What to expect from an accountant?

Cook_County

IFA = Institute of Financial Accountants
AIA & AAIA = Association of International Accountants
AAT& MAAT = Association of Accounting Technicians
MInstAM = Member of the Institute of Administrative Management
DipM = could be a Diploma in anything beginning with M
MBA = Master of Business Administration

So you have 3 accountancy bodies who you could complain to if when you ask he will not refund your fees and pay the costs of getting the work checked and corrected.

Bea787

But that's IF he is actually registered with them right? I've checked IFA, AIA and AAT so far and don't find him listed - I will check again to be sure ...

Kynthia

Bea787 wrote: »

But that's IF he is actually registered with them right? I've checked IFA, AIA and AAT so far and don't find him listed - I will check again to be sure ...

It's voluntary to be listed on the AAT directory of members in practice, and not all members work in practice.

I don't think any of the professional bodies list members.

Cook_County

Bea787 wrote: »

But that's IF he is actually registered with them right? I've checked IFA, AIA and AAT so far and don't find him listed - I will check again to be sure ...

I am lost. None of these bodies have public databases of members that I can find. Where are you searching?

Did you perhaps telephone each of them?

Bea787

I looked here:

IFA
http://www.ifa.org.uk/ then the find an accountant section

AIA
http://www.aiaworldwide.com/
then go to membership tab - select members - expand in practice tab on right - go to in practice directory
This is the only database I can find him on

AAT
http://www.aat.org.uk/
go to find an accountant on the homepage


http://www.instam.org/
I don’t see a membership list for this site but not sure how relevant it is anyway

Anyone have experience of the AIA? What do you think I should do next?

Pennywise

Those bodies are all lower tier accountancy bodies - technician level at best. None are "chartered" which is regarded as the professional accountant standard. Membership of some lower tier bodies requires little more than paying the subscription. The only one worth anything is the AAT, but IF he is really an authorised "member in practice" you'd find him on their website. I'm always suspicious of people who puts loads of "letters" after their name as it's like them trying too hard to prove something and those letters aren't hard to get or are irrelevant.

Cook_County

That is not very kind to either the AIA or the IFA who both have existed longer than any of us have been alive and are two well-respected accountancy bodies. They both have tough discplinary processes as well.

I see no evidence however that this individual has any tax qualifications, such as being a Chartered Tax Adviser, which is a shame.

Bea787

Ok, but can anyone give any advice on what my next step should be? I still have info to submit to the tax office, currently a set of calculations with many errors from this accountant and a bill from him. I'm not sure whether to tell him the corrections to make and settle the bill and let him finish the job, or walk away and argue the bill and liaise with the tax man myself ... If you were an accountant who had made mistakes in many of your calculations would you expect the customer to pay the full bill? What rights do I have? I will email the prof body for advice also ...

cannyscot_2

If you are saying on 5 years he has not lifted the correct figure from your p60 /other document and has an erroneous figure then you should write to him telling him that you are dispensing with his services as he has not show due care and attention and as a result you will not be paying his fee as the service you would have expected has not been carried out. He is probably irritated because he knows he did not pay attention .