sjd accountancy

[philip@wellwoodhoyle]

I wouldn't let the size of the basic fee mislead you. I would think that most contractor specialist accountants make the majority of their profit via add on services eg commission from financial services work, IR35 opinions.

With a typical pension the commission taken is at least 1% up-front with a trail commission of 0.5% pa for as long as the pension fund is invested.

If you have a checklist of criteria, its not too hard to determine if someone is IR35 or not and therefore not too costly.

Sorry to disagree. Just 2% of our income comes from the add-ons, commissions, etc. Like the others, we refer clients to who we feel is the best, rather than who would give us commissions, and we always rebate 50% of the commissions back to the client, the other commissions being set against time costs, so we bill less, so in effect, we earn nothing at all - if we didn't get the commissions, we'd bill the client more. So really, the client gets the full value of his commissions. Perhaps that's why I don't have a flash car! I wondered what I was doing wrong!

[thunderlizard]

I've been using SJD and I'm happy with them. They're prompt at doing stuff when you ask, and they do get things right. They are nice people too. But I'd agree they're not very proactive. I was doing my own accounts before handing them over, and so I'd have expected them to suggest ways to restructure the finances, but there's been none of that. Having said that, I haven't been with them long enough to have the year end accounts done, so maybe things pick up after that.

[simondolan]

I've been using SJD and I'm happy with them. They're prompt at doing stuff when you ask, and they do get things right. They are nice people too. But I'd agree they're not very proactive. I was doing my own accounts before handing them over, and so I'd have expected them to suggest ways to restructure the finances, but there's been none of that. Having said that, I haven't been with them long enough to have the year end accounts done, so maybe things pick up after that.

Hi,

The main review is done once we've completed the year end accounts. We also review initially just to make sure you are doing things correctly, but we find that most times clients are pretty well educated, and tend on the whole to know what they can claim for etc.

[MikeP]

The main review is done once we've completed the year end accounts. We also review initially just to make sure you are doing things correctly, but we find that most times clients are pretty well educated, and tend on the whole to know what they can claim for etc.

When do you complete them? My year end was nearly two months ago and I haven't heard a thing (just as well because I'm still sorting out my expenses ).
That said though, I think the reason your clients are pretty well educated is surely related to the superb info on your website & intro pack

On a more general note, my experience with SJD has been positive overall but not without it's bumps. Too many oopses to be a true "file and forget" proactive type of service that I'd like (and would even be prepared to pay a little more for), I still have to check everything they do.

The good points outshine any minor niggles though:
- Excellent service, you always get a prompt and useful response
- listen and act upon complaints, feedback & suggestions, none of that black-hole stuff you tend to find too often these days
- they do look after their clients, from sms messages to various updates and the occasional 'special' extras
- Competent, and as far as I'm aware everything's squeaky clean as far as my books and the taxman are concerned (i.e. no gray/dodgy schemes)
- Value for money

All in all I still rate them as excellent and recommend them to everyone.