Reply to: Recommend experienced accountant with online software

[malvolio]

No. Not knocking the PCG at all. Im a member and think they're excellent.

Just pointing out what you said that PCG accreditation is no indicator to how good an accountant they are. Perhaps my mistake was assuming he knew what he was doing because he was accredited but blatantly he did not.

Personally, I know PCG say on their website that any accreditation is not a recommendation but I cant help thinking that PCG are going to cause themselves problems with this. Obviously, in my case, the fella passed the accreditation thing which makes me wonder how hard it is to pass?

It's not that easy, but generally accountants are quite good at assimilating detail information: have you seen Tolley's lately?

The point about the perceived value of the Accreditation has been picked up and is being looked at. After all, being good at IR35 is damn all use if you can't fill out a CT100 accurately and don't have a reminder process for your clients.

[psychocandy]

"Being useless" is not exactly very specific, is it? I assume you can quote an example of why the accountant failed to provide advice specific to you as a contractor that he would have learned from the Accreditation training.

If he's just generally disorganised or incompetent, that's not part of the PCG Accreditation. And on that point, you can diss him for being a useless accountant but not for being a useless PCG Accredited Accountant; all that does is unfairly devalue the scheme itself..

Or is this just another opportunistic "Let's knock the PCG for being hopeless" post?

No. Not knocking the PCG at all. Im a member and think they're excellent.

Just pointing out what you said that PCG accreditation is no indicator to how good an accountant they are. Perhaps my mistake was assuming he knew what he was doing because he was accredited but blatantly he did not.

Personally, I know PCG say on their website that any accreditation is not a recommendation but I cant help thinking that PCG are going to cause themselves problems with this. Obviously, in my case, the fella passed the accreditation thing which makes me wonder how hard it is to pass?

[malvolio]

I did contact them. Not interested in my feedback unless it was some specific instance of professional misconduct. Being useless - not interested....

"Being useless" is not exactly very specific, is it? I assume you can quote an example of why the accountant failed to provide advice specific to you as a contractor that he would have learned from the Accreditation training.

If he's just generally disorganised or incompetent, that's not part of the PCG Accreditation. And on that point, you can diss him for being a useless accountant but not for being a useless PCG Accredited Accountant; all that does is unfairly devalue the scheme itself..

Or is this just another opportunistic "Let's knock the PCG for being hopeless" post?

[psychocandy]

And of course you told PCG about it so they could do something about him?

I did contact them. Not interested in my feedback unless it was some specific instance of professional misconduct. Being useless - not interested....

[malvolio]

Yeh. To be honest, I thought PCG accredited - must be good. It turns out they need to pass some sort of exam to get this (and probably pay the PCG to be listed).

Looked like the company in question could see some lucrative dosh from IT contractors and fancied a bit of that. Turned out didn't really have a clue about any of it. Made a complete mess of almost everything they did (couldnt even arrange to send me the correct direct debit form).

And of course you told PCG about it so they could do something about him?

[The Spartan]

Yeh. To be honest, I thought PCG accredited - must be good. It turns out they need to pass some sort of exam to get this (and probably pay the PCG to be listed).

Looked like the company in question could see some lucrative dosh from IT contractors and fancied a bit of that. Turned out didn't really have a clue about any of it. Made a complete mess of almost everything they did (couldnt even arrange to send me the correct direct debit form).

Just goes to show what people will do to cash in on some lucre, my god incompetent doesn't even cut it

[psychocandy]

Yeh. To be honest, I thought PCG accredited - must be good. It turns out they need to pass some sort of exam to get this (and probably pay the PCG to be listed).

Looked like the company in question could see some lucrative dosh from IT contractors and fancied a bit of that. Turned out didn't really have a clue about any of it. Made a complete mess of almost everything they did (couldnt even arrange to send me the correct direct debit form).

[The Spartan]

Only just saw this thread....

Not going to name names but under no circumstances go anywhere near the PCG recommended accountant listed in Bridgend.

I went with them and ended up moving after 2 months. Mate of mine (also a contractor) did too and it went the same way. Totally useless waste of money - knows nothing about IT contractors.

I moved to NixonWilliams. Never met my accountant - all done by email but excellent service from them.

Thanks for the update, it seems there are a fair few cowboys out there by all accounts and that includes Umbrella Companies as well as Accountants.

[psychocandy]

Only just saw this thread....

Not going to name names but under no circumstances go anywhere near the PCG recommended accountant listed in Bridgend.

I went with them and ended up moving after 2 months. Mate of mine (also a contractor) did too and it went the same way. Totally useless waste of money - knows nothing about IT contractors.

I moved to NixonWilliams. Never met my accountant - all done by email but excellent service from them.

[The Spartan]

Actually when you put it that way no it doesn't. After all Parasol were recommended to me by a friend and look how that turned out

[Pondlife]

Have you used them?

Does it matter?

A while back I used & recommended Uptons.

Obviously I'm not with Uptons anymore and moved to a company based more locally.

[The Spartan]

UniversaTax based in Cardiff.

Online portal for submitting stuff

£78/pm

Have you used them?

[Pondlife]

Thanks for the link, but I note that there were none in Wales. Surely there must be at least one good accountants in Wales?

UniversaTax based in Cardiff.

Online portal for submitting stuff

£78/pm

[malvolio]

Thanks for the link, but I note that there were none in Wales. Surely there must be at least one good accountants in Wales?

Start here - PCG Accredited Accountant | PCG - and stick in your postcode...

[The Spartan]

Here is a list of accountant recommendation threads I put together. We get this so often now no one bothers to reply...

http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...-requests.html

Thanks for the link, but I note that there were none in Wales. Surely there must be at least one good accountants in Wales?