Accountant Selection Advice

[andrewkew]

Hi

I am looking for a good accountant in London to do my accounts of my LTD company. Searching the web I found a company called Forbes Young.
They seem to have offices all over the country not just in London but I cant seem to find many reviews about them?

Does anyone know anything about them or have any personal experience working with them?

My alternative to them was going with 1st Contact, but I feel that Forbes are more of an accountancy firm where 1st Contact are a company doing some accountancy services.

All comments welcome

Thanks in advance

[northernladuk]

IMO go SJD. They have 8 offices in and around London, not that you will ever have to travel to them. They are contractor specialists that know how we work and are the biggest contractor accountants around at the moment. Say his name three times and the owner may even appear on here to say hello to you.


Looking at the F0rbes site it says they are number 1 accountants which isn't true now and looking at the list they were number 1 in I don't see SJD or InTouch listed at all and NW at 96. That would make me highly suspicious so would disregard that.

They are only mentioned on these boards twice as well with no feedback so would also not really bother with them on that fact alone.

[Jessica@WhiteFieldTax]

IMO go SJD. They have 8 offices in and around London, not that you will ever have to travel to them. They are contractor specialists that know how we work and are the biggest contractor accountants around at the moment. Say his name three times and the owner may even appear on here to say hello to you.

A poke around Companies House suggests the directors, or some of them, were formerly regional SJD directors.

The lack of a company number, registered office address, or regulatory details on the web site is surprising.

[GlenW]

I use Forbes Young, no problems so far.
Queries answered promptly whether by phone or email.
Fees seem to be about average.

[northernladuk]

A poke around Companies House suggests the directors, or some of them, were formerly regional SJD directors.

The lack of a company number, registered office address, or regulatory details on the web site is surprising.

Yup, this post says the same with an interesting comment from Simon on the matter. Not sure if the guy in question is related to Forbes though.

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

EDIT : Saying that found this..

Never heard of them but they've got a peapod on their website so they must be good. Ken McTaggart used to be with SJD but had a massive barney with Simon Dolan. It was well documented on here. I reckon its just another mob trying to have a run a the contractor market.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

More Simon wanabees They'll never be as good as the original

[kal]

I use Forbes Young, no problems so far.
Queries answered promptly whether by phone or email.
Fees seem to be about average.

+1, I moved to Forbes Young from Churchill Knight, very happy with the level of service, prompt replies to emails, supplied spreadsheet is very easy to maintain on month by month basis. No errors with regards to any of the paperwork/returns (and I check everything with a fine tooth comb, was bitten with Churchill Knight who c0cked up at every available opportunity!) and pro-active tax advice to book. Fees are average IMO, recommended

[DirtyDog]

More Simon wanabees They'll never be as good as the original

Ah, how sweet

[Mojito]

Online vs Offline Accounts

A key consideration for me was FreeAgent and getting an accountant that worked with that. Not only does it allow you to do all your accounts stuff online - bank account management, expenses, payroll, invoicing, divis - it also gives you a realtime view of your company tax position, employee SA position and it integrates with HMRC to file VAT & RTI online.

Maybe its cheaper to go with a spreadsheet rather than the uplift the FreeAgent fee introduces to your monthly accountancy charge, but the ease of use and one-stop-shop nature swing it for me.

As for the accountant I use Maslins - local to me, although I've only needed a face to face once - who respond to emails and phone calls usually in a few hours.

[Maslins]

As for the accountant I use Maslins - local to me, although I've only needed a face to face once - who respond to emails and phone calls usually in a few hours.

I hear they're awesome...you should definitely check them out