Finding an Accountant

Do You Actually Need an Accountant?

Honestly? It depends on your situation.

You can probably do it yourself if:

• You have one source of self-employed income
• Your expenses are straightforward (mileage, tools, office supplies)
• You're comfortable with numbers and deadlines
• You use software that handles the calculations and filing

You probably want an accountant if:

• You have complex income (multiple businesses, rental property, CIS, foreign income)
• You're VAT-registered or close to the threshold
• Your structure is outside Vecti's self-employed/CIS scope
• You're going through a big change: starting out, scaling up, or winding down
• You'd rather spend your time earning money than thinking about tax
• You want someone to tell you what you can claim, not just record what you already know

There's no shame in either approach. The question is whether the accountant saves you more money and stress than they cost.

What Does an Accountant Actually Do?

For self-employed people, a typical accountant will:

• Prepare your tax return review your income and expenses, check you've claimed everything you can, and file it with HMRC
• Handle MTD submissions submit your quarterly updates and Final Declaration if you're covered by Making Tax Digital
• Tax planning advise on things like pension contributions, equipment write-offs, and timing of income to reduce your tax bill
• Answer questions "Can I claim this?" "Should I register for VAT?" "What happens if I miss the deadline?"
• Deal with HMRC if HMRC sends you a letter, your accountant can handle it

Some accountants offer bookkeeping as well (keeping your records up to date throughout the year). Others just do the year-end work and assume you'll bring them tidy records.

What Should You Pay?

Accountant fees for self-employed people vary a lot depending on complexity, region, and whether you want bookkeeping, VAT support, or year-round advice.

Ask how the fee changes if you add bookkeeping, VAT returns, payroll, or year-round support. The useful comparison is not the cheapest headline number. It is whether the scope, turnaround time, and communication style fit your business.

Get the scope and pricing model in writing before you commit. A fixed fee can be easier to budget for, but the important part is understanding what is included, what triggers extra charges, and how often you can ask questions during the year.

What to Look For

Qualifications

Look for one of these professional bodies:

• ICAEW Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
• ACCA Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
• CIOT Chartered Institute of Taxation
• ATT Association of Taxation Technicians
• AAT Association of Accounting Technicians

Anyone can call themselves a "tax adviser" or "bookkeeper." The qualifications prove they've passed exams and follow professional standards. If something goes wrong, you have a complaints process.

Relevant experience

An accountant who mostly handles limited companies may not know the nuances of self-employment. Ask specifically about self-assessment for sole traders, CIS (if you're a subcontractor), VAT (if you're registered or close to the threshold), Making Tax Digital, and your specific industry.

Communication

You want an accountant who:

• Replies to emails within a reasonable time (not three weeks)
• Explains things in plain English, not jargon
• Is proactive and tells you about deadlines and opportunities, not just responds when you ask
• Uses modern software (not a shoebox of receipts)

Red Flags

Watch out for:

• No qualifications Anyone can hang out a sign. Check they're registered with a professional body.
• Guarantees of big refunds No honest accountant can promise a specific refund before seeing your records.
• No clear pricing model "It depends" is not a useful commercial answer. Get the scope and charging basis in writing before you commit.
• They want to do everything by post It's 2026. Your accountant should be comfortable with digital tools.
• They can't explain what they're doing If you ask "why did my tax bill go up?" and they can't explain it clearly, find someone who can.

How Vecti Helps

Vecti helps you work with an accountant inside the same system:

• Invite your existing accountant directly into Vecti
• Share your records cleanly without emailing spreadsheets back and forth
• Use accountant profiles and services where those discovery and service flows are live in your version of Vecti
• Connect your records When you choose an accountant, they can access your Vecti data directly. No emailing spreadsheets.
• Keep control You see everything your accountant sees. No black box.

Whether you do your tax yourself or work with an accountant, Vecti gives you the tools to stay on top of your finances. Today, the safest route is to invite your existing accountant directly. Broader discovery flows roll out separately.