Recommend me an accountant
Discussion
Wonder if anyone can help... I am a freelance draughtsman, I have a very simple ltd company that both I and my OT are shareholders of and I am going to be looking for an accountant in the next 4-6 weeks.
Ideally I am looking for an accountant to deal with every aspect of the accounts (Business and Personal). To take care of the Corporation Tax, VAT returns, payroll, dividends, personal tax and NI.
A company called CME has been highly recommended to me, but I have no other knowledge of them, anyone have any experience of CME?
Other than that I'd appreciate any other names of good accountants to use.
Lastly I'd be interested to hear people views and experiences on Large vs. Small accountancy firms...
Thanks
Lee
(thought I was posting this in the business section sorry)
Ideally I am looking for an accountant to deal with every aspect of the accounts (Business and Personal). To take care of the Corporation Tax, VAT returns, payroll, dividends, personal tax and NI.
A company called CME has been highly recommended to me, but I have no other knowledge of them, anyone have any experience of CME?
Other than that I'd appreciate any other names of good accountants to use.
Lastly I'd be interested to hear people views and experiences on Large vs. Small accountancy firms...
Thanks
Lee
(thought I was posting this in the business section sorry)
Edited by Rochester TVR on Thursday 22 January 22:33
Rochester TVR said:
Wonder if anyone can help... I am a freelance draughtsman, I have a very simple ltd company that both I and my OT are shareholders of and I am going to be looking for an accountant in the next 4-6 weeks.
Ideally I am looking for an accountant to deal with every aspect of the accounts (Business and Personal). To take care of the Corporation Tax, VAT returns, payroll, dividends, personal tax and NI.
A company called CME has been highly recommended to me, but I have no other knowledge of them, anyone have any experience of CME?
Other than that I'd appreciate any other names of good accountants to use.
Lastly I'd be interested to hear people views and experiences on Large vs. Small accountancy firms...
Thanks
Lee
(thought I was posting this in the business section sorry)
EricMC on here, or if not then Nixxon williams are good (dont know if they handle non IT sector though)
Ideally I am looking for an accountant to deal with every aspect of the accounts (Business and Personal). To take care of the Corporation Tax, VAT returns, payroll, dividends, personal tax and NI.
A company called CME has been highly recommended to me, but I have no other knowledge of them, anyone have any experience of CME?
Other than that I'd appreciate any other names of good accountants to use.
Lastly I'd be interested to hear people views and experiences on Large vs. Small accountancy firms...
Thanks
Lee
(thought I was posting this in the business section sorry)
EricMC on here, or if not then Nixxon williams are good (dont know if they handle non IT sector though)
Edited by Rochester TVR on Thursday 22 January 22:33
Eric Mc said:
Thanks for the recommendations 
My workload is pretty high at the moment and I am reluctant to take on any more clients - unless they are fun to work with
Thanks for the names and numbers on emails everyone...My workload is pretty high at the moment and I am reluctant to take on any more clients - unless they are fun to work with
Eric Mc: If your workload changes over the next 4-6 weeks feel free to get in touch.
What are peoples veiws in regards to using a Large Accountancy firm as opposed to a small one?
Who would you say is the best large company to use?
Thanks
Eric Mc said:
richardxjr said:
Please. Only choose someone through personal recommendation.
Do NOT go anywhere near the high street chain of franchises called TAX ASSIST.
Is that the voice of bitter experience speaking?Do NOT go anywhere near the high street chain of franchises called TAX ASSIST.
To cut a long story short: one of their (non qual) franchisees approached us with a tax-saving scheme. Sounded good. He even checked out OK with an associate I know who used him, so he must be fine. They didn't set this scheme up at all properly. Cost me well over £250,000 and four years of grief (which is far from over).
I run a small company. 12 emps & £1.2m t/o. That amount of lost money hurts.
Tax Assist = Shysters.
We're now on our third accountant. Fingers crossed this time!
Please, choose an accountant with extreme diligence!
Rochester TVR said:
Eric Mc said:
Thanks for the recommendations
My workload is pretty high at the moment and I am reluctant to take on any more clients - unless they are fun to work with
Thanks for the names and numbers on emails everyone...My workload is pretty high at the moment and I am reluctant to take on any more clients - unless they are fun to work with
Eric Mc: If your workload changes over the next 4-6 weeks feel free to get in touch.
What are peoples veiws in regards to using a Large Accountancy firm as opposed to a small one?
Who would you say is the best large company to use?
Thanks
Pros - depth of experience/wide range of services/good client update services
Cons - dealing with lower level staff (especially if a smallish client)/impersonal/expensive
I have no opinion about which bigger firms are better or worse.
I'd say use a small local firm for everyday stuff. Someone you can trust (have I said that already? 
)
Although I did have to use Grant Thornton to sort out our specialised mess, and they did an absolutely fantastic job. They had the knowledge and gravitas for HMRC to deal with them and us properly and fairly.
