As you well know, a decent accountant worth their salt will be able to help transform your business. They will streamline your books, reduce the overall amount of tax that you will have to pay and often advise you on other ways to cut-back. But, are you getting the most out of your accountant? That’s not to suggest that perhaps your accountant isn’t going above and beyond for you, though that there are things that you might be able to do for yourself, that will in turn make your accounts job easier.
In this post we’re going to explore some ways in which you can easily get the most out of your accountant, – here’s how:
1 – Know Your Limits
We understand that your business is your baby, which is why it’s always difficult to delegate some of the more sensitive tasks to other people. However, it is important for you to know your strengths and to recognise your limitations in order for you to be able to operate at an optimum level of efficiency.
So, rather than tear your hair out, spending too much time on a task that you can’t wrap your head round, use an accountant!
2 – Help Yourself by Being More Organised!
You’re not going to get your money’s worth out of your accountant unless you optimise your time a little better. If your accountant has to go back and forth on a job, double checking information and requesting bits and pieces that you should have provided them in the beginning, then naturally there’s a lot of time going to waste. Time that your accountant could be spending on finding new and innovative ways to make and save you money!
3 – Be Prepared and Enter a Business Relationship with Realistic Expectations
Simply put, the more homework you do before having a sit down with a prospective accountant, the better the meeting will go. You’ll be able to discuss realistic benchmarks and get the most out of their expertise if you go in asking the right questions and with the appropriate information.
You might think, well surely, I’m paying my accountant to worry about these sorts of things and to a certain degree you are correct. However, as a business owner you should have a certain degree of knowledge and an evident amount of control if you want to maximise your efficiency.
4 – Take Your Time
While time is our most valuable commodity in business, it’s easy for people to rush and make silly mistakes. The pitfall with that is you only end up wasting more time (and resources in the long run) You don’t have to rush into every decision, particularly when there are finances involved. Always contact your accountant and seek their advice before making any major move!
Summary
Are you unhappy with your current situation? It might be worth exploring other avenues. Of course, have a read through these tips and try to work it out with your current accountant. It could be that things aren’t working due to a lack of communication, and that could be a fault on both parts, however if you try to make things work and you still have problems, it will be time to jump ship!
A reputable firm like Prime Numbers Accountants will go above and beyond to ensure that all your requirements are met and that your expectations are indeed, exceeded. Do your research, shortlist a few quality accountants and then see what your gut tells you!