10 Questions to ask before
hiring an accountant!
Expanding the world of opportunity
The Red Sky Partnership
Red Sky House
Fairclough Hall
Halls Green
Hertfordshire
SG4 7DP
T: 01462 791079
E: info@redskypartnership.co.uk
http://www.redskypartnership.co.uk/
Finding the right accountant for
your business isn’t always easy,
but it’s always worth the effort.
Asking these ten questions will
ensure you find the accountant
that is right for your business.
Question 1: What are your credentials?
Unfortunately there are people that practice accountancy
and book keeping that have no formal education or licence
in accountancy. To avoid falling fowl to one of these
bogus practitioners it is important that you ask to see your
accountant’s credentials. A verified accountant is more likely
to benefit your business in the best possible way.
“At The Red Sky Partnership
we are proud that our service
is of an exceptional standard
and that we are members
of CIMA & the Federation of
Taxation Advisors”
http://www.redskypartnership.co.uk/
Question 2: Can you provide me at least 5
references that have been using your services for
Question 3: Do you understand not only my
more than 10 years?
business type, but also the industry I am in?
Checking an accountant’s references is one of the
For the generalist accountant it can be difficult to offer
important steps in the selection process. Whilst it
a bespoke service. It is important to establish how
may be rare, professionals have been known to
well they understand your business in order for you
misrepresent their backgrounds and credentials.
to determine if you’re comfortable with them as your
accountant. Make sure that you have clear goals for
“At The Red Sky Partnership we know how
your business and that your prospective accountant
important getting your accounting and
understands them.
bookkeeping right is and our accuracy of 99%
shows just how serious we take this matter.
“At The Red Sky Partnership we specialise in
References are available upon request, who will be
understanding that niche markets are where the
more than happy to share with you how dedicated
majority of our clients operate, we place huge
we are to providing the highest level of quality and
value in continually learning and refining our
customer service.”
understanding of our clients businesses and
marketplaces.”
Question 4: How can you consider my specialist
“At The Red Sky Partnership we provide a complete
needs?
problem solving solution suite of services which
If you are anticipating some unusual accounting
have a direct positive impact on profits.”
problems in your business, you should find an accountant
with specialised training or experience.
Question 6: How often do your existing clients get
“At The Red Sky Partnership we invest the time
audited?
necessary to learn about our clients and their
By asking the accountant this question, you will reveal
businesses so we can help mitigate problems and
how knowledgeable your accountant is. Another point to
uncover potential pitfalls before they become a risk.”
raise is if they are conservative when it comes to claims
or if they push as much as legally possible for their
Question 5: Can you give problem solving advice?
clients.
It is essential to determine whether your accountant
“At The Red Sky Partnership, our clients enjoy peace
will be able to give problem solving advice and/or have
of mind that less than 1% of our clients get audited,
access to proven resources to solve any problems.
and that we provide an affordable insurance policy
Without this you will not be getting the support you
to mitigate any costs.”
could with a good accountant. For instance, look for an
accountant who understands the difference between
strategic planning and business planning and who has
access to business development tools, tax mitigation
strategies and can help you to drive your business
forward.
http://www.redskypartnership.co.uk/
Question 7: What experience do you have?
Find out how long the accountant has been in business. Is the firm up to date with
the latest rules and regulations? Ask for references and make an effort to call those
references.
“At The Red Sky Partnership we’ve been providing an accounting service for
12 years and are always happy to provide references.”
Question 8: What will your service cost?
By clarifying the cost of services from the outset, you can avoid hidden charges.
Ask the accountant what you can expect in regards to fees, as some firms will round
up to the nearest hour whether you’ve spoken to them for five or fifty five minutes.
At the same time be careful to consider the quality of service as the cheapest price
is not always the best option, especially when you are considering the financial affairs of your business. A good accountant will be able to demonstrate their worth by
detailing exactly how they will make and save you money in the long run.
“At The Red Sky Partnership we offer a transparent accounting service
which exceeds what most other accountants are capable of. Accounting and
Bookkeeping are just part of our total service and our key focus is using our
services to help your business excel.”
Question 9: How do you communicate with your clients?
In any working relationship communication is key to its success, the role of accountant
and client is no different. Accountants can be unreliable communicators, so if you want
to keep your finger on the pulse and know exactly what your accountant is doing for you
on a day to day basis, you need to set some ground rules regarding communication. Ask
if you should take the lead regarding meetings to discuss reviews and planning sessions.
Can you trust your accountant to act independently on your behalf for the best of your
business? Do they have a newsletter you can see? Do they supply guides and information packs relevant to you?
“At The Red Sky Partnership, we make communication No.1, we’ve not only developed a comprehensive range of guides and information packs, we’ve listened to
our clients and have developed services and products to meet their needs. Go to
http://www. redskypartnership -resources.com/services.html to find out what sets
us apart from the competition and how we can deliver exception solutions.”
http://www.redskypartnership.co.uk/
Question 10: Can you deal with my Personal Taxes and how
much can you potentially mitigate?
Be careful of accountants who only offer basic tax advice and processing. Whilst there are many advantages of having your accountant file your business taxes and your personal taxes, ensure that
your accountant is able to file both and knows of all the available
strategies to mitigate your tax where possible.
“At The Red Sky Partnership we only work with the leading UK
Tax advisors and Barristers to offer our clients a comprehensive tax mitigation service. Using our services you can legally
mitigate a huge proportion of your tax bill. Find out more at
http://www. redskypartnership -resources.com/services.html”
Finding the right accountant for your
business could take a lot of effort,
time and error, but if you seriously
want an accountant who can
confidently answer these 10 questions
then let The Red Sky Partnership
reveal your best solution. To arrange
your risk free complementary
financial review, simply call us on
01462 791079, e-mail us at info@
redskypartnership.co.uk or request
yours at
http://www. redskypartnership
-resources.com/
financialreview.html
There is absolutely
10 Questions to ask before
hiring an accountant!
Expanding the world of opportunity
The Red Sky Partnership
Red Sky House
Fairclough Hall
Halls Green
Hertfordshire
SG4 7DP
T: 01462 791079
E: info@redskypartnership.co.uk
http://www.redskypartnership.co.uk/