I have set up my own company, and have found an accountant. How can I check up on the credentials of the accountant. They are very slow in doing anything or is this normal for accountants?
If the accountant is qualified, you can check them via the association they are members of. However, this will only confirm whether they hold the qualifications they say they hold.
The only way to know how credible someone is generally is by word of mouth or actual first hand experience.
Accountants can be slow, just the same as solicitors, so be prepared to be on their case. If not happy, walk away and find another!
are they slow all the time or just around certain times of the year?
We try to turn accounts around in 4 to 6 weeks but have seen that double if queries are not answered fairly quickly, it will also take 3 - 4 weeks to turn a tax return around.
Although general advice, email and phone calls will be responded to very quickly.
Seems slow when you write it down but no deadlines are missed and service is good.
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Forgive the typo's I generally do not proof read. Just lazy I guess!
How about this for a slow accountant.......my hubbie stopped trading as a sole trader five years ago and his accountant still hasn't done the winding up accounts! Admittedly he wasn't charging my hubby for it, but five years! Hubby is constantly phoning him and he insists he is doing it.
I worked for this accountant for a while, and all the staff said he was slow I've been tempted to ask him for all the working papers and files back and I'd do the accounts myself!
I have checked with the association and they are members, so am some what relived at that.
We are running a web based business and doing really well, especially in this economic climate, but to keep on top of things we need to be quick in our turn arounds.
So when I wrote to the accountant as requested we expected a quick turn around as well. They have been very good at providing advise that area I am happy with.
I've been tempted to ask him for all the working papers and files back and I'd do the accounts myself!
