Accountant fees

[jmsgld]

My old accountant retired a few years ago and passed on his clients to another company.

Since then the costs have increased year on year and the quality of the service has declined.

I have just received a draft copy of the accounts containing multiple errors / inefficiencies, along with a non itemised invoice that correlates to far more hours than it could possibly have taken to complete the accounts.

TBH I would prefer to just walk away and find a new firm, but I presume that now they have completed the accounts, I am liable for the invoice?

I have raised my concerns with them and asked for an itemised invoice... Any thoughts?

Thanks, James

[Echo66]

I had similar 10 or so years ago.

Wait for the itemised invoice see what gives, ask for a meeting with the gaffer, likely get some reduction in scales esp if you're on the cusp of the VAT line, i.e decent fee for them but no aggro with the VAT stuff.
Then chin them off & go elsewhere. I was with a mid sized regional outfit that were costing me a fortune in annual increments, found an SME who worked remotely, much better service, costs down to low 4 figs.

[vitesse2000]

We had the same issue a few years back - we had great service from a medium size accountant for years, then the top bloke decided to retire and sold out the firm to a large concern with a prestigious address in London.

The next year the accounts were a balls up, obviously done by an office numpty because ours was small account - entries from previous years used instead of current ones, and a vastly inflated bill - they were even trying to charge for time sorting their own cockups!

We had a struggle but we’re able to challenge the bill, mainly because we could show their mistakes, got a good sized reduction and mutually agreed we should seek our services elsewhere.

Found a small local firm that has fair prices and decent service, plus you don’t get a different person on the phone every time

Definitely worth challenging the invoice

[Helicopter123]

jmsgld said:

My old accountant retired a few years ago and passed on his clients to another company.

Since then the costs have increased year on year and the quality of the service has declined.

I have just received a draft copy of the accounts containing multiple errors / inefficiencies, along with a non itemised invoice that correlates to far more hours than it could possibly have taken to complete the accounts.

TBH I would prefer to just walk away and find a new firm, but I presume that now they have completed the accounts, I am liable for the invoice?

I have raised my concerns with them and asked for an itemised invoice... Any thoughts?

Thanks, James

1. Have you challenged the firm to justify the invoice? That would be my first step.
2. It's relatively easy to get your accounts done elsewhere, and by looking for a smaller, possibly new firm, set up by a couple of accountants who have 'jumped ship' from a larger firm, you should get better service, reduce costs and a sense that you are once again an important customer.

[Vaud]

Yup, find a smaller firm, ideally remotely (in a lower cost area of the UK, where they may genuinely be cheaper because they have lower rent/overheads/staff costs)