Find a Accountant in Southampton

Your expert Accountant will be able to advise you on the full range of services available and will be able to help you select the best financial services for your company. They will also be able to answer any questions you may have. Use Bark to get free quotes and find an accountant today.

The title 'Chartered Accountant' and the letters ACA or FCA, indicates that the person has undertaken a minimum of three years in-depth training, passed a series of examinations in financial management, auditing, business strategy and taxation as well as committing to continuing professional development.

As opposed to specialising in tax returns, a Chartered Accountant instead will focus on providing accurate records of all financial transactions for an individual or business. Consequently, this type of accountant is more likely to be found employed in a more commercial capacity.

Hiring the right Accountant for your business may take a bit of time. Who you choose to look after your accounts is vital, especially if you have plans to expand as you will need to look for someone who will get more involved in the financial side of things the bigger your company gets.

• Research - Start with the company’s website and look at the accounting services they offer with an eye on what you might need in the future. If you choose an accountancy firm that doesn’t have the expertise to help you as your business expands, you will end up needing to finding another accountant.

• Create a shortlist - Create a shortlist of three or four firms you
  think are a good fit and arrange face-to-face meetings with all of
  them. In addition to the fees, you need to find out about the
  services they provide, as well as their customer services.

• Fees - Some Accountants charge by the hour while others operate on a fixed-fee basis. You need to be clear before selecting an Accountant for your business on how their fees are calculated.

• Qualifications - It is important to ask questions about the
  qualifications and experience of the people who would be dealing with your accounts. You need to know that you could work with them, trust that they are on your side and are continually looking for ways of
  adding financial value to your company.

• Accounting software - You will want to check that any systems you use are familiar to the accounting firm. Your current method of financial reporting may not be the most effective one for your business and they may recommend systems that can do it better.

• Financial jargon - If you are not an expert on finance, your Accountant needs to understand this and be able to communicate with you in a clear and concise manner.

You can be confident that any of the Accountants listed on Bark will be a safe pair of hands for your finances.

Before you choose an Accountant, you could ask to see examples of their work, read testimonials and ask to see references of past work they have done.

The AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification is the minimum level of qualification required for most kinds of accountancy. To become a chartered accountant, you need to obtain higher level qualifications such as the ACA, ACCA or CIMA, which will allow you to become a chartered accountant.

You could also look at their profile page on Bark and view reviews from past customers as well as examples of work that they have completed. This might also help you get some ideas for the types of services you need.

Accountants offer a range of different services. These include:

• Accounting - All accountancy firms produce financial records, track your revenues and expenses and provide consulting on your business's overall financial health.

• Auditing - Many businesses require a periodic audit of their finances which may be a requirement of your investors or written into the bylaws of your incorporation.

• Tax Filing and Planning - Many accounting firms can ensure your financial reporting practices are compliant with current regulations, determine your company's tax liability and make sure you meet filing requirements and deadlines.

• Management Consulting - Many accounting firms offer business advisory services to help you with your business plan, evaluate your current operations, identify new opportunities, alert you to changes in the business or regulatory environment and offer practical advice to help your business be more efficient and successful.

• Speciality Services - Some offer services such as business valuation which helps determine what your business is worth should you be considering a merger, acquisition or sale. Some firms can offer fraud and forensic accounting services.