Moving Accountants

[Jamie@GorillaAccounting]

Hi all

Thank you for your comments northernladuk about both myself and Gorilla Accounting.

Damian was the regional manager when I was at SJD and he was great!

Changing accountants is really straight forward and your new accountant will take of everything so you don't need to worry.

[northernladuk]

Hi NLUK, could you clarify - you left SJD because you weren't happy with your allocated accountant and they weren't helpful with your shutdown, but you also say you couldn't fault them (?).

Which accountant did Jamie Lee move to ? Also why did you shut down your company? Sorry just being nosey.

They were very good for many of the years I was with them but after the sale I got a guy I wasn't happy with. Damien(or was it Dominic, I always got them mixed up) and Jamie had moved on around the same time so didn't have the escalation points I trusted anymore so the relationship just fell apart.

I decided to take a break after a long term gig so seemed an opportune time to close the company. I wasn't 100% sure I was going to carry on contracting so felt I was justified and wouldn't look like I was phoenixing.

Jamie Lee is with a new startup called Gorilla Accounting. She was responsible for setting the contractor specific service up so was happy to give it a go and I have to say it's working very well. Much cheaper than SJD, got someone in that trust and they use Freeagent which I think is great so happy days.

[unixman]

Well I've moved from them not so long ago but I shut my company down so didn't have to bother with handover. I moved because I wasn't happy with my allocated accountant and the management I trusted had left as well. True to form the accountant did nothing about shutting my company down unless I pushed him so glad I went. Should be pretty easy with them having the spreadsheet and the like I would have thought. Shame though. I have been with them for years and couldn't fault them.

Oddly enough I left them and went to the company Jamie Lee moved to. She was the only person I really trusted there.

Hi NLUK, could you clarify - you left SJD because you weren't happy with your allocated accountant and they weren't helpful with your shutdown, but you also say you couldn't fault them (?).

Which accountant did Jamie Lee move to ? Also why did you shut down your company? Sorry just being nosey.

[Andrew@Wisteria]

If the accountant is being difficult about handover, if they are regulated you can complain but doesn't necessarily help!

[northernladuk]

Many thanks for the advice. Interestingly, it's SJD that I'm looking to move away from...

Well I've moved from them not so long ago but I shut my company down so didn't have to bother with handover. I moved because I wasn't happy with my allocated accountant and the management I trusted had left as well. True to form the accountant did nothing about shutting my company down unless I pushed him so glad I went. Should be pretty easy with them having the spreadsheet and the like I would have thought. Shame though. I have been with them for years and couldn't fault them.

Oddly enough I left them and went to the company Jamie Lee moved to. She was the only person I really trusted there.

[nikos101]

It should be, unless your old accountants won't play ball which mine wouldn't. Didn't hand a single thing over despite SJD contacting him a number of times. Same when I tried to speak to him, he just stonewalled me. Looking around this is quite a rare occurrence and SJD were brilliant at helping me catch up so even if the old one sucks out a decent new one will help. A bit of a ball ache for a week but it is still worth it to get a decent accountant in the long run.

Many thanks for the advice. Interestingly, it's SJD that I'm looking to move away from...

[northernladuk]

It should be, unless your old accountants won't play ball which mine wouldn't. Didn't hand a single thing over despite SJD contacting him a number of times. Same when I tried to speak to him, he just stonewalled me. Looking around this is quite a rare occurrence and SJD were brilliant at helping me catch up so even if the old one sucks out a decent new one will help. A bit of a ball ache for a week but it is still worth it to get a decent accountant in the long run.

[nikos101]

Great stuff, many thanks.

[mudskipper]

It should be - it was when I did it.

You do need to check where you are in relation to year end accounts - if you move a month before year end (for example) they new accountant is unlikely to pick it up for free. So check you know what's covered.

InTouch have a 'catch up fees' calculator Moving Contractor Calculator When I switched to them it was included, but I switched shortly after year end.

(If you do go with InTouch, tell them I sent you! )

[Kenny@MyAccountantFriend]

Yes it is very straight forward.

You appoint a new accountant and provide details of the previous accountant.

You then provide the old accountant with the new accountants details and the new accountant contacts the old accountant for professional clearence.

You will need to provide additional information to the new accountant at set up but this shouldn't take long.

[nikos101]

Hi there, I'm thinking of looking around for a new accountancy firm as not overly satisfied with my current one. Does anyone know if it's a straightforward process?

Thanks