Whats in a title?

Anybody can call themselves an accountant

BUT……

unfortunately the word “accountant” is not a protected title, thus anybody on the street can advertise themselves as offering accountancy / book keeping services.

Yeah – it’s true – a spotty 19 year old straight out of college working in any fast food chain could legitimately set up in business offering accountancy and tax services to the public. They may well be able to cope with some of the simple stuff and they may be able to use the web to find out about other bits and bobs.

But what happens when they get it wrong or things just don’t happen as they expect? Have they got the experience to legally minimise your tax? What recourse have you got if they misadvise you or they are late filing your tax return?

Absolutely none…end of conversation…as far as HMRC are concerned the buck stops with you the taxpayer.

OK – they may be cheaper than a professional regulated accountant, but as everybody knows – cheapest isn’t always the best in the long run.

Consider what a professional regulated accountant like myself has to offer:

** 7+ years of studying to gain my accountancy qualifications
These are with a recognised UK Chartered Accountancy Institute.
** 25 years practical real life experience of doing book keeping, accounts and tax for every scenario from sole traders to blue chip PLC companies.
** I hold a practising certificate from my institute – this means that:
I hold full professional indemnity insurance (if I ever get your affairs wrong and you decide to sue me, I am covered by an insurance policy)
I undertake the required Continuing Professional Development (training) each year in order to keep up to date and abreast of recent tax issues.
** I issue engagement letters to clients so that we both know what is expected and how to resolve things (if the need ever occurs).
** I am a recognised HMRC agent – I get speedier responses to any queries and I can deal with all the correspondence that you receive from HMRC on your behalf.
** Being a professional, I have credibility with banks and lenders – this always helps when self employed people apply for mortgages or credit if they say that they have an accountant.
** I deal with your tax affairs on time, every time – no more penalties for late filing; no more late nights panicking.

My fees are fixed – guaranteed – no nasty bills for extras.

I normally include an insurance policy in my fee which covers you for my fees should HMRC decide to open an inquiry into your affairs. This type of work will attract a higher premium than normal accounts work – it’s all covered in my fee.

For the weird and wonderful tax situations that I may come across – I have a specialist tax advice service at my disposal – no extra cost to me or you.

You might be reading this and thinking that it all sounds too expensive… get in contact for a quote and you will be pleasantly surprised at how cost effective my services are.

No two clients are the same hence I don’t have a set pricing model.

Is the choice between hiring a professional and a layman now being made that bit easier?

One last word of advice – anybody that is classed as an “accountancy services provider” must be registered with HMRC. If they hold a practising certificate from a UK institute then they are automatically registered and supervised. If they are not registered then they are in breach of the Money Laundering Regulations Act and the associated penalties will apply.

If they are not taking their own business affairs seriously, then why should they treat your affairs any different??

[No offence meant to spotty teenagers or fast food chain workers – it was an example to illustrate a point. Exactly the same applies to ANYBODY who pretends to be something they are not]

Rant over – my profession and accountancy practice is my livelihood – I protect it as any good professional would.

Choose a regulated accountant and you put yourself in the best possible position.