Hemingway Bailey - How to choose an accountant
Wed 22nd January 2014
The first thing you need to ask when trying to choose an accountant is are they qualified? The next thing you need to know is how much they will help your business.
A lot of people just use an accountant for their year-end accounts. They help with your tax return and leave you to fend for yourselves for the rest of the year.
But accountants can do so much more than that.
Accountants can help you to grow and develop your business by working with you throughout the year and set up systems so you are able to keep track of your accounts 24/7.
At Hemingway Bailey, we like to help you get better as a business by giving you the tools you need to get a handle on your numbers. We give you the knowledge to interrogate yourself. The more you do your own numbers, the more you understand them.
You will not be left in the dark as to where you stand financially, only getting the figures when your accountant has completed your tax return, as you will be the one in control.
If you want to be a serious business proposition, having your numbers at your fingertips can be the difference between success and failure, particularly if you are looking for investment or funding.
Solid communication throughout the year and building a relationship with your accountant means your business will have the facilities to get better.
Make sure your accountant sends you all the documents, so you are fully informed. After all, it is your business. Every business decision you make will affect your numbers in some way, so you need to be able to reference these documents quickly and easily.
Accountants can offer support, not just do the bits that you don’t understand yourself.
So, use them. You might be amazed at how much value they add.
It is often a good idea to get a recommendation from somebody you know. And don’t just choose the company with the cheapest fees.
Big accountancy firms are not necessarily better than smaller ones. Your business could be given to their highest-flyer or it could be given to an apprentice.
Just choose someone you trust, who offers the services you want from them, and you can’t go far wrong.
