Expectations of Accountancy Services aimed at IT contractors

[Gary_Jones]

My question to the forum is - are the following expectations (from a costly accountant specialising in IT contractors) unrealistic?

1. I expect email or telephone replies within a day, but will tolerate 2-3 working days

2. I expected, when I joined to have say a 20 minute to half an hour chat about the basics of running your company, and the expenses / method of paying expenses explained. Ideally this would be face to face, but phone is acceptable

3. I expected them to tell me of my responsibilities and provide me with a list of important dates etc.

4. I expect for self set deadlines to be met - e.g. "We'll send you your budget report shortly" - does not equate to over 2 weeks.

Am I being a big baby for getting so concerned?
Or a big soft lad for not complaining? *answers on a postcard to....*

[r0bly0ns]

Seems reasonable to me, our accountant has provided all you expect.


Plus he aplogised for having the meeting initial in a bar down the road as he was in the process of moving to a bigger office by buying us a pint

[Gonzo]

My question to the forum is - are the following expectations (from a costly accountant specialising in IT contractors) unrealistic?

1. I expect email or telephone replies within a day, but will tolerate 2-3 working days

2. I expected, when I joined to have say a 20 minute to half an hour chat about the basics of running your company, and the expenses / method of paying expenses explained. Ideally this would be face to face, but phone is acceptable

3. I expected them to tell me of my responsibilities and provide me with a list of important dates etc.

4. I expect for self set deadlines to be met - e.g. "We'll send you your budget report shortly" - does not equate to over 2 weeks.

Am I being a big baby for getting so concerned?
Or a big soft lad for not complaining? *answers on a postcard to....*

Don't worry. It is quite normal to fret a lot when you start because you know there are things to be done that you don't know about.

If you are with an accountant that specialises in IT contractors then they will make sure that you do everything you need to.

[MrRobin]

are the following expectations unrealistic?

1) No not at all unrealistic.

2) Not really, if this is the way you prefer, but I found it much easier to have all this sort of info in a nice, folder binded information pack which I can refer to again at any time as there's a lot to learn.

3) No. Again, in the information pack.

4) Well, depends on their definition of 'shortly'. To you or I that might mean mean a couple of days, to them a couple of weeks. Best to get quantitative SLAs next time!

HTH

[Old Greg]

I received everything you expect from SJD when I set up a few months ago.

[Dark Black]

Since people are plugging it seems only fair to mention that I'm with Nixon Williams.

They provide a very good printed starter guide / FAQ and have always been very quick to answer emails / phone questions. Indeed before I signed up I rang them and spent a good half an hour going over various things with them.

Very helpful, efficient and throughly recommended.

(Can I have a discount now please Alan? )

[Gary_Jones]

Thanks for the response. I really wasn't sure if I was just flapping, and didn't want to make a fool of myself. It gave me incentive to drop an e-mail this morning and my accountancy firm is trying to sort things out.

Having read the multitude of positive comments on my choice of accountant in these forums; I hope that I've just fallen through the net.

Cheers anyway! It's nice to have such a helpful response.