5 top tips for choosing your Accountant

Picking an accountant is an important decision. After all, they’ll be handling your company finances and making sure you stay compliant with tax laws. But with such a wide range of different accountants and accountancy firms out there, how do you sort the good from the bad?

Below are 5 top tips to help you sift through the different options and find the right match.

1.?????? Define your needs

Consider what you're looking for in an accountant. On the surface, most accountancy firms offer broadly the same services. However, they may work in different ways.

Think about what you are looking for in your accountant.

-????????? Do you prefer email communication, phone, or face-to-face meetings?

-????????? Do you want to understand everything, or just go with the accountant's recommendation?

-????????? Are they specialists in your industry?

Consider how you like to work. For example, are you currently using specific accountancy software, such as FreeAgent? If so, you may want to find a firm that uses the same tools, to save learning a new system or entering your information again.

Or maybe you have some ethical considerations. Perhaps you feel strongly about being charitable, or a particular faith. You may pick a firm because it shares your world view.

2.?????? Ask for recommendations

A great way to find a good accountant is to ask for recommendations from friends, family, or colleagues. They can give you firsthand insights into the quality of service you can expect.

If you don’t know anyone who uses an accountant or if you’re not getting good recommendations, it’s worth looking at online reviews. When assessing reviews, go beyond the star rating and try to read the full review (both good and bad). Weigh up the validity of the review; someone talking about the great service they have received for five years is more meaningful than a review from someone who has only been with the firm for a few weeks. ?

3.?????? Check credentials

Make sure the accountant you're considering is qualified and has the necessary experience. Look for accountants who are members of professional bodies like the ICAEW, ACCA, or CIOT.

While approval from one of these bodies doesn’t guarantee they offer a great service, it does indicate they have demonstrated a certain level of knowledge and passed recognised exams. Importantly, it also means they’re obliged to comply with certain professional and ethical standards.

You can search for the business on the Companies House webcheck. Does anything ring alarm bells, such as lots of changes? How long have they been operating for? You can download recent financial statements and review the filing history for insights into the business's stability. While the information may seem complex, look for trends that suggest a healthy, well-managed firm capable of supporting you in the long term.

4.?????? Talk to potential accountants

Once you've narrowed down your options, schedule a call or meeting with a few different accountants. This will give you a chance to get a feel for their personality and see if they're a good fit for you. Even though accountancy is about numbers, it is still important to find an accountant who you ‘get on’ with.

You need to understand their language and what they’re saying to ensure you make the best business decisions. Make sure that you talk to the person that you will be dealing with day-to-day.

If you like the idea of having a ‘dedicated’ accountant, that knows you and your business, find out about staff turnover. If there is a high staff turnover, chances are you’ll be speaking to different people.

5.?????? Trust your gut

Ultimately, the best accountant for you is someone you feel you can trust and rely on. Beyond qualifications and experience, it’s important to feel a sense of connection and confidence in them.

During your interactions, pay attention to how well they listen, how clearly they communicate, and whether they seem genuinely invested in helping your business succeed.

If something feels off or if you don’t feel fully comfortable, trust your instincts and keep looking until you find someone who’s the right fit for both your business and personal working style.

A good relationship with your accountant can make all the difference in navigating financial decisions.

Why choose Maslins

We can’t end this piece without a blatant plug for our own business!

At Maslins, we pride ourselves on the service we offer. We think that our glowing Google reviews tell the story of our relationships with our clients.

Of course, we use the latest technology, but we complement it with the human touch. The way we work, in small, dynamic teams, means that most of the time you’ll speak to the same person.

We train and develop our team, so we tend to have low staff turnover and long serving employees. And as an employee-owned business, our team have an even more vested interest in making the business a success, any profit that is generated is shared amongst the staff.

Just get in touch - we’re happy to talk through your situation in more detail.???