My experience of accountants is not good. I find that they do the bare minimum and get very defensive when their mistakes are pointed out. Stand out from the general mediocrity that seems to be the norm in your profession.
Indeed, the same description is often applied to GPs
Indeed, the same description is often applied to GPs
she still can’t get her accountant(s) to do her end of year returns competently. Each year we go over the final accounts that the accountant prepares before he/she files them and each year there are omissions, mistakes in addition and/or subtraction and other mistakes.
Therefore my advice is find a niche area, study up on it and offer a quality service where you proactively look after the accounts and business interests of your clients. From what I’ve learned over the last few years doctors know next to nothing about how to run a business so someone who can advise them on financial matters in general as well as submitting their tax return would be a in demand. Knowing a little bit about employment law would also help, nothing major; just an afternoon on the Citizens Advice website would do.
I wouldn't pay much heed to that thread. The poster who opened that thread (and apparently received a great deal on his accountancy fees) is himself a practising accountant
Sectors which have enjoyed excessive demand and/or limited supply have been able to conduct their affairs in an inefficient manner. Customer service has been bad and the customers business has not been appreciated. This is still the case with doctors though I suspect that with the massive over-supply in the legal and accountancy sectors this is changing but old habits die hard.
How do you figure that?
If he is, what was the point of his (possibly mis-leading) thread? and his final post about having a new accountant?
I have no idea. It was real school-boy stuff though.I find this very peculiar, particularly the mention of addition and subtraction errors. I thought that this sort of thing had gone out with the flood. Don't tell me she is using accountants who prepare calculations and returns manually?
I agree but that's not what I've seen.You should expect your accountant to look after your accounts and your tax affairs and hopefully be proactive in both regards.
However I would suggest that it is a major mistake to expect an accountant to "advise on financial matters in general". If you need investment advice, go to a specialist investment advisor, rather than an accountant whose core expertise lies elsewhere. Similarly, if you need employment law advice go to a solicitor, rather than depending on someone who has no expertise in that area apart from an afternoon spent reading a website.
The advice I would expect is "You need to get "X" issue sorted out. I suggest you talk to an investment advisor/solicitor etc" with a recommendation as to who you should talk to. That’s what I mean about being proactive.
OK, I should have been clearer. Knowing enough to ask you client if their staff have contracts etc and then advising them to talk to someone to get it sorted out. That’s the sort of thing I’m talking about.Fair enough, most accountants do this as a matter of course, but earlier you said "Knowing a little bit about employment law would also help, nothing major; just an afternoon on the Citizens Advice website would do". This seemed to imply the exact opposite.
Indeed, the same description is often applied to GPs
I have a real desire to work for myself, I currently have about 10 private small clients but they are generating around €5000 p.a. only, which is fine when there is only a few evenings and weekends but its a very small base to start from.
I reckon I would need to do generate €30k in year one and am at a loss as to how to go about getting it and also as to what is ethically acceptable.
My opportunities to get myself out into the market are scarce because of the full-time job. I am in a catch 22 as I would love to leave but I cant afford to give a few months with no income or immediate hopes of income.
- I have been thinking along the lines of writing a letter to SME's in the local area
- Just chatting the people in SME's that I know around
- Has anyone any experience in online advertising for such a service? I would imagine there would not be much out of it as word of mouth is the key I feel
Has anyone any ideas? I appreciate many of you are accountants yourself and may not feel compelled to pass on info to a potential competitor but any words of wisdom or advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
I find it strange that whenever a sector is criticised those within it always jump to its defence.
Please show me where in this thread I have jumped to anyone's defence. I just sought to clarify a few aspects of your posts that I thought might give rise to, or perhaps indicate, misunderstanding. If you don't consider my contributions to be constructive, apologies.
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