How to Choose an Accountant

I do recognise that I may be biased but I have some pretty clear ideas about accountants, how to choose the right one for you and what your accountant should do for you.

So I thought I'd write about it and you can make your own mind up about my potential bias.

Let's get cracking, strangely, with what accountants shouldn't  be doing to encourage you to sign up with them...

What they shouldn't be saying is something along the lines of 'Come to us because the accounts we produce will be accurate...'

That's a bit like going into a motor dealership and the sales person saying 'Buy this car, all four wheels are entirely round...'

I mean, when you think about it, what's the alternative?  A car with three round wheels and a square one?  An accountant who produces inaccurate accounts?

Accurate accounts are the minimum that any customer should expect.  After all, the end product - a tax return, VAT figure or set of accounts - should all be the same, notwithstanding interpretation of the rules and the odd mistake.  They all come from the same raw materials: the records provided by the customer.

How do you make a choice, then?  Because, unless an accountant explains why they're the best choice for you and/or your business there's only one thing that will really drive your decision: price.

And we all know cheap does not mean the best.

To help make the choice here are my top six tests for choosing an accountant:

1. First and foremost, do you actually like the accountant you are thinking about signing up with?  After all, you might well be asking them for advice... and even better, they could actually be proactive and call you with some ideas.  If you get on well with your accountant, you have a good relationship with them, then you are more likely to receive relevant advice because the accountant knows more about you and you are more likely to respect (and take) the advice given.
2. Will you have a named contact - someone who you can build a day to day relationship with so you know who to call and you don't have to explain the same things over and over again?  Of course, it's not always possible to speak to the same person every time (they might be allowed holidays) but in general terms it really helps.
3. It may sound a little silly but do you actually like going into the office?  Are the people friendly and do they seem genuinely pleased to see you.  A lot of practices measure their staff in chunks of time and so they don't have time to invest in a bit of banter... once again, if you enjoy visiting your accountant's office you are more likely to on a regular basis and you are more likely to get the advice you are looking for.
4. Are your fees fixed?  If you are charged by time this can make things difficult - you might not know how much you are actually going to be charged and it might make you more reticent about calling or visiting...
5. Is your accountant investing in technology?  Do they have their own app for completing expenses claim forms, for example?  Do they promote a cloud based bookkeeping system such as QuickBooks?  And here's another easy test - do they have two screens on every desk?  If they do they are probably investing in technology which is very, very important.
6. And finally, do you get the impression they want you to succeed?  It's a bit difficult to tell, but if you asked would they put your business card out in their office?  Do they invite you to networking events from time to time?  If you asked them for a recommendation to another business, do you believe they would be able to do it?

Ultimately, of course, the choice depends on what you, the customer want and need from your accountant, so if the person your sitting in front of you asks 'What are you looking for from your accountant?'  You're probably onto a winner!