What do you look for in an accountant?

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Yep, I am an accountant. I run a moderately successful general practice and last year, we entered the contractor market. We've done OK but would like to do better obviously. Our rep for customer service is fairly strong and most of our clients think pretty highly of us.

We've never offered MSC or Umbrella services but Brookson it seems still have a solid customer base despite their re-invention so that fact doesn;t seem to be huge issue.

I also had a client came to use precisely because we weren't a big player in the contractor world and therefore formed the opinion that he would be less likely to be investigated re IR35 etc. Seems a bit illogical to me but has that ever crossed anybody's mind?

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

[QUOTE=Sockpuppet;490176]Essentially no fixed fee.[QUOTE]

Well thats how we work. We have afixed monthly tariff for the bells and whistles service and to start with we did not deviate from this. It was a case of £80 a month for a contractor but then we discovered that some customers are a bit more sophisticated users of accounting services and therefore did not want to buy monthly book-keeping and payroll services but needed a combination of y/e plus sound tax planning. We now offer that on fixed fee basis - fixed between us and the customer that is - not fixed right across the board.

[chris79]

Yep, I am an accountant. I run a moderately successful general practice and last year, we entered the contractor market. We've done OK but would like to do better obviously. I rep for customer service is fairly strong and most of our clients think pretty highly of us.

We've never offered MSC or Umbrella services but Brookson it seems still have a solid customer base despite their re-invention so that fact doesn;t seem to be huge issue.

I also had a client came to use precisely because we weren't a big player in the contractor world and therefore formed the opinion that he would be less likely to be investigated re IR35 etc. Seems a bit illogical to me but has that ever crossed anybody's mind?

Actually yes, I formed a new limited company last April just as the MSC legislation came into play and chose to do my own books/accounts on the basis thing were up in the air and I wanted to be sure. Now that the dust has settled I chose to use a small independant (friend of the family) accountant to keep away from anything 'big', mostly to minimise risk of anything on the MSC front.

[NotAllThere]

Someone who can explain things to me in simple terms. Someone who understands that sometimes I might want to take risks with tax law. Someone who can make suggestions as how I can save money. Generally, somone who can look out for me, and who I can trust.

I've got one of those!

[sidknows]

[QUOTE=Just1morethen;490188]Yep, I am an accountant.

whats your practice called ?

there you go .. I ahve just given you an opportunity to publicise yourself without it being labelled as spam!

[ratewhore]

Someone who offers proper proactive tax advice. I don't consider 'low salary, high dividend' to be proactive tax advice yet this is what the contractor conveyor belt accountants seem to offer.

[gadgetman]

That's what's missing from my accountants.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

That's what's missing from my accountants.

Why do you continue to use them? It seems that people will put up with terrible customer service in their solicitors, accountants, banks etc. Is it a case of better the devil you know?

[gadgetman]

Most of the service is okay but they definitely fall down in this area - maybe its because they offer a fixed-price service?

I'll jump if I see several examples of personal experience of a better service, at a reasonable price.

I'm with one of the big ones by the way and no I won't say which one.

[babason]

Why do you continue to use them? It seems that people will put up with terrible customer service in their solicitors, accountants, banks etc. Is it a case of better the devil you know?

Unfortunately yes!

The problem is ALL accountants say the right things to win your business. You can't really tell if it's true till you give them your business. The risk of your accounts being messed up in the changeover is too scary without some sort of guarantee...