SWITCHING ACCOUNTANTS
DECISION TO CHANGE ACCOUNTANTS
Changing Accountants is a common decision a lot of small enterprises must go through in their business lifetime. Most Accounting firms are stagnant and do not evolve with their client’s business and hence leave business owners no choice. If you take the right approach, changing accountants is a very straight forward and simple process.
After switching several firms from other accountants, we have curated a simple process to make the transition as smooth as possible. It barely takes 3 touch points and can be done within a few business days.
HOW TO CHANGE ACCOUNTANTS
The step by step process to change an accountant is very straight forward. The first step is to identify the ‘why’ of switching your accountant. The second step is to find a better alternative to your previous accountant and schedule a meeting with them. Choosing the right Accountant can significantly boost your business velocity and help you focus more on business growth initiatives.
STEPS FOR CHANGING ACCOUNTANTS
FIND A NEW
ACCOUNTANT
To help you choose a better alternative than your previous accountant, here a few things to consider before making the transition.
• Fast Response and Dedicated Managers
There is a lot of back and forth between an accounting firm and clients. This can take the form of client meetings, emails, and phone conversations. Dedicated Accounts managers can help you make that process easier. At Clear House we offer unlimited support and Dedicated Accounts Managers to fulfill the communication need.
• Industry Experience and Accreditation
It is vital for your accountant to have relevant industry information and experience. If that is not the case, it will result in delayed updates and errors in filing your accounts. Sadly, there are many cases every year that result in firms being fined heavy sums because of accounting negligence. It can be remedied by vetting your accounting firm at the start.
• Accounting Reviews and Online Presence
Even if everything is right, it is vital for a business owner to check the reviews of their prospective accounting firm. Some good places to start are Vochedfor, QuickBooks and Xero. These are professional directories and are premium grade resources for business owners to read more about their future accounting firm.
INFORM YOUR CURRENT
ACCOUNTANT
After your have selected your next Accounting firm and done your due diligence, you need to speak to your previous accountant. This process will involve setting dates for departure, paying any unsettled dues and explaining the reason for leaving.
This is one of the hardest steps for major business owners, but a crucial one. Do not let awkwardness, get in the way of your business. Hesitating now can cost you a lot of money and time later.
SETTING EXPECTATIONS
AND GOALS
As you start off with your new accountants, be open about your expectations, needs and potential red flags. It is a good time to showcase your experience with your previous accounting firm, so that the same mistakes are not made in the future. At Clear House we do this during on onboarding session and have clients talk to us openly about their challenges and business expectations. This helps massively in the future for updating deadlines, protecting from unwanted investigations and delivering on time.
OUR PARTNERS
We partner with industry leaders to make sure you have access to the best resources and people. We are all about empowering our clients. Here’s proof:
