It is crucial to hire and choose the right accountants and auditors/accountancy firm for your company, no matter how big or small. Many people don’t realize that anyone can open a business, advertise as an accountant and call themselves a “comptroller”.
These are key factors to consider when choosing the right accountant to work for you if your UK-based business is located.
Qualifications.
The certification you should be looking for is Chartered, or Chartered Certified Accountancy. While anyone can call himself an accountant, only those who have successfully passed rigorous professional exams can call themselves chartered.
Chartered Accountants and Chartered Certified passed the exams of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales(ICAEW) and alternatively, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants [ACCA].
The ICAEW, which has more than one hundred twenty-five thousand members, is the largest professional accountancy organization in the European Union. The ICAEW is a reputable business qualification. Upon passing this exam institute member can call themselves a Chartered Accounting professional. They can use the letters ACA/FCA depending on their experience and length of membership.
ACCA offers Chartered Certified Accountant, which carries with them the letters ACCA/FCCA.
Qualified accountants should keep up-to-date their knowledge. CPD is shorthand for Continuing Professional Education. This is similar to the CPD required for other professions like surveyors. CPD requires that you spend a lot of time each year learning new things. You can do this by attending courses, self-study, or taking workshops. A chartered status is when the majority (usually 75%) of the owners or partners of an accounting firm are eligible to be called ‘Chartered Accountants.
While it is possible to use a chartered accounting firm for your accounts, you must have them audit your accounts in the UK if your business or company has a turnover of more than a certain level. However, only registered auditors can audit the accounts.