4 Tips on Choosing the Right Accountant For You

As a chartered accountant, in a world that isn’t really short of chartered accountants, one of the first things I find myself doing with prospective clients is explaining to them why I think that Anlo Financial is the right choice for them.  Of course I tell them we are an exceptional practice and that we are very good at what we do but putting the shoe on the other foot,  what should you be looking for in an accountancy practice?

Just because I can do a tax return and I know where to go to file a return doesn’t necessarily make me a good tax practitioner. LIkewise, the fact that I can use an accountancy package does not make me the world’s greatest bookkeeper.  Accountants and bookkeepers study long and hard to achieve qualification; we understand how tax laws work and we know what to do to ensure that we, and you, remain fully compliant with legislation.

Here are some tips to help you make the choice that is right for you:

Tip #1: Choose someone that is properly and appropriately qualified and can be held responsible for their actions. Many new clients come to us after having an horrific experience where they had to pay penalties and interest due to either

●       Lack of submission

●       Late submission

●       Inaccurate submissions

So often we hear that they tried to report the practitioner only to find out that they were never registered with any body i.e. SAICA, SAIPA, etc.

Tip #2: Look for someone that is not just reactive but proactive. You will be far better served by an accountant that takes the time to remind you of submission deadlines and other necessary tasks that need to be done.  You want someone who is on your side, making sure that what needs to be done gets done.

Tip #3: Choose someone that responds to emails or requests and doesn’t  wait ‘til after the deadline to come back with a response or questions; someone that wants to communicate with you and build a relationship, someone who cares about you and your business and doesn’t complain about how much work they have and that they need a holiday. If they want your business, they should have a smile on their face and make you feel welcome.  After all, your business is their business.

Tip #4: Find someone that feels like they are on your side. Trust between you and your accountant is vital - they may not always tell you what you want to hear, but you need to be assured that even when the news isn’t all good that they have your best interests at heart.  That is why it is important to develop a relationship with your accountant and that they understand you and how you do business. There is no reason why your practitioner should not take the time to;

1.      Make you feel comfortable with the relationship

2.      Do their utmost to give you the best tax position possible.

At Anlo we have worked hard from day one to put ourselves in our clients shoes and treat them as we would like to be treated. In helping you, the partners at Anlo are also running a business and we can relate to so many struggles that our clients are facing.

We would love to hear from your and see if we can help you so feel free to contactus@anlofin.com or 011 658 1324.