The fulfilment you get from your self-employed career is closely correlated to the kind of relationship you have with your accountant. This is the person you place in charge of your financial wellbeing, after all. If you’ve been freelancing for some time, you’ll already know that organising your finances becomes considerably more complicated the bigger you get and the more clients you take on. Having a proficient accountant batting for you isn’t just advantageous; it’s essential.
But what sort of attributes should you look for in a contractor accountant? It’s an important question, and one this blog seeks to answer…
Professionalism
You can tell a lot about an accountant from the way they conduct themselves, the appearance of their office and website, and their client manner. If they exude professionalism and treat their work with seriousness and intent, you’ll experience the very best levels of client care from start to finish.
Expertise
When you’re shopping for an accountant, treat it a bit like a recruitment process; shortlisting those with the right qualifications.
Ideally, you need someone who has the accreditation to reflect their expertise. If an accountant can’t prove they have the necessary knowledge to help, how can you expect them to offer the very best advice available?
Communication
You should never have to call your accountant regularly to find out where you stand. Earning a living as a self-employed professional involves a lot of hard work and pressure, so chasing your accountant shouldn’t be something you have to worry about.
An excellent accountant will keep you updated and touch base frequently to ensure you remain permanently in the loop.
Clarity
When you interact with an accountant for the first time, pay close attention to how clear and concise they are from the off-set. If they are able to explain everything to you in layman’s terms and ready to draft a well-thought-out plan of action right away, you’ll know they’re a strong candidate. Clarity is crucial from the very beginning.
Also remember that tucking hidden fees into the small print is an unfortunate common practice in the financial industry. Be sure that the price you see is the price you pay before you sign on the dotted line.
Reputation
Word travels. Ask around other freelancers and contractors for their own experiences and use this feedback to help you narrow down your choices. It’s also worth looking across the web for reviews from former and/or current clients.
It’s true that every self-employed worker has their own set of unique circumstances, but you can use an accountant’s general reputation to determine whether an initial enquiry is worthwhile.
There are all kinds of excellent accountants out there, but many of them spend much of their time catering for big firms and small companies. What you really need is a specialist in the contracting and freelancing arena: a team like Bright Ideas Accountancy.
We know how to take financial care of self-employed clients, offering a friendly, expert service that offers total peace of mind and reassurance. Learn more about how we can help you personally by getting in touch today.
