It’s that time of year again. When love is in the air, cupid’s arrows are flying, and the supermarket greeting card aisle is consistently heaving! So heaving in fact, that over 25 million cards are sent in the UK every year. Valentine’s is always a special time to celebrate the love in your life. It’s also a very good time of year to look for an accountant who will show you the love, care, and dedication you need.
After all, a great accountant can help you manage your money, reduce your stress, and set you up for financial success. You want to make sure though that you find the perfect match for your specific business or personal needs. There’s no point going with the first accountants you find on a quick Google search. You’re going to want to do your research and carry out some thorough background checks, as you would do for a first-date on Tinder. I mean, you don’t want to end up with any old Tom, Dick, or Harry, you deserve better than that.
Here’s some of the main things to consider helping you find the perfect accountant for you and your business…
Determine your needs
Before you start your search, figure out exactly what it is you need and require from an accountant. Are you looking to take your business to the next level of growth? Do you need help with taxes? Bookkeeping? Business forecasting? Auditing? Going digital?
At Nordens, when we speak to people who are thinking about coming to join us, we want to gage exactly what it is they want. Sometimes all that takes is some casual questions, whilst for others their needs develop over time after seeing what we can do to benefit your business and finances. It’s important to always be clear, especially from the start, about what you desire.
Pinning down precisely what you need is the first step in your journey in finding the perfect match. Besides, everyone has a type on paper, don’t they?
Ask for referrals
Nowadays, when someone requires a service then the very first thing they do is go online. Whether that be through a search engine, TikTok, Instagram, or whatever platform they trust in. Whilst this is all well and good, having the best SEO or the most followers doesn’t always equate to having the highest quality service.
Word of mouth is a powerful tool. Ask your friends, family, and colleagues if they have a trusted accountant they can recommend. At Nordens, we pride ourselves on a high-referral rate because ultimately, we care about our clients. Often the best advertisement for a professional service is simply doing an amazing job and looking after your current client base. This is evident when you speak to all our clients, and this is never going to change.
Check their accountant credentials
As stated beforehand, you’re going to want to do your research. When you do find an accountant who looks a good match, you want to make sure they’re the real deal and not out to take you for a ride.
It’s imperative to check out they have the proper certifications, such as a AAT (Association of Accountancy Technicians) or CIMA (Chartered Institute of Accountants). This ensures the basics, in that they have the necessary knowledge, qualifications and experience to handle your finances. You’re also going to want to read reviews, seek out customer feedback and guarantee their the right fit for you.
Location, location, location
Do you want an accountant who works locally, or are you comfortable with someone who works remotely? This all depends with what you want from your accountant. Do you require someone to take care of your tax returns and look after your financials with not that much communication? Or do you need someone to be more hands on and who’s always keeping you in the loop?
Make sure you choose an accountant who is accessible and easy to communicate with and knows exactly your preferences. In this day and age, having someone remotely take care of your finances is completely fine. Alternatively, you may require someone who is more local and willing to meet up on a regular basis. At Nordens, we have clients from all over the world, including those who live within two shakes of a lamb’s tail from our offices. It’s important to cater for exactly what the client needs, and we do just that.
Schedule a consultation with the accountant
Lastly, you’ve made it this far. You’ve sourced out an accountant, done your homework and believe you’ve found your ideal suitor. That doesn’t mean you should just ring them up and hire out a service straight off the bat. Before you commit to an accountant, we always recommend to schedule in a consultation. This will enable you to discuss your needs, your situation and also to get a feel for their personality and communication style.
Accountants like ourselves are proactive and we may see a gap or something in your business when talking to you. Often when we talk to prospective clients, they’re unaware about certain benefits or cost-saving methods we can help implement.
When you’ve had your consultation or meeting, make sure you feel comfortable and confident in their abilities. A great accountant can be a true love connection for your finances so choose with your head and your heart.
We hope this has outlined to you some of the things to consider this Valentine’s Day on how to find your perfect accountant. If you’d like to know any further information on anything mentioned, or anything accounting related for that matter, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us at Nordens, where one of our trusted advisors would be happy talking you through your query.