Cost me another 20 grand though
)Although I did have to use Grant Thornton to sort out our specialised mess, and they did an absolutely fantastic job. They had the knowledge and gravitas for HMRC to deal with them and us properly and fairly.
Cost me another 20 grand though
Large firm vs. small, it depends on what sort of business your carrying out, turnover / personal tax level.. VAT registered.. If it's all "small" i.e. anywhere from 40k --> 100k then I'd go for a smaller company, that has been recommended. Talk to 2 or 3 and see who gives you the better feedback and feeling about how they carry out their business. Ideally if they've got experience of company's of your size and business sector then they should be able to do a good service for you.
richardxjr said:
I'd say use a small local firm for everyday stuff. Someone you can trust (have I said that already? )
Not always, I was with a small local firm who were frankly incompetent, just didn't have the systems and processes in place too cope and thus made consistent errors. Switched to a bigger provider and everything is professional )I'll echo what's already be said.
Go on personal recommendation. Go and see that accountant, see how they come across, whether you feel you will get along with them, as I feel it's good for each of you. There's nothing worse than thinking 'oh god, I have to call my accountant' and for the accountant, hearing that certain clients are on the phone can provoke equally dissapointed responses
Most won't charge for an initial consultation either.
With respect to large or small firms....
I'm now in a smaller firm (2 offices 20+ staff) whereas my previous firm had nearer 300. If you're turning over millions and require audits, generally, a larger firm will be able to service you better - as much as I hate to say that.
Obviously you will pay considerably more for the privilage, and will often be speaking to some monkey before getting anywhere near a partner for advice.
Smaller firms/individuals tend to be more personal, if there are a few experienced staff, they tend to 'float' ideas amongst each other so you still obtain a good level of technical expertise and they're much easier to get to talk to.
Go on personal recommendation. Go and see that accountant, see how they come across, whether you feel you will get along with them, as I feel it's good for each of you. There's nothing worse than thinking 'oh god, I have to call my accountant' and for the accountant, hearing that certain clients are on the phone can provoke equally dissapointed responses
Most won't charge for an initial consultation either.
With respect to large or small firms....
I'm now in a smaller firm (2 offices 20+ staff) whereas my previous firm had nearer 300. If you're turning over millions and require audits, generally, a larger firm will be able to service you better - as much as I hate to say that.
Obviously you will pay considerably more for the privilage, and will often be speaking to some monkey before getting anywhere near a partner for advice.
Smaller firms/individuals tend to be more personal, if there are a few experienced staff, they tend to 'float' ideas amongst each other so you still obtain a good level of technical expertise and they're much easier to get to talk to.
Right well now I need to find a new accountant as I have just told the guy I was using that I will no longer be using his services...
I am right in thinking that although your companies corporation tax has to be submitted by the end of January you can submit it at the end of Feb if you have paid a small amount of corp' tax in January???
Only problem is that I now need to find a new accountant pronto and get my end of year accounts all done!
I am right in thinking that although your companies corporation tax has to be submitted by the end of January you can submit it at the end of Feb if you have paid a small amount of corp' tax in January???
Only problem is that I now need to find a new accountant pronto and get my end of year accounts all done!
Rochester TVR said:
Right well now I need to find a new accountant as I have just told the guy I was using that I will no longer be using his services...
I am right in thinking that although your companies corporation tax has to be submitted by the end of January you can submit it at the end of Feb if you have paid a small amount of corp' tax in January???
Only problem is that I now need to find a new accountant pronto and get my end of year accounts all done!
The 31st January deadline is for Self-assessment NOT corporation tax - unless - the year end of your company is 31st January (in this case 31 Jan 08)I am right in thinking that although your companies corporation tax has to be submitted by the end of January you can submit it at the end of Feb if you have paid a small amount of corp' tax in January???
Only problem is that I now need to find a new accountant pronto and get my end of year accounts all done!
If that's the case, then you should have paid your corporation tax liability by 1st November 2008?
dirty boy said:
Rochester TVR said:
Right well now I need to find a new accountant as I have just told the guy I was using that I will no longer be using his services...
I am right in thinking that although your companies corporation tax has to be submitted by the end of January you can submit it at the end of Feb if you have paid a small amount of corp' tax in January???
Only problem is that I now need to find a new accountant pronto and get my end of year accounts all done!
The 31st January deadline is for Self-assessment NOT corporation tax - unless - the year end of your company is 31st January (in this case 31 Jan 08)I am right in thinking that although your companies corporation tax has to be submitted by the end of January you can submit it at the end of Feb if you have paid a small amount of corp' tax in January???
Only problem is that I now need to find a new accountant pronto and get my end of year accounts all done!
If that's the case, then you should have paid your corporation tax liability by 1st November 2008?
Whats the submission date for Corporation Tax?
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