Finding the best accountant in London and the Southeast

Finding the best accountant in London and the Southeast is easier than you think.

Here are five things to look for when assessing your options.

Qualifications and credentials

Many business owners don’t realise that accountancy is not an accredited profession. In fact, anyone can call themselves an accountant without any qualifications or even experience. The result is that businesses can find themselves in financial trouble or facing compliance problems because their accountant doesn’t know what they are doing. Finding the best accountant in Kent means looking for firms that use qualified and experienced accountants.

There are a few different accountancy industry bodies in the UK:

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)

Chartered Institute of Tax Accountants (CIOT)

Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT)

Ask your accountant about their qualifications to get peace of mind that your chosen provider knows all the rules and regulations so you avoid trouble down the road.

Industry experience and specialisation

Some accountants support specific industries such as construction or creative industries. Having an accountant who specialises in your industry can be helpful if there are niche regulations you must adhere to. The best accountants will understand in detail how to optimise your business for tax purposes. They’ll help you with your pricing model and funding opportunities because they are knowledgeable in your industry. At Adams Accountancy, we work primarily with small, limited companies in a variety of industries with each of our accountants having a range of industry experience to draw from.

Reputation and reviews

Reputation is everything. It can be easily destroyed by unhappy clients so exceptional customer service is at the heart of everything we do. Many businesses looking for the best accountants in Kent will ask friends, family and other business owners for a recommendation. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of marketing.

If you don’t have anyone to ask directly, the next best thing is Google reviews or LinkedIn recommendations. You can see ours on Google, Trust Index or on our reviews page.

Look for genuine reviews which include more than just a star rating. Look for longer reviews which explain how the accountant helped the client and the benefits gained.

Communication skills and approachability

Clear and timely communication from your accountant is vital for the success of your business. Your accountant should be regularly reviewing your books, giving you feedback on what might need to be improved, where you could save money and highlighting any extra tax breaks you’re entitled to.

You should feel like you can contact your accountant at any time to ask questions about your bookkeeping, tax returns or other aspects of your business financial wellbeing. We’ve had clients switch to use purely because of inadequate communication with their previous accountant. Your accountant should not just be someone you speak to twice a year – once when they ask for your receipts and once when they send you their invoice. The best accountants are proactive, working in partnership with your business.

Range of services and fees

What do you need from your accountant? Some accountants offer a full-service including bookkeeping and a range of taxation support, while others stick just to tax returns. Visit your potential providers’ websites to find out what services they offer.

Here at Adams Accountancy, we offer annual accounts preparation, bookkeeping, management accounting, tax return preparation, VAT accounting, company set up, payroll services and individual tax planning such as capital gains tax.

Pricing can vary substantially between accountants and the cheapest may not be the best option. Think of your accountancy fees as an investment in your business rather than a cost. The best accountants are likely to be able to save you tax, help you find better funding deals and assist you with increasing your prices – chances are this can totally offset their invoice making working with them a no-brainer.

Services from the best accountants in London and the Southeast

Working with Adams Accountancy ensures you get excellent customer service every time you interact with us. Our knowledgeable and friendly team get great reviews.

Here’s a recent review from Tahi Rewiri: ‘Excellent Accountancy professionals that fulfil their practises to the highest standard. They have facilitated my last-minute requests on multiple occasions and the staff are always helpful and lovely. The Adams team are very reliable and efficient accountants that make my life so much easier. I highly recommend their service to everyone.’

If you’re unhappy with your current accountant, or you’re just starting out in business, give us a call on 01322 250 001 for a free, no-obligation chat to see if we might be the right accountant for you.