Moving Accountants

I’ve just had my accounts done, so won’t I have to wait until the next year's end?

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Not at all. You are free to leave your current firm whenever you choose to.  We would argue that the sooner we look at your affairs, the more time we’ve got to give good advice and implement measures to save you time and money before the next year-end arrives.  Accounting isn’t just about reporting what’s happened in the past year – it’s also about making sure you’re best prepared for the years ahead.

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Won’t it be a hassle and take up a lot of my time?

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Certainly not. In fact, all it should take from you is one letter which we can help you with.  Otherwise, we will arrange for a smooth, effortless handover without any need to bother you unless absolutely necessary.  There is not even a requirement for you to have any further communication with your old accountant.  We would normally request any information from the old accountant that he holds on file relevant to your business and to us picking up your accounts/tax work.  There is normally a legal obligation on him to hand over this without any fuss.

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Doesn’t switching accountants trigger a tax investigation from HMRC?

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Absolutely not. The Revenue does have certain criteria they use when it comes to deciding who to investigate, targeting a business because they’ve changed accountants isn’t one of them.

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My old accountant might charge a fee for moving.

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Most firms are fair about this and see it as a task that should be performed for free. They should also follow professional ethics respect any client's wishes and not have a “tight–fisted” approach over a client choosing to leave.  The terms of engagement should usually inform a client of any fees specific to leaving.  For nearly all, the handover of a client from an outgoing accountant to an incoming one is done free of charge.

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I don’t want to upset my accountant as I have been with them for many years!

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This is something no business owner should concern themselves about – your old accountant is a grown-up – he’ll get over it!  Besides, is that the only reason you keep your custom with them?  – simply because you have known them for a long time.

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Is there any point in changing – aren’t all accountants the same?

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Probably the biggest myth of them all.  No two firms of accountants are the same. As with all industries, there is a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly!  When thinking of a move, you need to ask yourself questions such as, am I looking for a traditional firm or a modern, forward-thinking practice?  Is my business best suited to a small or large firm?  Can a general practitioner handle my needs or do I need a specialist?