Accountant taking the mick?

S

shouldknow

Guest
I've just had a conversation with my employer. She's foreign, and managing a start-up company.

Basically, I think her accountant is taking the mick. Doing a 'start your own business' course, she learned that employers needed to have a health and safety statement. She wrote to her accountant to verify this is the case. He wrote back one word - 'yes'.

For this email, and for supplying contact details for 2 people - a person to write a safety statement*, and a lawyer - he's issued an invoice for €1,200. Now, I'm no expert on accountancy, but this seems off the scale. Can anyone familiar with the field advise me on two things: Is the accountant having a laugh? and does this violate any codes of practice?

* this chap is seriously dodgy himself, which is how our conversation took place.
 
That seems so off-the-wall that I have to wonder.

Are you sure that the invoice is for the service you describe?
 
did she also get a bill from the lawyer and the person who wrote the safety statement?
 
Hi

I have to agree with Padraigb.

Are you sure you are telling the whole extent of the work involved? What was detailed on the invoice itself?

Kind Regards

dbran
 
Why not just download one from the internet?

Here's one for the UK
[broken link removed]
 
Perhaps an itemised invoice would clarify. It is highly unlikely that the fee quoted was just for that. I have never heard of any professional charging for supplying contact details for other people.
 
OP, have your employer seek assistance from persons that are not going to tip her off. As others have stated a Health & Saftety statement can be downloaded from the WEb, and as for a kawyer, there are so many seeking work at the moment that she really does not have to pay a finders fee.
 
The invoice literally says 'management services' and €1,200. My blood is boiling.
 
shouldknow said:
The invoice literally says 'management services' and €1,200. My blood is boiling.
Click to expand...

A specific breakdown of the "management services" into its specific components needs to be obtained before payment. The best tax minds in the country charge about €300-350 per hour. It's hardly likely that even if this gentleman came within that definition that it would take 3.5-4 hours to say "yes" in an email and provide 2 addresses. A face to face is necessary I think.
 
As well as looking for those already stated your boss would be better off seeking a new accountant.
 
why did your employer go to the accountant looking for a h&s statement? i am an accountant and no one has ever asked me for one. if they did i would tell them this is not what i do and suggest they go elsewhere. the accountant would be the last person i would ask for a h&s statement. also why did your employer not agree a price for the h&s statement before they asked some one to do it? your employer wont be in business long with this carry on.
 
My clients ask me all types of questions. If I cannot answer them myself I refer them to an other specialist. You cannot leave your client without an answer. I encourage my clients to ask me questions. I get a better feel for their business and indeed I often learn more myself. As I have previously stated people are foolish to allow this type of behaviour. Offer the accountant an opportunity to withdraw their bill. If not get a detailed breakdown. If still unhappy contact the accountants supervisory institute. If the accountant is not qualified learn from this story and get a qualified accountant. Get a detailed breakdown of his charges including his charge out rates and if an all inclusive fee is quoted find out exactly what is covered. Also in this technological advanced age dont pay Dublin prices unless you have to have a Dublin accountant.
 
umop3p!sdn said:
Why not just download one from the internet?

Here's one for the UK
[broken link removed]
Click to expand...
Taking a UK template for a safety statement is not a great idea if you want be covered under Irish legislation.

mercman said:
As others have stated a Health & Saftety statement can be downloaded from the WEb
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A set of accounts can be downloaded from the web. Would you recommend that the accountant download any set of accounts and present them as relevant for your company?

You cannot download a safety statement for your business from the web. The web cannot competently assess the risks involved in your business.

But it does defintely sound like the original accountant is taking the mick.
 
Complainer said:
<snip>
You cannot download a safety statement for your business from the web. The web cannot competently assess the risks involved in your business.
<snip>
Click to expand...

A well-integrated document is always useful and it gives you a form of baseline comparison.
I have seldom found UK documentation to be inadequate, just different.

:)

ONQ.
 
onq said:
A well-integrated document is always useful and it gives you a form of baseline comparison.
I have seldom found UK documentation to be inadequate, just different.
Click to expand...
Would you use a UK template to assess whether an Irish building meets Irish building regs? Using a template safety statement is as valuable as using a template snag list or a template contract or a template business plan. If the person filling in the template doesn't understand what they are doing, the template does more harm than good.
 
shouldknow said:
He wrote back one word - 'yes'.

For this email, and for supplying contact details for 2 people - a person to write a safety statement*, and a lawyer - he's issued an invoice for €1,200.
Click to expand...

censuspro said:
If the employer is using a Big 4 firm then €1200 sounds about right.
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For what appears to be a one word email and 2 contact details? If that's about right then I need to shut up shop and go work for a big 4 firm right away.
 
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