big contractor accountant vs local

**northernladuk** · 12 December 2016, 14:14

Originally posted by babybel View Post

Having spent 8 years with SJD, then jumped this year to Nixon Williams for an even crapper year of lacklustre advice, I need another change. I suspect that all of the accountants at the biggies are so overloaded with clients & past caring that they just can't give anything but the most basic / regurgitated advice. Their spreadsheets / portals are pretty poor too. All for 1.5k a year.

I don't mind spending the money, I'd just rather be happy with the service.

Has anyone gone with a local (as in non-IT specialist accountant)? Is there any reason to think that doing so would be more likely to result in an HMRC nosey? Any pros and cons from other people's experience, or shall I just do it and stop wittering about it?

IMO

Local guy

Pro's - Erm.. He's local (which isn't a pro at all)

Con's - Doesn't know contracting, probably doesn't use Freeagent, you'll be a small fish so possibly poor service, expectation that him being local is useful to you which it isn't, may not be priced very well.

IMO you've missed the best option. How about you look at the smaller emerging Freeagent accountants. They have contractor specialism and experience, they use Freeagent which appears to be the emerging portal to use and you tend to deal with the guy/gal that set it up. If you aren't they will be at the next desk.

Plenty of them mention in my Recommendation threads. Best of both worlds. Personal service but from contractor specialists with the latest and best tools. Sorted.

**babybel** · 12 December 2016, 14:27

Cheers for a 3rd option...

That I hadn't considered. I'll have a read up.

**Michael at BI Accountancy** · 12 December 2016, 14:28

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

IMO
IMO you've missed the best option. How about you look at the smaller emerging Freeagent accountants. They have contractor specialism and experience, they use Freeagent which appears to be the emerging portal to use and you tend to deal with the guy/gal that set it up. If you aren't they will be at the next desk.

+1

Have to agree, although I might be bias!

**Alan @ BroomeAffinity** · 12 December 2016, 16:40

Originally posted by Michael at BI Accountancy View Post

+1

Have to agree, although I might be bias!

+ another 1

I'm also biased.

**Darren at Fox-Bartfield** · 12 December 2016, 16:48

Accountants

+3

**northernladuk** · 12 December 2016, 16:54

Like bleeding buses these accountants. Poor OP can't find a decent one and then three come along at once.....

**Fred Bloggs** · 13 December 2016, 02:34

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

IMO

Local guy

Pro's - Erm.. He's local (which isn't a pro at all)

Con's - Doesn't know contracting, probably doesn't use Freeagent, you'll be a small fish so possibly poor service, expectation that him being local is useful to you which it isn't, may not be priced very well.

IMO you've missed the best option. How about you look at the smaller emerging Freeagent accountants. They have contractor specialism and experience, they use Freeagent which appears to be the emerging portal to use and you tend to deal with the guy/gal that set it up. If you aren't they will be at the next desk.

Plenty of them mention in my Recommendation threads. Best of both worlds. Personal service but from contractor specialists with the latest and best tools. Sorted.

Certainly the best option. After having many years of poor service (at best) from one of the large contractor specialists charging a lot of money and leaving me to do all he hard work, double checking everything, pointing out errors, incorrect tax returns that would have cost me around GBP 10k extra tax etc.......

I swapped to a smaller FreeAgent specialist called 1st Online. I went to them simply because they were the cheapest FreeAgent accountant I could find. And you know what? They have been fantastic. And all for GBP 49 a month. Don't be put off by the price.

**Waldorf** · 13 December 2016, 10:02

Originally posted by babybel View Post

Having spent 8 years with SJD, then jumped this year to Nixon Williams for an even crapper year of lacklustre advice, I need another change. I suspect that all of the accountants at the biggies are so overloaded with clients & past caring that they just can't give anything but the most basic / regurgitated advice. Their spreadsheets / portals are pretty poor too. All for 1.5k a year.

I don't mind spending the money, I'd just rather be happy with the service.

Has anyone gone with a local (as in non-IT specialist accountant)? Is there any reason to think that doing so would be more likely to result in an HMRC nosey? Any pros and cons from other people's experience, or shall I just do it and stop wittering about it?

SJD and Nixon Williams are both owned by the same people now, both sold over 2 years ago. I am surprised no one from either company has been on to see if they can help, perhaps they're not too keen on customer service anymore?

**kaiser78** · 13 December 2016, 11:40

Originally posted by babybel View Post

Having spent 8 years with SJD, then jumped this year to Nixon Williams for an even crapper year of lacklustre advice, I need another change. I suspect that all of the accountants at the biggies are so overloaded with clients & past caring that they just can't give anything but the most basic / regurgitated advice. Their spreadsheets / portals are pretty poor too. All for 1.5k a year.

I don't mind spending the money, I'd just rather be happy with the service.

Has anyone gone with a local (as in non-IT specialist accountant)? Is there any reason to think that doing so would be more likely to result in an HMRC nosey? Any pros and cons from other people's experience, or shall I just do it and stop wittering about it?

I have always used local contractor specialist accountants, having always consciously steered away from the established contractor players. Never had any complaints, they have good knowledge of contractor specifics, I don't have to use free agent (my choice I know) and queries are responded to same or next day.

I would say to never discount local as an option, as long as you do your due diligence up front to make sure they are suited to servicing your contracting needs.

big contractor accountant vs local