Personally I think it is all too easy to decry someone's work, be it an accountant, bookkeeper, plumber or builder. I personally would not wish to stoop so low however if the bookkeeping was really poor and they clearly didn't know how to do things properly I think it would be correct to point out the errors and suggest their bookkeeper study these areas or suggest they use a more experienced bookkeeper. Afterall the accountant does not want to re-hash the bookkeeping and the client doesn't want to be charged for the same work twice...
Its in direct violation of the IFAC code of ethics for accounting professionals in that one must not be disparaging of another practices services or make unfounded claims of the superiority of one's own services.
I had one this week where it was very, very difficult for me to not say something about the work of the bookkeeper who had worked on the set of books before me.
I ended up saying that the fact that they had expensed things that should have been capitalised (and before anyone says anything they were claiming capital allowances on something that they had expensed!) gave us the "opportunity" to claim the mileage that they had been told nothing about by replacing the asset expense.
Everything has now slotted neatly into place and the books are now correct but despite a mighty grinding of teeth over the mess that I had to dig the books out of I never said a thing against the outgoing bookkeeper although I suspect that the client already knew.
On the money front the client didn't have he money to pay for the same work twice so I've taken it on the chin as a loss leader in order for the client to move forwards with their business properly and hopefully I'll make the loss on my normal rate back later.
-- Edited by Shamus on Sunday 7th of July 2019 04:02:49 PM
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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.
This is a funny one only that I spoke to a potential client the other day for bookkeeping and he wanted a new accountant. I ask him who he had and it just so happens I have a client with the practice. Also the accountant I recommended is opposite the old one! Anyway cut a long story short he was charged a fortune and by the sounds of things he is totally organised etc, after all he is budgeting his accounts expenses already before he needs to because he likes to know his expenditure etc. Anyway the accountants that he had that charged him a fortune I just happen to know they are the most expensive in my area as my client is always complaining but doesn't want to change.
So I told him that whilst they are very good at the job I knew that they weren't the cheapest around, so he can now make his own decisions as to what he does.
I know accountants have to train for a long time and the tax knowledge is always being updated, but I am still amazed at what some charge near me. One the other day told me they charge £50 per hour for bookkeeping!!!! Now I know what other account practices charge and I thought that was on the high side, and its +VAT! The charge out rate for accountancy work was very high.
I haven't had to slag off a bookkeeper yet and hope I never have to, I have had to slag off an accountant to the clients, luckily I don't know him and hes not in my area and they are no longer with him for various reasons which I can't go in to.
On the other side of this argument, I have recently taken on a new client who sacked her old bookkeeper when she found out things were 11 month behind and the bookkeeper had been spending more time on Facebook and Twitter than doing the books.
To cut a long story short, the bookkeeper (I use the term very loosely) obviously didn't know the difference between balance sheet and profit and loss accounts, or debits and credits. Even bank receipts and payments in Sage seemed to stretch his/her knowledge.
I called to introduce myself to the accountant who had obviously realised that the bookkeeper was grossly under qualified (although I'm sure not qualified at all) to do the work but the accountant had not said anything to the client.
That to me puts the accountant in a bit of a quandary professionally. Do they criticise the bookkeeper to the client or do they stay quiet and take the huge fees at year end through having to sort out the mess the bookkeeper has created?
