How to find a good accountant?

olly300

Summer01 wrote: »

Has anyone had any good experiences with SJD?

I know they have offices all over the UK but a couple of people I know moved from them as they said they didn't find them extremely efficient in alot of areas and often gave them different answers on the same question

- for example my friend said they emailed with a question re payroll and one person replied with one way forward and other person from same department gave a totally different opinion on best option - seems rather odd...

Common in any profession.

Laws in this country are not written to be black and white so there are different interpretations of them.

It's not a problem having staff in a firm with different views - in fact it's safer as tax laws are not simple and I've heard horror stories about firms run by individuals who are seriously out of date - the problem here is that the person should only be dealing with one person.

Arcaine

Hi,

You could try looking at the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) or other Accountancy body, the front of the AAT website has a section where you can find licenced AAT members in your area.

Sheppyd_2

I agree that you just need to ask all your friends to find out who they use.

You will hopefully find that you get a better service as they will know that if you are unhappy you will will probably report back - so they are risking more than just losing your work!

mutley74

i would welcome any feedback anyone has on using SJD or Nixon Williams...or any other recommendation for a contractor Ltd co accountancy service

System

mutley74, sorry I have just seen this. I just SJD however the accountant that I had made so many errors from advising the incorrect amount of dividends to take as they forgot to take into account my full records and just referred to the last bookkeeping spreadsheet

Also when I paid my end of year corporation tax I was sent a large cheque back from HMRC as a "correction" to what I had paid. When I asked them why I would be sent a cheque back I was told to just bank it as HMRC wouldn't make a mistake and would not give back any money unless it was definately due. When I asked if this meant that SJD had incorrectly prepared my corp tax/year end report and I had therefore overpaid they said they didn't know as they don't know how HMRC came to their figures.

SJD also advised me the wrong monthly pay for several months, despite me checking with them on several occasions.

This is just a few of many things that I found unacceptable from a company that boast that 99% of their customers are really happy.

Needless to say I am no longer with them, but I was also wondering about Nixon Williams as I had some leaflets through the mail the other week.

In the meantime I have gone with a more local firm

inmypocketnottheirs

Has anyone tried https://www.crunch.co.uk .

pinkneonmartini

Arcaine wrote: »

Hi,

You could try looking at the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) or other Accountancy body, the front of the AAT website has a section where you can find licenced AAT members in your area.

I'd disagree with the AAT, as the OP is happy doing his own bookeeping and VAT, and has stated it's tax returns & P11Ds etc that he needs completing.

I'd recommend the ATT (Association of Tax Technicians), as under the new examination methods members are obligated to specialise: in personal tax; business tax; practice administration, law & ethics. They then get to chose 1 additional specialism (Higher Busines Tax/VAT/IHT/Business Compliance).

mutley74

Summer01 wrote: »

mutley74, sorry I have just seen this. I just SJD however the accountant that I had made so many errors from advising the incorrect amount of dividends to take as they forgot to take into account my full records and just referred to the last bookkeeping spreadsheet

Also when I paid my end of year corporation tax I was sent a large cheque back from HMRC as a "correction" to what I had paid. When I asked them why I would be sent a cheque back I was told to just bank it as HMRC wouldn't make a mistake and would not give back any money unless it was definately due. When I asked if this meant that SJD had incorrectly prepared my corp tax/year end report and I had therefore overpaid they said they didn't know as they don't know how HMRC came to their figures.

SJD also advised me the wrong monthly pay for several months, despite me checking with them on several occasions.

This is just a few of many things that I found unacceptable from a company that boast that 99% of their customers are really happy.

Needless to say I am no longer with them, but I was also wondering about Nixon Williams as I had some leaflets through the mail the other week.

In the meantime I have gone with a more local firm

No problem for not replying.
I actually found a local accountant (home worker) via word of mouth, so happy now!
But i was sceptical of SJD when i contacted them. NW gave some good service in contacting me.
thanks:)

System

That's good news mutley74. Recommendations are always best, however I find that most people I know have accountants near where they live and I've found it hard to find someone..

SJD where definately a nightmare for me, it could depend on who is your accountant as it is a big place but I was unlucky anyway and wouldn't rush to go back - even though they were cheaper than who I am with now!

Thanks for the note re NW - I wish I'd have know about them before I committed but they sent some leaflets and by that time I was already committed...

roger_c

pinkneonmartini wrote: »

I'd disagree with the AAT, as the OP is happy doing his own bookeeping and VAT, and has stated it's tax returns & P11Ds etc that he needs completing.

I'd recommend the ATT (Association of Tax Technicians), as under the new examination methods members are obligated to specialise: in personal tax; business tax; practice administration, law & ethics. They then get to chose 1 additional specialism (Higher Busines Tax/VAT/IHT/Business Compliance).

Well, I'd recommend the CIOT (Chartered institute of tax) which is the next wrung on the ladder after the ATT qualification to become a chartered tax advisor. Their website is: https://www.tax.org.uk and you can search on it to find a member in your area. Hope that might be of some help.