9 signs of a bad accountant – what about you?
One of the podcasts I enjoy listening to is Guy Kingston’s Antidote to Business Advice - Mind Your Own Business. I don’t often agree with him but I like the style of the show and particularly enjoy John Richards‘ contributions to the debates.
I’ve just found Guy’s Mind Your Own Business Blog and his current posting titled: 9 SIGNS OF A BAD PR AGENT
The thought immediately occurred to me that most of these would equally be signs of a bad accountant. What do you think? I’ve added my comments in square brackets.
1 To demand to be paid by the hour rather than quote for a job [Yup. I'm beginning to come round to the view that this is a tough one to argue to a new client who wants a recurring service]
2 To not set specific objectives [No point quoting a fee or starting work without being clear what the client wants and needs]
3 To start doing his own thing rather than what you asked him to do [If you need to do more than the client has asked for, best to get authority beforehand rather than doing the work and trying to bill for something that client didn't ask for and wasn't aware he needed]
4 To boast about big-name contacts [perhaps less likely with accountant. If you're going to try to evidence your credibility it will often be best to talk about other clients that are similar in some way to the person you're talking to]
5 To show a lack of urgency and disrespect for deadlines [ok - this is more likely to be the client than the accountant]
6 To make elementary spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in press releases and publications [letters, accounts, emails and reports]
7 To be vague [like, you know 
]
8 To spend time and effort on elaborate plans rather than making phone calls [perhaps the equivalent here is when the accountant makes grand promises and has big ideas during a meeting but doesn't follow through either at all or not on a timely basis]
9 To blame the client when things go wrong [ok - this one's specific to PR]
What do you think?
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i just closed an LLC, our CPA dropped the ball last year in filing personal and bus tax returns as well as resolving some state sales tax issues as promised. We can’t get any of our records back won’t return our calls, any ideas?
Sorry to hear of your problems Mary. I’m no expert on the position in the US. If you were in the UK I’d recommend choosing a new accountant and taking their advice as to what to do. They may have more success than you have done in getting what you need out of your current accountant.
I’m wondering how in this age of the financial downward spiral that a CPA can provide solid reassurance to his clients that things will get better. It just seems that television and radio seem to binge upon the gloom and fear of the public at large. The ripples from this fear mongering inevitably end up at the doorstep of financiers, CPA’s and other “money-folk”. I’m wondering what your take is on all of this?