Leaving SJD

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

So a contractor is not happy with the service he is receiving from SJD and wishes to move on. He has tried to resolve the issues of service with the accountant but its just not happening. He is 4 months into his first year of trading and 4 months into his agreement with SJD. He has a letter from SJD which says something along the lines of "the fee is calculated annually and paid in 12 monthly instalments. If you leave us mid-year you will be liable for the full year's fee." I understand about the way fees are calculated and how the accountants' work is done through the year. So, other than the set-up and probably one VAT return, it is unlikely that SJD have done a great deal in this case. Has anyone been in a similar position and if so, what was the SJD stance?

[Old Greg]

So a contractor is not happy with the service he is receiving from SJD and wishes to move on. He has tried to resolve the issues of service with the accountant but its just not happening. He is 4 months into his first year of trading and 4 months into his agreement with SJD. He has a letter from SJD which says something along the lines of "the fee is calculated annually and paid in 12 monthly instalments. If you leave us mid-year you will be liable for the full year's fee." I understand about the way fees are calculated and how the accountants' work is done through the year. So, other than the set-up and probably one VAT return, it is unlikely that SJD have done a great deal in this case. Has anyone been in a similar position and if so, what was the SJD stance?

Not the question I know, but have you escalate within the organisation. Some of their senior bods post here. I have always had excellent service so maybe a change of named accountant would do the trick?

[simondolan]

So a contractor is not happy with the service he is receiving from SJD and wishes to move on. He has tried to resolve the issues of service with the accountant but its just not happening. He is 4 months into his first year of trading and 4 months into his agreement with SJD. He has a letter from SJD which says something along the lines of "the fee is calculated annually and paid in 12 monthly instalments. If you leave us mid-year you will be liable for the full year's fee." I understand about the way fees are calculated and how the accountants' work is done through the year. So, other than the set-up and probably one VAT return, it is unlikely that SJD have done a great deal in this case. Has anyone been in a similar position and if so, what was the SJD stance?

Rather mischievous of you, and entirely wrong. We charge a full years fee's if we do a full years work (annual accounts etc). If a client leaves part way through the year without us doing the accounts we charge on the basis of time spent to that point and offset the monthly fees from that.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Hi Simon. I genuinely wasn't being mischievous. The guy asked me the question - I didn't know the answer so I thought I'd post it up here.

[oracleslave]

Hi Simon. I genuinely wasn't being mischievous. The guy asked me the question - I didn't know the answer so I thought I'd post it up here.

Did you try picking up the phone to SJD? Given that to my knowledge you are in competition with SJD, this post looks more than a little mischievous imho.

[Old Greg]

Did you try picking up the phone to SJD? Given that to my knowledge you are in competition with SJD, this post looks more than a little mischievous imho.

In competition?

[oracleslave]

In competition?

From memory, he's a contractor accountant.

[simondolan]

Not the question I know, but have you escalate within the organisation. Some of their senior bods post here. I have always had excellent service so maybe a change of named accountant would do the trick?

The OP is an accountant in the same market as us.

[simondolan]

Hi Simon. I genuinely wasn't being mischievous. The guy asked me the question - I didn't know the answer so I thought I'd post it up here.

As opposed to maybe emailing me, or through the usual professional channels you mean?

[Maslins]

Rather mischievous of you, and entirely wrong. We charge a full years fee's if we do a full years work (annual accounts etc). If a client leaves part way through the year without us doing the accounts we charge on the basis of time spent to that point and offset the monthly fees from that.

I'd anticipate most accountants would work on this/a similar basis...ie I doubt many would insist you continued to pay for the rest of the year, but on the flip side if you leave mid year, don't expect to get a refund for however many months you've paid to date.

Be aware your new accountant may (or may not) look to charge you something for the months they've "missed"...one firm doing 1/4 a year's worth of work doesn't really help the new accountant.

Edit - didn't realise at time of writing the potentially dodgy motives of the OP...but left my answer above as will apply in most similar genuine cases.