Changing Accountant

caylus

Hi, hoping someone can help. I've run my now very small limited company for about 17 years and getting close to retirement. Had the same accountant for all that time but who has also recently retired and sold the business to one of these firms who have multiple branches. Unfortunately you can never get to speak to anyone, never answer emails, no single person looks after your account and have bumped up the charges. In short in the 6 months since the change what used to be a straightforward nip into my local office to drop of the books for VAT returns and year end accounts has now become one big hassle.

Just wondering how easy people have found it to switch accountants or alternatively do the returns yourself which is appealing if it's fairly straightforward. Thanks

MyRealNameToo

Switching accountants is generally not too painful, other than financially as you may effectively need to pay both them to do the handover but its a short term cost and hopefully you find the new accountant better than what your old firm has morphed into.

Our accountants are fairly cheap, they do a good job and when I make a mistake like paying my VAT to PAYE in error its a 2 minute email to them and they sort it rather than spending hours on the phone trying to get through to HMRC and being bounced between departments.

caylus

Yeah, thanks for the reply. Just finding it so frustrating not being able to speak to someone to answer what should be simple queries. Guess I just need to find a local reputable company with people I can speak with face to face, the old fashioned way.

mlz1413

I have the opposite problem our small accountancy firm is a nightmare to answer emails. Frequently running up to the last minute for fillings, it is exasperating.

The firm is cheap and I don't ask many questions so I try and just let him do his thing, but I've been considering changing.

The problem is, who do you to? You have no experience of a new firm.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81858717#Comment_81858717

It's up to you really… I've never met our accountants in person. Most the time there are only two guys there, one does the basic stuff and the other answers any Qs. During Nov-Jan someone else often pops up to help them in peak season but they just send the email chasers.

The only real criticism Id have of them is that they dont like putting things in writing. Email a Q and you'll get a phone call back. Always a thorough answer, never a charge for it, just won't put it email :)

I personally dont want or need to see them in person but it's good being able to always deal with the same people. Accountants work office hours and so Im typically onsite with clients at those times and dont want to have to have hours unearned because I've got to travel to my accountants.

Mistral001

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6652560/changing-accountant

I would not attempt to do the returns yourself when you are retiring. My business involved some quite long-term projects, which meant that I had to refuse taking on new work about two or three years before my retirement, so in my last year before I retired I had very little outgoings or income. Thus, I decided I would not need my accountant for that last year. A big mistake. I spent countless hours trying to get through to, and talking to HMRC and pension companies, when in fact I am sure my accountant could have sorted out the problems in minutes.

deapt666

DIY is doable if you're comfortable with numbers. HMRC online is actually pretty straightforward for VAT and basic company accounts. But if you're not confident, paying a good accountant saves you stress. And at retirement age, stress is expensive.

deapt666

If you're a few years from retirement with a small Ltd, the last thing you need is chasing a faceless firm for basic answers. Switched to WR Partners specifically because I needed someone who actually picks up the phone when something urgent comes up, not a ticket system and a 3-day wait. Switching itself took less than a week.