Experiences on switching accountant

[Clare@InTouch]

Thank you all for the replies.

My take on what your replies is that some accountants could still do your current tax year accounts if they're able to get that information from your old accountant - hence if I switch before the end of the tax year and I ask them to deal with my old firm they should be able to do that. I'd be happy in case to chip in some extra money for stuff like self-assessment, after all better spend some money for peace of mind (and I take it as part of costs of properly running a business).

I'm quite surprised though as the firm I'm with now is very recommended on this forum and I thought I didn't have any problems. I know sometimes I maybe too meticulous, but after all I pay good money for a service and if after I submit a spreadsheet I have to wait 2 weeks then chase to get my VAT return, then I pay HMRC but for another week they haven't submitted the VAT return unless I chase them... well I think there are some problems.

I will try to be in touch with the guy to see whether they can handle this year accounts and my self assessment for me.

Sometimes it's purely a workload issue, and as long as the VAT return gets done before the deadline there won't be a problem. We have that too sometimes - a client will submit something and chase the next day, not realising we've had 200 people who submitted before they did and that it takes time to work through everything.

That being said, there's nothing wrong with meticulous and if you're not confident in your accountant then you should absolutely think about moving to another.

[manubbo]

Clare, I completely see your point and I agree that sometimes workload is an issue. But I wouldn't say to a client that things will be handled shortly while for all the three returns I submitted so far I had to chase them, and I waited for two weeks I'd been happy if they told me that their workload was heavy and there could be delays. After all you must trust your accountant and what better than transparency helps to gain trust? We're all professional and we know that sometimes workload may cause issues.

The guy from the firm I'm considering replied saying that they could possibly take care of the switch for the current year for me. If it wasn't for the replies here I wouldn't think about asking him... thanks for having shared your experience.

That said - I completely agree with what somebody said previously (on the phone so can't check the author!) about not bad mouth the (maybe soon to be) old accountant. Things don't always work for different people but that doesn't mean they are necessarily incompetent or whatsoever.

[rjs4]

Mod snip : missed this one..

[Martin at NixonWilliams]

Hey go to contractax, they will sort you needs

I haven't heard of Contractax before and although their website says Contractax Ltd and that they are based in Edinburgh, I cannot find them on Companies House?

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

The website registrant appears to be an employee of a firm based in Edinburgh who specialise in small businesses - not necessarily contractors. Maybe this is a new brand for them, or maybe the guy is moonlighting. Who knows? And who cares really - it was a blatant spam post anyway.

[Batcher]

I haven't heard of Contractax before and although their website says Contractax Ltd and that they are based in Edinburgh, I cannot find them on Companies House?

I haven't heard of a Bonnington Place in Edinburgh and it seems Google hasn't either.

[Martin at NixonWilliams]

I haven't heard of a Bonnington Place in Edinburgh and it seems Google hasn't either.

I did the same, I found something with a similar name but it looked like residential property :|

[Batcher]

The website registrant appears to be an employee of a firm based in Edinburgh who specialise in small businesses - not necessarily contractors. Maybe this is a new brand for them, or maybe the guy is moonlighting. Who knows? And who cares really - it was a blatant spam post anyway.

rjs4 = https://www.linkedin.com/pub/roshon-...cca/2a/b74/aba

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

I'm from near Edinburgh - Bonnington is a place, but I'm not sure Bonnington Place is. Anyway, he's been banned. Incidentally, the registrant of the website has initials RJS - just like the poster.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

rjs4 = https://www.linkedin.com/pub/roshon-...cca/2a/b74/aba

Indeed. Wonder if Ricky Steedman knows.