You may have used the same accountant for a number of years, and you may well be happy with them – we hope you are! But it’s always a very useful exercise to review your accountant from time-to-time just to check that you’re getting the most appropriate service for your business.
When you do your review, it encourages you to think about the service you’re getting and assess whether or not you’re getting what you need from your accountant. Here are the questions we think you need to ask yourself in order to make an informed assessment.
Are they technically strong?
Are you getting a high enough technical service, particularly on the tax side of things? As your needs get more complex, do you feel that they are on top of what they need to be doing?
Are you happy with the way they communicate?
Does your current accountant communicate clearly with you so you understand the information clearly? How much jargon do they use? How approachable are they? Do you feel you can contact them when you have a question? A good accountant isn’t just an expert at what they do, it’s all about getting a good service, and dealing with you on a personal level is a very important part of this service.
How proactive are they?
Do you ever have to chase your accountant to get things done? Are they always dealing with things late and scrambling to meet deadlines or do they get things done in a timely manner? A good accountant will plan ahead and make sure everything’s properly scheduled. As issues are about to come up, they will tell you they are dealing with them, rather than waiting for you to have to prompt them when you receive a notification after the deadline has gone.
Do they give you practical solutions to problems?
The relationship between you and your accountant works both ways – if you’re getting a good quality service, they will be proactive and suggest practical solutions to any problems you might encounter. A good accountant will be happy to work through things with you to make sure that everything is on the right path.
Are they at the right level?
Do you feel that your accountant is experienced enough to handle your accounts? It may well be that you started working with them when your business was small, but your company has seen great growth. You need to ask yourself if your accountant has grown at the same rate because, with the best will in the world, their skills might not be enough for your needs as a larger company any more.
If you’re happy with the answers to all these questions, then you’ve got the right accountant for your needs, along with the peace of mind this brings. If not, then contact them to discuss your concerns, after which, if you’re still not sure, it may be time to look for a new accountancy service. Contact us for more information or to see how we could help you turn those unsure questions into informed decisions.
