New survey reveals accountants' wishes for their clients

Paying fees on time, providing the correct information when it is needed and blame culture were the top three items on accountants’ wish lists when they were asked what their clients could do better. That’s according to a recent snapshot poll by online accounting provider e-conomic.

Late payments

Late payment of fees was the biggest issue and was cited by 39% of respondents.

“While many clients will tell us that late payment and managing debtors is a major issue, they don’t seem to think that applies to us small firms of accountants – it’s a real problem getting clients to pay up on time,” said one respondent from a small three partner firm.

Chasing for information

Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) wanted to receive information from their clients in a more timely fashion. “I am forever chasing for information so that we can do the VAT return,” said another respondent.

A blame culture was a bugbear for 12% of respondents along with a variety of other issues which included “Expecting me to be available with no notice,” and “thinking I can magically reduce their tax bill.”