Reply to: big contractor accountant vs local

[northernladuk]

Nixon Williams = Brilliant.

In 5 years never met my accountant, never even spoken to him. All done by email.

Had some bad experiences with local accountants. One presented me a bill for £500 for "Research into IR35" (this was when it first came out years ago - told him to stuff it up his backside! The other local one was clueless, lasted two months, did bugger all and did not have a clue about IT contracting.

You are talking about your ex accountant here aren't you?

[psychocandy]

Nixon Williams = Brilliant.

In 5 years never met my accountant, never even spoken to him. All done by email.

Had some bad experiences with local accountants. One presented me a bill for £500 for "Research into IR35" (this was when it first came out years ago - told him to stuff it up his backside! The other local one was clueless, lasted two months, did bugger all and did not have a clue about IT contracting.

[Fred Bloggs]

It does look like your first sentence is slowly but surely going that way. FreeAgent are slowly but surely persuading most of the mid size contractor firms (ie those with high hundreds/low thousands of contractor clients) to shift over to them. Don't think they've had any luck on the biggest players (ie SJD & co) yet.

However, I can't envisage there being a "Oh, you're not on FreeAgent? Then we charge an extra one off £X". Main reason from my perspective being that just because a client may have been on FreeAgent before in no way means their data is sound. FreeAgent's a great tool, but as with any tool, it can be used badly with pants results. Tidying that up can be just as painful as doing the equivalent when someone wasn't on FreeAgent before...indeed sometimes worse (as rather than drawing a line under historic stuff, there can be an expectation you'll go back and fix any historic errors).

Thanks for the interesting perspective. All part of wondering whether to put a few quid into their shares on AIM in my SIPP or not!

I believe Danbro are now FA accountants, I guess they count as a "big" player?

[quackhandle]

SJD and Nixon Williams are both owned by the same people now, both sold over 2 years ago. I am surprised no one from either company has been on to see if they can help, perhaps they're not too keen on customer service anymore?

Not surprised and no they aren't (as long you keep paying they don't really GAS.

qh

[Michael at BI Accountancy]

Main reason from my perspective being that just because a client may have been on FreeAgent before in no way means their data is sound. FreeAgent's a great tool, but as with any tool, it can be used badly with pants results.

Completely agree!

We've had client's come across who are on FreeAgent, however are in a bit of a mess!

One of the main reasons for this is the client has FreeAgent, however there accountant is not supporting it. Not submitting payroll via the system, not putting in end of year journals etc

[Maslins]

Things will settle down as FA establishes itself as the default option, as I am sure it will in time. Those at non FA accountants might even end up paying to migrate?

It does look like your first sentence is slowly but surely going that way. FreeAgent are slowly but surely persuading most of the mid size contractor firms (ie those with high hundreds/low thousands of contractor clients) to shift over to them. Don't think they've had any luck on the biggest players (ie SJD & co) yet.

However, I can't envisage there being a "Oh, you're not on FreeAgent? Then we charge an extra one off £X". Main reason from my perspective being that just because a client may have been on FreeAgent before in no way means their data is sound. FreeAgent's a great tool, but as with any tool, it can be used badly with pants results. Tidying that up can be just as painful as doing the equivalent when someone wasn't on FreeAgent before...indeed sometimes worse (as rather than drawing a line under historic stuff, there can be an expectation you'll go back and fix any historic errors).

[hraban]

I have been with Walker Smith Global since March now, and I did not have a single problem whatsoever. They are always quick with their replies, everything is done promptly and they use Freeagent as well. My bank does not support Freeagent CSV exports though, but it is not accountants fault :-)

[Fred Bloggs]

Fingers crossed you don't have to move!

My view as an accountant is the task of moving someone from a bespoke system to FreeAgent is getting more tedious by the day.

Things will settle down as FA establishes itself as the default option, as I am sure it will in time. Those at non FA accountants might even end up paying to migrate?

[Michael at BI Accountancy]

I've been with inniAccounts for a while now and they seem to be somewhere inbetween. Speaclity contract accountants but not too big to care. Their online software is a real pleasur to use but it is despoke to them. It does, however, make the management and day-to-day activities of running a ltd a breeze.

Fingers crossed you don't have to move!

My view as an accountant is the task of moving someone from a bespoke system to FreeAgent is getting more tedious by the day.

[Lost It]

I moved

To Darren at Dynamo because he made the effort to contact me. Plus one or two on here suggested him.

[stek]

big contractor accountant vs local

I hope their despoke portal has a spelling checker.

EDIT: just got the joke...

[northernladuk]

I've been with inniAccounts for a while now and they seem to be somewhere inbetween. Speaclity contract accountants but not too big to care. Their online software is a real pleasur to use but it is despoke to them. It does, however, make the management and day-to-day activities of running a ltd a breeze.

I hope their despoke portal has a spelling checker.

[cosmos]

I've been with inniAccounts for a while now and they seem to be somewhere inbetween. Speaclity contract accountants but not too big to care. Their online software is a real pleasur to use but it is despoke to them. It does, however, make the management and day-to-day activities of running a ltd a breeze.

[kaiser78]

SJD and Nixon Williams are both owned by the same people now, both sold over 2 years ago. I am surprised no one from either company has been on to see if they can help, perhaps they're not too keen on customer service anymore?

Maybe this just sums up OP's points...

[kaiser78]

Having spent 8 years with SJD, then jumped this year to Nixon Williams for an even crapper year of lacklustre advice, I need another change. I suspect that all of the accountants at the biggies are so overloaded with clients & past caring that they just can't give anything but the most basic / regurgitated advice. Their spreadsheets / portals are pretty poor too. All for 1.5k a year.

I don't mind spending the money, I'd just rather be happy with the service.

Has anyone gone with a local (as in non-IT specialist accountant)? Is there any reason to think that doing so would be more likely to result in an HMRC nosey? Any pros and cons from other people's experience, or shall I just do it and stop wittering about it?

I have always used local contractor specialist accountants, having always consciously steered away from the established contractor players. Never had any complaints, they have good knowledge of contractor specifics, I don't have to use free agent (my choice I know) and queries are responded to same or next day.

I would say to never discount local as an option, as long as you do your due diligence up front to make sure they are suited to servicing your contracting needs.