My accountant made few mistakes, what to do?

[daeshu]

Hi All!

I have just done my first year with a limited company. I met last week my accountant for the end of year documents. After reviewing them I have found few mistakes: expenses missing and VAT Return missing an invoice (invoice that is included in profits). There could be more errors, as I didn't spend much time.

I feel stupid as this accountant is not a cheap one (bad decision in a bad times ) and even now I see that his work done is lame. So I was thinking about not paying him the whole amount (I still have to pay him the year services).

Any advice ? Did this happen to anyone ?

Thanks,
Daeshu

[Jessica@WhiteFieldTax]

You are probably better off batting the list of problems back to them, and instructing them to correct and double check for others.

Part paying invoices is probably only going to get their backs up; give them chance to sort things out, then move on to another provider of you want a clean start.

[Clare@InTouch]

Sensible advice as always from Jessica - let them know you're not happy, explain the problems and that you want peace of mind. Ask them to explain every single figure in the accounts if that's what it takes. Often you can tell a lot by a firm by the way they handle mistakes or complaints, and you never know they may voluntarily offer to reduce the fee.

The research other firms to see if it's worth moving.

[Wanderer]

Any advice ? Did this happen to anyone ?

Yes, unfortunately it does happen and as the director you have to keep an eye out for it.

But also remember that it may just be a difference in the interpretation of the accounts, ie VAT could be due based on the invoice raised date OR the invoice paid date. Ask them to explain the discrepancies before presuming that they made a mistake.

Do they do the accounts manually or do they have a system where you enter the data into an online portal or spreadsheet and it's calculated for you? If they are doing it manually then you might want to find a better method that gives you a clearer picture of the state of your company accounts.

[Notascooby]

I had this happen and it took several rounds of emails and checks - but as a plus, I did learn a bit from the experience.

By posting on here it was also picked up by the firm involved and esculated internally resulting in a correct set of returns.

Because of the way it was handled I was happy to continue with that firm, hoping that this was a one off.

In the end it only resulted in a difference of about £20!!!! But this was due to netting off of various mistakes.

[daeshu]

Thanks everyone for your answers/advices!!

One week ago I sent him an email explaining what I think were mistakes in the accounts.

I already told him that I am changing to another accountant when the whole year was done. So I don't think he will give me any discount just to keep me happy...

Every quarter I sent him all the expenses, bank statements, etc... in excel docs.

Once he would confirm the mistakes (maybe they are not) I am going to ask for some kind of discount/compensation. But I guess he will refuse it, that is why I was asking about not paying or doing something about the bad service. Maybe I will just write here his name and talk a little more about his "work"

[SueEllen]

Thanks everyone for your answers/advices!!

One week ago I sent him an email explaining what I think were mistakes in the accounts.

I already told him that I am changing to another accountant when the whole year was done. So I don't think he will give me any discount just to keep me happy...

Every quarter I sent him all the expenses, bank statements, etc... in excel docs.

Once he would confirm the mistakes (maybe they are not) I am going to ask for some kind of discount/compensation. But I guess he will refuse it, that is why I was asking about not paying or doing something about the bad service. Maybe I will just write here his name and talk a little more about his "work"

You won't be able to write his name here but there are other places on the web you can mention him and describe the "good" work he carried out which meant there were odd discrepancies in the calculated figures.