Accountant Poor Service Threads

[Jessica@WhiteFieldTax]

I've been looking after contractors for thirty years. Honestly it would take an essay to delve into this.

I think the accounting for contractors market has been commodified, probably for short term benefit and wow factor, and long term detriment. Needless to say it's very different to 30 years ago.

Elements of a race to the bottom, and elements of style over service. Long term the losers are the customers.

[Maslins]

I think there's a few reasons:

- new accounting start ups lured in by the appeal of monthly fees (either by qualified accountants, or by random wannabe business people who see it as easy cash). Set up a snazzy website, get clients signed up, take their money for many months...then further down the line fail to deliver. Probably not many out and out scammers doing this to the extreme, but maybe some who underestimate the work involved.

- existing well respected practices who perhaps cut a few too many corners in an attempt to increase profit margins.

- I do think clients are more demanding than they used to be. People often hope for responses to queries within an hour or so, whereas a decade ago within a week would be acceptable, same day would be considered brilliant.

- the gap between where we are now in terms of systems/automation and where people perhaps think we are. Things are changing, but I think for the time being clients should be more keen on their firm having decent staff over snazzy systems. Both is of course ideal, but whilst clever systems can deal with a lot of the donkey work (ie the stuff that junior/cheap staff would have done), they're a long way from being able to answer your typical contractor's queries satisfactorily...so to give good service, firms definitely still need good (expensive) staff.

- complexities...perhaps, but I imagine everyone always thinks things were/are harder "in my day". One thing that doesn't change is the fact that tax rules keep changing.

[SeanT]

Just trying to gauge a rough idea, not doing any scientific study into this. So please go away and annoy somebody else

Like your blessed bloody accountant

[kaiser78]

And v) various other reasons.

Just trying to gauge a rough idea, not doing any scientific study into this. So please go away and annoy somebody else

[northernladuk]

Fair point - should have added option iv) some other reason.

And v) various other reasons.

[kaiser78]

The two major threads on poor service have a long story behind them so need to take that in to accountant. Can't just make a sweeping statement. There will be a couple of smaller setups that are badly managed and then the franchises.

I don't think you can put them all in to three categories like that.

Fair point - should have added option iv) some other reason.

[northernladuk]

The two major threads on poor service have a long story behind them so need to take that in to accountant. Can't just make a sweeping statement. There will be a couple of smaller setups that are badly managed and then the franchises.

I don't think you can put them all in to three categories like that.

[Invisiblehand]

Race to the bottom...

I'd agree with that. Especially with the introduction of Freeagent.

[SeanT]

I'd say one; strange as their market seems more competitive than ever.

Race to the bottom...

[Invisiblehand]

I'd say one; strange as their market seems more competitive than ever.

[SeanT]

There seem to have been a number of threads/posts in recent months around the poor level of service that these perceived contractor specialist accountants are offering.

Granted posters only tend to post about poor service as opposed to good service being provided, however is it because; i) these specialist accountants are becoming complacent, ii) contractors are becoming more demanding, iii) accounting matters have become more complex due to legislation changes over the past couple of years ?

i)

Next question?

[kaiser78]

There seem to have been a number of threads/posts in recent months around the poor level of service that these perceived contractor specialist accountants are offering.

Granted posters only tend to post about poor service as opposed to good service being provided, however is it because; i) these specialist accountants are becoming complacent, ii) contractors are becoming more demanding, iii) accounting matters have become more complex due to legislation changes over the past couple of years ?

option iv) some other reasons