How to Choose an Accountant

Running a small business can be hard. With staffing, products, regulations and marketing to think about, it stands to reason that you may not have the time or the expertise to think about your accounts in any great depth too.

That’s where a good accountant can come in. Good business accountants Oxford such as hazlewoods.co.uk/expertise/business-accountants/oxford/ can not only manage your bookkeeping and tax returns, they can also provide you with valuable insights into the health of your business and maximise your profits as much as possible.

Let’s have a look at how to go about choosing an accountant.

Work Out What You Need Them to Do

Consider what you need from an accountant. You may need simple bookkeeping services, tax filing, compliance and production of financial reports – or you may need more advanced accounting services such as chartered tax advice or credit control. Once you have scoped out your requirements, search for an accountant who offers what you need.

Accountants ought to be registered with a professional body such as the ACCA, according to their website.

Check Out the Costs

It’s well worth getting information on pricing before choosing a specific firm. While cheap seems appealing, it can be a false economy if the quality of the service isn’t good.

Communication

Open, easy communication with your accountant will be important going forwards, so it’s worth asking for an initial chat to scope out your requirements and see how they can assist you.

Ask Around

Word-of-mouth recommendations – particularly from other businesses within your sector – are fantastic when it comes to finding a good accountant. Otherwise be sure to check out online reviews so you can get a feel for a firm’s reliability.

Gather Key Information Together

Once you’ve selected your new accountant, spend some time gathering together the information that they will need to get started. This may include things like your national insurance number, company details, key company documents and any correspondence you have received from HMRC.