Does it matter if my accounting service isn't run by an accountant?

[BigLadFromBeeston666]

I use a very small online accounting service that was recommended to me by another contractor friend around three years ago. The online accounting service looks very dated, like something from the 00s, and it's essentially a bespoke spreadsheet.

This online accounting service charges £95 (+VAT) per month to:

• - Calculate my VAT returns quarterly.
• - Calculate my CT to be paid.
• - Complete and submit year end accounts.
• - Run payroll and provide some (light touch) advice and guidance.

Now, from what I can ascertain the owner of the online accounting service isn't actually an accountant. They are an IT consultant, who created this service and then uses freelance accountants at key periods (e.g. Year End Accounts).

I must say the service over the last three years has error free and without incident. I changed to Crunch for a few months to try their platform and had a terrible experience, including them getting my VAT returns wrong, so I switched back to this accounting service.

But, I'm not qualified to know if I am getting what I pay for from this service and the fact that this seems like a contractor selling a spreadsheet doesn't sit well with me.

I'm considering switching again to a specialist like Gorilla Accounting, or perhaps even doing my own accounts using Free Agent in conjunction with my Starling Bank Business account.

Has anyone been in a similar position?

[Fred Bloggs]

Anyone can call themseves an accountant. Or engineer, or plumber or chef etc... What you cannot do, is call yourself a Chartered Accountant (or one of the other types of accounts professionals). Nor can you call yourself a Chartered Engineer. So, what exactly are you asking about when you say "does it matter?". Because the answer depends on your issue. HTH.

[Lance]

£95 a month for no professional advice is horrific. FreeAgent costs just £25 a month and does all that for you. And a lot of accountants bundle FreeAgent, and produce a professional service as well...


No brainer. Change. Read the sticky on accountant recommendations.

[Fred Bloggs]

£95 a month for no professional advice is horrific. FreeAgent costs just £25 a month and does all that for you. And a lot of accountants bundle FreeAgent, and produce a professional service as well...


No brainer. Change. Read the sticky on accountant recommendations.

If I use a UK Ltd Co again I will be using a NatWest/RBS bank account with bundled FreeAgent. And a software package for end of year accounts, Companies House and CT600 submissions. In nearly 15 years of using professional accountants, I never had a single piece of pro-active input from any of them. And when I asked them for advice there was an evens chance it was wrong. In the future, I will definitely DIY. On the chance I need input from a professional accountant, I'll pay for that single piece of work.

[Lance]

Does it matter if my accounting service isn't run by an accountant?

If I use a UK Ltd Co again I will be using a NatWest/RBS bank account with bundled FreeAgent. And a software package for end of year accounts, Companies House and CT600 submissions. In nearly 15 years of using professional accountants, I never had a single piece of pro-active input from any of them. And when I asked them for advice there was an evens chance it was wrong. In the future, I will definitely DIY. On the chance I need input from a professional accountant, I'll pay for that single piece of work.

Fine. Fill yer boots.

OP is being ripped off. For less money he can have a full service.
Your point is that he can get the same service he currently has for free/almost nothing.

[Fred Bloggs]

Fine. Fill yer boots.

OP is being ripped off. For less money he can have a full service.
Your point is that he can get the same service he currently has for free/almost nothing.

Exactly.

[BigLadFromBeeston666]

Anyone can call themseves an accountant. Or engineer, or plumber or chef etc... What you cannot do, is call yourself a Chartered Accountant (or one of the other types of accounts professionals). Nor can you call yourself a Chartered Engineer. So, what exactly are you asking about when you say "does it matter?". Because the answer depends on your issue. HTH.

My issue is that him not being a Chartered Accountant, means he may not be qualified to give me the full range of advice I need.

[BigLadFromBeeston666]

If I use a UK Ltd Co again I will be using a NatWest/RBS bank account with bundled FreeAgent. And a software package for end of year accounts, Companies House and CT600 submissions. In nearly 15 years of using professional accountants, I never had a single piece of pro-active input from any of them. And when I asked them for advice there was an evens chance it was wrong. In the future, I will definitely DIY. On the chance I need input from a professional accountant, I'll pay for that single piece of work.

This is the conclusion I have come to as well. The straw that is breaking the camel's back, is that now I am asking about restructuring the business for another director to come onboard, they are pointing me to a completely different company.

I have a Starling business bank account so intend to serve notice on my accountant and pick up FreeAgent and integrate both. My ofriend has recommended using this for Corporation Tax and End of Year accounts:
wwwdotonlineaccountfiling.com

[Old Greg]

My issue is that him not being a Chartered Accountant, means he may not be qualified to give me the full range of advice I need.

Sounds like you need to change accountants.

[WTFH]

So, one "friend" recommended a small online company, and now another "friend" is recommending a different online company.

I'd be wary about jumping on to this new company that hasn't even been going 2 years and is run by people who seem to set up and close down companies as a hobby.