Accountant recommendation threads inc local requests

[PerfectStorm]

Looks like I really need to change my accountant, I've put up with variable levels of service for years but things seem to be really on a downhill slope now. Another contact change as the previous has just left - actually they still haven't assigned a regular new bod, I just get random people dealing with me. Mistakes in monthly profit calcs, slow response times to queries etc.

Now the latest monthly payroll statement pdf has "trial copy pdf writer" watermark on it - professional.

Even without you saying who it is I can tell this is Nixon Williams. I've had all the same problems.

[PerfectStorm]

Nixon Williams have descended into new levels of hopelessness for me so looking for up to date recommendations if anyone has any.

I'd like a company that is technologically up to date (some sort of dashboard or accounting software for me to use would be good), competent and responsive (same/next business day, not next week). Any recommendations?

[BlueSharp]

I'm with Lowson Ward, not the cheapest but never had an issue with them and they use Freeagent.

[Dark Black]

Looks like I really need to change my accountant, I've put up with variable levels of service for years but things seem to be really on a downhill slope now. Another contact change as the previous has just left - actually they still haven't assigned a regular new bod, I just get random people dealing with me. Mistakes in monthly profit calcs, slow response times to queries etc.

Now the latest monthly payroll statement pdf has "trial copy pdf writer" watermark on it - professional.

Since the recommendations on the first page don't seem to have been updated for a couple of years, are the top five still good? Maslins, Gorilla etc?

[Pmidas]

I'm looking to move accountants after 7 years with SJD. They were actually brilliant up until a year ago where the accountants now seem to go rogue and do what they want completely inconsistent to previous years.

My friend is with Gorilla and says he his accountant is brilliant but reading the comments I feel like it is like SJD where it depends on who you get.

Does anyone use any small accountants local to them as I'm wondering if I would receive a better experience with them than a large firm?

I have used fusion accountants for 5 years and they have been good. No complaints. Also you do pretty much all yourself with free agent.

[northernladuk]

Yes I have and maybe I didn't interpret this correctly in my OP. I'm asking for people with experience with small "high street" firms that are local to them.

However Paper Rocket is very close to me lol. What a coincidence!

Ah well I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot barge pole but I had a bad experience with a local setup. They weren't contractor specialists and I was small fry for them so didn't get the service I was paying for. I'm not sure if the non specialists will be familiar with freeagent either. If you've been on the SJD portal for as long as that the Freeagent offering will be a breath of fresh air. Being local isn't a benefit anymore. I've not met my accountant in my entire contracting career of over a decade.
Am sure someone will come along and say they are happy with their high street bod but a good majority of us find the specialists the best bet.

[Sheens83]

You checked the other recommendations in the first post? Most of them are smaller. You could also consider Paper Rocket where Sarah Solo is the owner and does all the work so single point of contact.

Yes I have and maybe I didn't interpret this correctly in my OP. I'm asking for people with experience with small "high street" firms that are local to them.

However Paper Rocket is very close to me lol. What a coincidence!

[northernladuk]

I'm looking to move accountants after 7 years with SJD. They were actually brilliant up until a year ago where the accountants now seem to go rogue and do what they want completely inconsistent to previous years.

My friend is with Gorilla and says he his accountant is brilliant but reading the comments I feel like it is like SJD where it depends on who you get.

Does anyone use any small accountants local to them as I'm wondering if I would receive a better experience with them than a large firm?

You checked the other recommendations in the first post? Most of them are smaller. You could also consider Paper Rocket where Sarah Solo is the owner and does all the work so single point of contact.

[Sheens83]

I'm looking to move accountants after 7 years with SJD. They were actually brilliant up until a year ago where the accountants now seem to go rogue and do what they want completely inconsistent to previous years.

My friend is with Gorilla and says he his accountant is brilliant but reading the comments I feel like it is like SJD where it depends on who you get.

Does anyone use any small accountants local to them as I'm wondering if I would receive a better experience with them than a large firm?

[babybel]

I'm not sure about Gorilla. It started great with them. I asked if I could have a qualified accountant and did for 2 years. Inevitably he left and now I have a chap who 2 months ago was an accounts assistant at a council acc. to his linkedIn. He's a nice chap but everything I ask he tries to first fob me off with generalisms then ask an adult when I press for detail. I only ask about 3 decent, semi complicated questions a year - the rest is vanilla. I just hate the ******* dance of it all.

It was the same with SJD (10 years), NW (2 terrible years), Gorilla (3, 2 great now not so much).

I really want someone to do both my tech co. accounts & property co. accounts but I'm reluctant to put it all in the hands of a kiddiwink.