of contractors better?

Do they charge a lot more than non-PCG accountants?

Are they generally better at their job than non-PCG accountants?

[pisces]

I use one of them and they charge what most reasonible accountants do. I have no idea about any benefits, it's just co-incidence that I use both.

[tim123]

You are missing the "What's a PCG quality accountant" option.

tim

[ashleymoran]

You are missing the "What's a PCG quality accountant" option

Nah I was payed by the PCG to advertise lol

I guess I also missed the "I don't even have an accountant" option too...

[malvolio]

They get the QA badge by attending detailed training on what IR35 and reallted subjects are all about including the defence strategies and relevant case law. On that basis they are probably better equipped than most to understand the needs of the contractor. It does not certify their competence as accountants or judge their fee strcucture which are clearl outside the PCG's ability to judge.

FWIW I use SJD who have the badge, but they were pretty much clued up anyway.

[chicane]

It does not certify their competence as accountants

Should they not be known as "PCG IR35-certified accountants"? The wording of "PCG Quality Accountants" seems misleading, and suggests that their competency in accounting itself has been assessed.

[ashleymoran]

Should they not be known as "PCG IR35-certified accountants"? The wording of "PCG Quality Accountants" seems misleading, and suggests that their competency in accounting itself has been assessed.

Hmm, fair point. I read this on their PCG QA overview PDF:

The PCG (QA) scheme involves:

• Strict entry criteria and rigorous application process
• Two-day training programme on:
  • IR35 (intermediaries legislation)
  • S660A (settlements legislation)
  • Customer service training
• Annual assessment, including feedback from PCG members

an alternative, purely hypothetical, interpretation:

The PCG (QA) scheme involves:

• Some tickboxes on an application form (includes space for credit card number)
• Quick overview (includes free coffee and jammy dodgers!) of stuff off the internet about:
  • That thing that contractors whinge about
  • That thing that couples whinge about (not covered: how long he spends in the pub or how short her skirt is)
  • Advice on answering the phone, including how to drop references to our sponsor insurers
• Annual questionnaire, including checks that no PCG members have sued you for incompetence

Let's start another poll:

Are you...

• (A) impressed by the thorough nature of the course and the presige the certification bestows upon the practice?
• (B) a cynical bastard that thinks the accountants shouldn't pay more than a fiver to put the QA stamp on their letterhead and should get some real training instead

[Darren@UptonAccountants]

Pcg

We're currently going through this at present, it's not something they just give away and you do have to pass certain criteria as well as the annual review.

I'm advised that the pass rates are approx 60%.

The biscuits provided by Accountax are very nice, but the buffet wasn't up to much!!

[ashleymoran]

We're currently going through this at present, it's not something they just give away and you do have to pass certain criteria as well as the annual review.

I'm advised that the pass rates are approx 60%.

Cool - didn't know there were any accountants watching this. What sort of things do they check as part of the certification? I have to say that the promo literature they produce for accountants makes it sound a bit of a give-away and almost made me discount it completely.

What do you think about their policy that they only intend to accredit one or two accountants in any geographic area? (They don't say how big such an area would be though...) It seems odd to me that they might turn away an equally good, if not better, accountant, because someone beat him to it locally.

The biscuits provided by Accountax are very nice, but the buffet wasn't up to much!!

Clearly this is something you should have raised before you handed over the cash!

[autodial]

Clearly this is something you should have raised before you handed over the cash![/QUOTE]
WTF are accoutax?