Crunch accountant or personal one ?

[Austinhead]

Folks, I am after a bit of feedback from those who know and have experience.

I am only on my 2nd contract, my first was quite rushed and a well known (expensive) online accountants was recommended to me by the agency (yeah yeah alarm bells I know) they said they could setup my LTD company, organise bank accounts e.t.c.

To cut a long story short they have been a complete shambles, and I have informed them that I no longer require their services.

Now i'm wondering whether to go with an online lot like Crunch, or with a locally recommended one ?.

I like the idea of Crunch, of being in control, adding my expenses, invoices and so on, and being able to see, immediately what I can take in wages and dividends when the invoices get paid. I have previously been a sole trader an used clearbooks, so i'm quite comfortable with using an online setup.

Alternatively, for the same money, I could use a local firm who have been recommended, but what puts me off is that I feel I have no visibility, or control, I don't want to wait a day or 2 to know how much I can pay myself e.t.c. However, I would assume that they might be a bit more pro-active and responsive, and obviously I could meet face to face if I felt the need.

So, essentially i'm asking you guys if you have any feedback, things to look out for e.t.c. I don't want to end up changing accountants again in a few months time because i'm being messed around.

Thanks in advance.

[simondolan]

Not sure why you'd go with a faceless, anonymous on line system if you have been recommend a local accountant? Any bookkeeping system will give you "visibility" if you use it properly.

Folks, I am after a bit of feedback from those who know and have experience.

I am only on my 2nd contract, my first was quite rushed and a well known (expensive) online accountants was recommended to me by the agency (yeah yeah alarm bells I know) they said they could setup my LTD company, organise bank accounts e.t.c.

To cut a long story short they have been a complete shambles, and I have informed them that I no longer require their services.

Now i'm wondering whether to go with an online lot like Crunch, or with a locally recommended one ?.

I like the idea of Crunch, of being in control, adding my expenses, invoices and so on, and being able to see, immediately what I can take in wages and dividends when the invoices get paid. I have previously been a sole trader an used clearbooks, so i'm quite comfortable with using an online setup.

Alternatively, for the same money, I could use a local firm who have been recommended, but what puts me off is that I feel I have no visibility, or control, I don't want to wait a day or 2 to know how much I can pay myself e.t.c. However, I would assume that they might be a bit more pro-active and responsive, and obviously I could meet face to face if I felt the need.

So, essentially i'm asking you guys if you have any feedback, things to look out for e.t.c. I don't want to end up changing accountants again in a few months time because i'm being messed around.

Thanks in advance.

[Austinhead]

Thanks for your reply, bit unhelpful though. I was more interested in the merits/pitfalls of both based on people's experience................

[northernladuk]

http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...-requests.html

I had a 'local' guy mess my finances up big style and got none of the benefit of being able to see him when I wanted. I switch to SJD who are still fairly local but haven't needed to see them in 4 years as they pick up the phone or answer my mails same day. They have a spreadsheet which allows you to track every penny of your expenses so you know exactly what to take out and when. Maybe not as swish as a proper book keeping product but it works perfectly for me.

I would recommend go for a contractor specialist though. Local accountants don't often know how we work.

[Jessica@WhiteFieldTax]

Not sure why you'd go with a faceless, anonymous on line system if you have been recommend a local accountant? Any bookkeeping system will give you "visibility" if you use it properly.

Thanks for your reply, bit unhelpful though. I was more interested in the merits/pitfalls of both based on people's experience................

FWIW, I thought Simon's reply was on the nail. You are talking about different things.

One is bookkeeping and understanding your basic finances, including how much you can pay yourself. The day to day running of your company.

The second is professional advice and the technical aspects of tax and accounting compliance.

To some extent Crunch will merge these together, but, as I understand it, you have to have a lot more input to the second stream - great if you have the knowledge, but otherwise a possible risk?

But end of the line its horses for courses

[northernladuk]

But end of the line its horses for courses

... and burgers!

[Austinhead]

FWIW, I thought Simon's reply was on the nail. You are talking about different things.

One is bookkeeping and understanding your basic finances, including how much you can pay yourself. The day to day running of your company.

The second is professional advice and the technical aspects of tax and accounting compliance.

To some extent Crunch will merge these together, but, as I understand it, you have to have a lot more input to the second stream - great if you have the knowledge, but otherwise a possible risk?

But end of the line its horses for courses

I take your point. My requirements, I would have thought, are fairly basic. I run a ltd company with myself as a director, how much do I need the professional advice ??. It's a genuine question. From what I can see it's not too complex for someone in my situation - but maybe I have missed something which is glaringly obvious !?

[northernladuk]

I take your point. My requirements, I would have thought, are fairly basic. I run a ltd company with myself as a director, how much do I need the professional advice ??. It's a genuine question. From what I can see it's not too complex for someone in my situation - but maybe I have missed something which is glaringly obvious !?

Have a look for the thread asking if they should do their accounts themselves will help you answer that...

£1200 a year to avoid tax investigations, IR35 investigations, keeping on top of all the latest changes in the law/rates and generally not f'ing up your companies finances for which you are legally responsible. Cheap as chips.

Here it is.

http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...ccountant.html

It's not the glaringly obvious things you need to be worried about... it's the stuff you don't know that you don't know you should worry about.

[Jessica@WhiteFieldTax]

... and burgers!

My varied professional career has seen me working a mincer at Tesco. Horses are the least of anyones worry, trust me.

However, I think thats OT...

[Austinhead]

Thanks, i'll take a look at that, but, i'm not considering using no accountant, i'm considering using Crunch, which is an online accountancy - they do, presumably, do due diligence as far as my accounting requirements go.

I am interested in people's experiences. Most reviews I have read on them are good, but wondered if for the same price, i would be better using someone local.

Perhaps this is simply a case of suck it and see..... ?