How to change my accountant – considering switching?
Introduction
When it comes to changing service providers especially accountants, most people are often reluctant. Even with poor services and total dissatisfaction, most clients remain loyal to their accountants. This tendency might be as a result of certain perceptions that clients hold with regards to the whole process of changing an accountant.
These include;
- The notion that changing an accountant is a risky process.
- Doubting whether another accountant will be any more effective that the current one.
- The notion that changing an accountant is a difficult process.
In this article, I will provide information on how the process is undertaken, offer reasons as to why one should change their
accountant and offer a review of GM Professional Accountants.
How to change your accountant?
A clear procedure is provided for within the accounting profession on how one should change their accountant. At this point, I should mention that this process is common and legitimate accountants will take the whole process professionally.
The steps you are to follow as a client when changing you accountant are;
Give your accountant a notice.
This notice is written to the current accountant. It can be in form of an email. It details which companies you would like to move to new accountants. It also provides information on the date in which the move should be completed. In the notice, it is important that you provide information about the new accountant. The notice is important as your current accountant must have a written statement from you before they can move your financial records to another accountant.
Preparation of a professional clearance letter.
After you have provided your current accountant with a notice, your new accountant will usually send a written document to your
current accountant in order to request for a professional clearance. The accountant will request for professional clearance as well as any paperwork relevant to you from your outgoing accountant.
As part of due diligence, your new accountant will ask the current one whether there are reasons why they should not take you on as a client. The professional clearance letter also provides an avenue where the current accountant can point out issues they have had with the client. They include issues to do with the client’s honesty with regards to their finances. This serves to point out fraudulent clients.
I should point out that your current accountant may charge you a fee for this service especially when a lot of work is involved.
Transferring records and assignment of authority.
At this point, when everything else is complete and it is all in order, the outgoing accountants will transfer your financial records to the new accountant. This is usually an easy process. After the records have been transferred, you may now assign authority to the new accountants so as to allow them to handle your tax affairs including filing your tax returns.
When should you change your accountant?
In a case where your accountant is not providing tax planning advice, then it is time for a change. An accountant should offer
relevant advice on ways to reduce your tax bills. Your accountant should essentially help you pay the least amount of tax you are legally required to pay and not just filing tax returns.
For effective financial administration, communication between you and you accountant is key. Hence, if your accountant fails to pick your calls or takes too long to reply to your emails, then this is a red flag and it is time to look elsewhere.
For a case where your business might have outgrown your accountant, then it is time to get a new accountant. This can be signalled by your accounts becoming too complex for your accountant. It might also be the case that your accountant has outgrown you. This might be the case for a small business in whereby, a very large accounting firm might not offer you the best value for your money and as such you might want to get a different accountant.
Why you should choose GM Professional Accountants firm?
GM Professional Accountants is a well-established accounting firm based in London that offers a variety of financial services to businesses and individuals in various industries. The services include but are not limited to; accounting services and tax management services.
The firm also offers online accounting which increases flexibility for those in far-off areas. Another key aspect of the firm is that it offers adequate small business accounting ensuring that even for a small business, you get the relevant accounting services. The many 5-star reviews on google ratings from satisfied clients portray a well-structured firm where everyone gets the necessary attention ensuring seamless service delivery.
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