As a business owner, you will face many big decisions when it comes to the running of your business. One of these many big decisions, is when and what to outsource. When it comes to outsourcing, you want to make sure you are appointing and delegating to a business, or service provider who you can trust and can be assured that they will do a great job.
This is especially true when it comes to outsourcing anything financial! That’s why it can be frustrating when things don’t run smoothly. Here are the most annoying things about accountants.
- Poor Value for Money
Choosing to outsource is a big commitment, and not just when it comes to trusting an outsider with your businesses’ financial matters, but with money too. That is why it is so frustrating to outsource and find that you aren’t getting great value for money.
Some accountants or bookkeepers will do the bare minimum or lack depth of knowledge in key areas. Which means often, they get stuck on a matter themselves. It can be found that some accountants will be concentrating on compliance, rather than being able to offer core advisory services. What does this mean for your business? It means that you haven’t got that key guidance which can help propel your business forwards financially.
When you outsource, you don’t want to then find out that they are unable to deliver services you expect. That is why here at McCarthy Browne, we pride ourselves in being experts in the field. Learning should never stop, and that is why we are constantly studying everything there is in financial matters. This way we can guide our clients and offer the best advice.
2. Lacking in Technological Advances
Technology is forever evolving. This can be true for accounting software too. Gone are the days where financial matters were entered into Excel. Nowadays there are some great software platforms especially for keeping on top of accounts.
When you outsource your bookkeeping or accounts to a professional, you should expect that they are all clued up on this software. It can be a real let down for some companies when they discover that they’re not. Outdated systems are used too often, and that’s when mistakes can be made.
At McCarthy Browne, we are certified Xero and Quickbooks Advisors and we also use FreeAgents software as well.
Which means that you can set your worries aside, as we advance alongside technology.
3. Poor Service
Another annoying thing about accountants is that often businesses find that they receive poor client service. Ask yourself, is your accountant proactive or reactive?
What’s the difference, you may be wondering?
A reactive accountant responds to an issue when it’s already happened. Often this type of account only checks in when accounts or reviews of accounts are due, and not in between.
Our biggest value is to offer our clients a fantastic proactive service. This means we keep on top of your accounts, check in frequently and offer financial advice and guidance. That way, issues are avoided, as we keep an eye on your accounts, so if we spot one, we stop it in its track.
We believe that an accountant should respond promptly to messages, we know how important your financial matters are to you. That’s why we get back to you within one working day. Accountants and bookkeepers shouldn’t be hard to get hold of, after all you are entrusting them with your financial matters!
At McCarthy Browne, not only can we complete the simple tasks on time, but we can help with bigger projects too.
Unfortunately, we have heard of small to medium businesses suffering because they weren’t given the right financial guidance. We are passionate about numbers, as well as client care. Following up advice to issues as well as future guidance should come natural to anyone passionate about their service. So, it’s sad to see so many suffer when they aren’t given the right accountant service.
Have you recently reflected on the service you’re getting from your accountant or bookkeeper?
Perhaps you haven’t made the commitment to outsource yet. But when you do, or when you are reflecting, ask yourself;
- Do they offer great value for money? Finances matter. Don’t waste yours on a poor service. You should get full value from what you pay.
- Have they trained and got confidence using the right software for your business?
- What is the client service like? Yes, it’s important to be friendly but check out how proactive they are. If you haven’t yet outsourced, don’t be afraid to ask for a testimonial or references. It’s important to entrust the right person and accountant with your financial matters.
Picking the right accountant is the difference between getting by and succeeding. Let us help propel your business forward, get in touch with McCarthy Browne today. As you can see, we are passionate about providing the right service, which fits your business’ needs.