If you’re in the market for a new accountant, these are the tips you need to find a perfect match.
We’re going to look at a few things that you need to remember, so that you don’t end up with a bad fit who doesn’t understand your needs. It might seem like a boring subject, but you should always be attentive where your money is concerned.
There’s a huge difference between a good accountant and a great one, and choosing the right one could have a number of financial implications for you.
Make sure they are specialise in the sort of accountancy you need
If you’re a business and need specific accountancy solutions, you might need a different accountant than if you just need your personal books looked at. Some accountants will have more experience dealing with the exact sort of accountancy and tax issues that might be relevant to you, your business, or your location. Make sure you take a bit of time to pick the right one.
How experienced are they?
While some people might be happy to go with someone who’s been qualified for a short period of time, others want someone who has the experience of years. Often, you’ll end up paying a bit more for an accountant who’s got years of experience, but this might be an acceptable cost if experience is useful to you.
Are they recommended by someone you know?
While accountancy might not be the most fun subject to bring up with friends or people you know, nothing beats a personal recommendation. Try asking around a little to get a better idea of the right accountant to go with your location or situation. Or, look for accounting firms that have a lot of customer recommendations, like Atkinsons Chartered Accountants, in Brighton & Hove.
Check their online reviews
If you don’t know anyone you can ask about accountancy, you can try a few online review sites. While these shouldn’t be taken as the best indicator, they can still give you a good view.
Where are they located?
More and more people are starting to use online accountants without ever actually meeting them, but this might not be for you. If you want to actually meet with your accountant regularly in person, you will want to choose one that’s located reasonably close to you.
How much do they charge?
Is there a flat fee for your accounts or do they charge by the hour? If they have an hourly rate, how long do they think the accounts will take to complete? While a good accountant could save you a lot of money, you need to make sure you can afford to pay for them in the first place.
What qualifications do they have?
There are a range of different accountancy qualifications, so you might want to check which they have, and where they studied, if this is important to you.
How many team-members will be working on your accounts?
Will your books be looked after by one accountant or a team of people? This might have implications if someone leaves the firm or if you keep having to talk to different people about your accounts.
