The Right Accountant
If you’re looking to hire an accountant or accountancy company to handle and manage your business’s accounting, then it’s important to make sure you’re choosing one that suits you and your business.
Most businesses find choosing accounting firms a difficult decision, by following a few simple steps, it can make it easy to find the right accountant for your business.
What To Consider When Choosing An Accountant
ARE THEY QUALIFIED?
When choosing a new accountant, one of the most important things is to ensure they’re qualified at what they do. By choosing a reputable and qualified account you’ll be in safe hands. Looking out for accreditations or awards is also important, partners like XERO and ICAEW. Chartered Accountants can help you identify that an accountant is following a code of conduct, ensuring the accounting work they carry out is to high standards. When accountants are qualified and fully reputable, they’ll be more than qualified and sufficiently experienced to handle all your accounting affairs.
ARE THEY AN INDIVIDUAL OR A COMPANY?
Both individual and company accountants have their advantages. Many people like individual accountants due to their more personal approach and the continuity of only dealing with one person. When using an accounting company, you should be given your own account manager who will be your main port of call. The flexibility of a company approach means that, should your accountant be off and you’re having an issue they’ll be someone else on hand to assist. With a team approach you’ll also have access to a full team of accounting specialists to help with a wide array of problems.
A PROACTIVE APPROACH
It’s important to ensure when you choose a new accountant that they have a proactive approach. An accountant with a proactive approach will mean they are working with your all year around, and not just at the end of the financial year. With an accountant working with your continuously throughout the year, they can help keep your finances on track and help you manage and deal with any accountancy problems should they occur.
ARE THEY LOCAL?
Believe it or not having an accountant isn’t just about them being local. Many businesses use accounting companies that are based miles away, with the ability to zoom/skype, call and email, choosing a local accountant isn’t always necessary. The most important thing to remember when choosing an accountant is to make sure they will always be on hand when you need them, whether this be face to face or over the phone; it’s about choosing what best meets your business’s requirements and your needs.
DO YOU LIKE THEM?
When it comes down to finally choosing, it’s not always about what someone can offer or their experience, it’s about whether you like them and whether they’re a good fit for your business. When people can get along life is always easier, so having an accountant that you get along with and that will be there for you when you need them, is one of the most important things to consider. Although saying ‘do I like them?’ might sound like a strange statement, but to have a successful working relationship, you need to be able to get along and connect with someone.
When It Comes To Accounting Choose What’s Best For You
For all businesses or business owners looking for a new accountant, it’s important to consider all of the above to ensure you’re getting the best fit for your business, But ultimately when it comes down to it, the most important thing to consider is if that particular accountant or accounting company will fit into your business, just like any other member of staff you might take on.