Things to consider before hiring an accountant…
There are a number of important points to consider before hiring yourself an accountant, and it goes way beyond how much they're going to charge you.
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1. Who is doing your work?
Is your work being passed off to a junior whom you've never met, or is it being outsourced to another country to have your tax compliance done? We believe it's important that you know who you're paying to do your job, and feel secure in knowing it's being done correctly.
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2. Do they have capacity?
Some accounting firms have worked hard over the years to build a large client base, and we congratulate them! But be sure to enquire whether they are going to have the time and resources to complete your work, and give you, the client, the attention you deserve.
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3. Are they available year-round?
We have previously discussed the importance of having open communication between accountant + client. So ask, will they take your calls throughout the year when they're not preparing your end of year tax?
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4. Do they have the correct skills?
Some business' tax obligations are simple are straight forward, others aren't. Ensure that the accountant you're hiring knows the in's and out's of your field, to make sure your work is done correctly, and you get the best possible outcome.
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5. Will you be forced to use a particular software?
At Freedom Advisory, we do have a preference for Xero but that does not mean we will force you to use it. If something better suits your business then we are happy to make the recommendation.
There are of course, other things to consider, we just feel that these five points are often overlooked during the hiring process. At the end of the day, we recommend to do your research, and ask as many questions as possible.
