Not all accountants are the same. And if the only time you hear from yours is when your tax return is due, it might be worth asking whether you’re getting the value you’re paying for.
There is a significant difference between an accountant who processes your paperwork and one who actively helps you pay less tax, understand your numbers, and make better decisions in your business. Here’s what a genuinely proactive accountant should be doing for you.
Talking to you about tax before the bill arrives
If you’re only finding out what you owe when the deadline is close, that’s too late to do anything about it. A good accountant should be having conversations with you about your likely tax position throughout the year, not just at the end of it. That forward planning is what gives you options and options are what save you money.
Telling you how to pay yourself efficiently
If you run a limited company and nobody has ever sat down with you to talk through salary and dividends, that is a conversation worth having. Getting the balance right between the two can make a meaningful difference to your tax bill every single year. It’s not complicated, but it does need to be done with someone who understands your numbers. We often are doing this in the background without you even noticing, but its always worth a quick chat to check!
Flagging what you can claim
You shouldn’t have to come to your accountant with a list of questions about expenses. A proactive accountant should be prompting you, especially when your circumstances change. Starting to work from home, buying a new vehicle, taking on a member of staff, investing in training, all of these have tax implications that your accountant should be flagging, not waiting for you to ask about.
We include a tax effiency check in all accounts and tax returns we complete, so you know we’re catching any possible tax savings for you.
Actually explaining your accounts to you
Receiving a set of accounts as a PDF with no explanation is not good enough. You should understand what your numbers mean, what your profit margin is telling you, whether your cashflow is healthy, and what the figures mean for your ability to grow. Your accountant should be translating the numbers into plain English, not filing them away and moving on.
Checking in more than once a year
A single annual call is a transaction, not a relationship. The most valuable thing a good accountant provides is ongoing support, someone who knows your business, understands your goals, and is available when you need to make a decision. That kind of relationship pays for itself many times over.
So what should you do if this doesn’t sound like your accountant?
Start by asking better questions. Next time you speak to your accountant, ask them directly: what could I be doing differently to reduce my tax bill this year? What am I missing? How should I be paying myself? Their answers, and the way they respond, will tell you a lot about the level of service you’re receiving.
And if the relationship genuinely isn’t working for you, it might be time to look for something better. Switching accountants is simpler than most people think, and the right accountant will make the process straightforward.
One huge cavet to all this is, if you’re paying the lowest possible price, you’re probably getting the most basic service. Proactive planning, support, insight and attention does cost money. Often business owners need to have the awkward conversation with themselves or do I want cheap or do I want extras? Its very rare you’ll find both done well.
What good looks like
At 2 Sisters Accounting we work differently. We believe that our job isn’t just to file your returns, it’s to help you understand your finances, pay the right amount of tax (not a penny more), and feel genuinely supported as a business owner. We check in with our clients, we explain things in plain English, and we’re here when you need us, not just at year end.
We also accept some people never want to hear from us other than to get their accounts sorted, and if that’s you, we’re fine with that as well. We’re here as much or as little as you need. We work that out with you.
If that sounds like the kind of support you’ve been looking for, we’d love to have a conversation.
