Accountant recommendation threads inc local requests

[SoleTrader]

Where abouts in North West? Gorilla accounting is in Bolton and BI is in Leeds if that helps.

Cheers, I'm in Lancs. I'll send a couple of emails around, thanks. My only worry is that I'm a sole trader (happy to go limited if it's the right thing to do) and not sure if these accountants will sort out my self assessment for the current year. They all seem very focused on limited companies.

[SeanT]

Having established that 1st online are based just over a mile from my house, and seeing a few recommendations, and considering their use of FreeAgent, I've gone with their 60 quid package

[SeanT]

Definitely a to freeagent regardless of which accountant one chooses!

[css_jay99]

Any of these recommended accountants use xero or even sage?

I have tried the demo of freeagent. It is a great product but does make accounting way too easy (which is ideal for contracting). That level of demystification is too scary for me having been used to sage or other double entry bookeeping systems for about 20yrs. Too much is hidden under the hood.

In FreeAgent, I can't see options for taking periodic backups so you can re-enter info again. It seems the data is locked in once payments are processed. I have not looked at the payroll part but I am certain that it will be far easier with dealing with yearEnds compared to my sage Instant payroll

[Fred Bloggs]

Any of these recommended accountants use xero or even sage?

I have tried the demo of freeagent. It is a great product but does make accounting way too easy (which is ideal for contracting). That level of demystification is too scary for me having been used to sage or other double entry bookeeping systems for about 20yrs. Too much is hidden under the hood.

In FreeAgent, I can't see options for taking periodic backups so you can re-enter info again. It seems the data is locked in once payments are processed. I have not looked at the payroll part but I am certain that it will be far easier with dealing with yearEnds compared to my sage Instant payroll

You can export all your FA data anytime you like. I also assume that being in the "cloud" the data is on multiple severs as well?

[Jeremiah@RHJAccountants]

At RHJ we use Sage, Freeagent and Xero, Plus are Xero Certified.

If you have an accountant maybe speak to them about what system you want to use and they should be able to advise.

On personal note

I do recommend Freeagent for contractors and Xero is more suited to SME's although i do have contractors who use Xero and love it!

Sage well that is another story

[Darren at Fox-Bartfield]

Freeagent

Any of these recommended accountants use xero or even sage?

I have tried the demo of freeagent. It is a great product but does make accounting way too easy (which is ideal for contracting). That level of demystification is too scary for me having been used to sage or other double entry bookeeping systems for about 20yrs. Too much is hidden under the hood.

In FreeAgent, I can't see options for taking periodic backups so you can re-enter info again. It seems the data is locked in once payments are processed. I have not looked at the payroll part but I am certain that it will be far easier with dealing with yearEnds compared to my sage Instant payroll

Freeagent is definitely the way to go, very simple to use and together with the App, makes a good overall package. We do support and are certified with Xero and Sage but preference for contractor clients is most definitely Freeagent. Tend to provide access to our demo account so that guys can take a look for themselves but everyone so far has preferred FA. The others are decent packages but more geared to SME's or those scaling up.

[lscovell]

Nod to LeeP Financial

I moved away from the very large 'production-line' firm that wins awards year on year to a smaller firm; I wasn't really happy with the very minimum engagement. The difference has been huge and confirmed, in my opinion, that the 'award winning' firm struggled to address aspects of my accounts effectively. Anyway, I'm now back on track.

LeeP Financial are in the Peterborough & Huntingdon area, but they have clients, like myself, who are elsewhere in the country.

I would recommend anyone to give the smaller firms a go.

[babybel]

not SJD, not NW.

I've had the same experience. For me, SJD & NW are basically the same production line firms, generic email responses, slow response times, poor attention to detail from probably-overworked junior accountants.

[Fred Bloggs]

I've had the same experience. For me, SJD & NW are basically the same production line firms, generic email responses, slow response times, poor attention to detail from probably-overworked junior accountants.

Yet now, more than ever before, there are smarter, cheaper, portable and far better services available. So, why stay with Mr Dolan's spready solution or a dead duck dead end bespoke portal solution? The spready had it's day in the sun and made it's creator a very rich man. But the world has moved on and left them all behind. Call it Darwinism, I think.