You may have read that I have taken on a client recently who has been unhappy with his accountant.
I'm having extreme difficulties in getting the documents and information I need to take the job on from the old accountant. He's ignoring my letters or emails, and is never available if I call. I've been trying for almost a month.
I managed to get last years final accounts from the client and they appear to be a work of fiction. The bank balances and loans don't match anything on the statements. Debtors and creditors are extremely high. I can't help but think he's just made up numbers to balance.
I'm about to redo last years accounts to see if I can get them anywhere near his.
I'm pulling my hair out. If I am right with the above it would explain why he hasn't got in touch, but its not helping anyone.
professional ettiquette tends to exist between accountants but it doesn't always extend to us bookkeepers.
The rules should you wish to quote them at the accountant are that you contact the accountant who will in turn seek written confirmation from their client that they are allowed to talk to you. If you receieve no response to your initial correspondence then the follow up should state that unless you receive response within seven days then it is assumed that there is no reason why you should not work on the clients behalf.
There may have been no reply because permission was not given to talk to you which if you knew such to be the case you should not accept the client. (That doesn't appear to be the suituation in this case).
Assuming that all correct permissions have been given then once working on the clients behalf you are entitled to a copy of the latest set of accounts and the trial balance upon which those accounts are based.
Everything else belongs to the previous accountant who can either sell you the information, their time for handover... Or ignore you totally as they've already fulfilled their obligation of passing you the accounts and the trial balance.
The records (bank statements, invoices, etc.) belong to the client who should be able to retrieve their paperwork and pass it on to you. If there's a final payment issue the accountant may be holding them the randsom in the hope that the client in unaware of the rules behind client records and the legal right of lien (I'm assuming that the client is limited?).
The issue with the situation is that the previous accountant may not be talking to you because the client has not given them written permission to talk to you and per section 140 of the IFAC code of ethics for professional accountants in practice (which as finance professionals we've all signed up to) they have a duty of confidentiality to their clients.
They may also be ignoring you if the correct ettiquette wasn't followed as not having received the correct documentation at the right time is a defence in front of a hearing by a supervisory body.
Are you feeling that accountancy is an old boys club yet????
Hope that non of the above comes accross as teaching my grannie to suck eggs. Its just a bit of a brain dump.
All the best,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I spoke to the IFA who suggest that I give him another chance by sending the letter recorded delivery and if I still have problems they will assist. Very helpful. I have managed to get my hands on the last 3 years annual accounts. To be honest, this particular accountant should be writing novels with the imagination he has. I can't believe how far removed from reality the figures are. The more I think about it, the more I worry that the reason he's refusing to speak to me lies there.
That said, the client is a sole trader, and hopefully when I get him added as a client with HMRC I'll be able to access some of his previous self assessments and can rebuild things a bit. Get rid of some of the fixed assets he's not seen in some years etc. I am in no doubt he's been paying too much tax over a number of years, but I have decided that I can fight a losing battle or stop bumping my gums and move on. It just makes it slightly more difficult.
Kris, I took on a client recently and despite 4 months concerted effort to get their previous accountant to speak to me I failed. I tried recorded delivery letters and various other methods but I couldn't get them to speak to me. In the end I got as much information as I could from the client and he agreed to pay me to recreate the last year of books. Not a satisfactory situation and not one I encounter with many accountants but it would seem that certain accountants have a downer on bookkeepers and see us as a sub-species
You should hear the way that they talk about our qualifications and supervisory bodies!
One line that will always stick in my mind was from a chartered accountant.
I was really proud of getting a distinction on my OU B680 but the put down from this chartered was "Well, it's not like you got it from a real university".
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
