As a bookkeeper do you request to. In particular are you obliged to do so if you are ICB registered.
I would like to find out what information you can request, in particular looking at source documentation and accounting records i.e. Sage data, excel spreadsheets etc.
In my opinion it belongs to the client; however, would like to know also how much you would hand over.
Does anyone have a template letter that can be used?
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Intriguing question, Phil. It's not really relevant to me where I would consider the bookkeeping I'd done towards a set of final accounts as my working papers; only the end product belonging to the client.
I've done Sales Ledger / Credit control work and handed all the records over to a new adviser, but those, I wouldn't consider my working papers.
I'd agree with you, if you're being paid for bookkeeping, then whatever format it is in must belong to the customer.
I've never taken over directly from a bookkeeper, where I've not also taken over the year end accounts too, so my professional clearance related more to the accounting work.
Where I have taken over just bookkeeping element, I did so directly from the client/client's employee, so there was no issue about professional clearance.
I would always ask to see all of the previous bookkeeping and so far that's never been a problem. Either a backup/spreadsheet/transaction listing etc.. once or twice, the bookkeeping and VAT calcs have literally been written on the backs of envelopes).
That said, I don't see why an incoming bookkeeper should not write to the outgoing bookkeeper.
(I agree that bookkeeping data does belong to the client, where they are specifically paying for bookkeeping, eg on Sage, Quickbooks, excel etc... )
I would handover a backup, where the client has the relevant software, or a detailed transaction listing, debtors, creditors listing etc... where the client doesn't.
Not required but is recommended if something is suspected of the client. However, bookkeepers taking over from previous bookkeepers 9 times out of 10 is due to bad bookkeeping, so your not going to get much from them if you did write.
If you are an ICB member and you are asked for one, or need one, the ICB has a helpline to talk you through the process.
