A CLIENT-FIRST, PROACTIVE APPROACH
I first moved to York in 2013 to study Experimental Physics at the University of York. As a boy, I gravitated towards maths and physics because they could explain and predict real world actions. For example, you can accurately predict where an arrow will land if you know the starting parameters when it was released.
Accountancy, like maths and physics, is a means to accurately explain and predict real world transactions. Your personal finance or business is the arrow, and my profession is the means for you as an individual or business to accurately predict where that arrow is going.
In training, the most common complaint I heard from customers was a lack of communication from accountants, which led to clients feeling confused, annoyed and ill-informed. The “service” aspect of financial services is often overlooked to focus on the sheer amount of technical knowledge required. Being good with numbers is one thing but the more important skill is being able to convey information clearly.
The skill of conveying complex information was a key aspect of my professional development as a physicist and accountant. It was in developing my communication skills that I found true joy in my profession. Connecting with people, sharing my knowledge and seeing the impact my work had, confirmed to me that accountancy was where I was meant to be.
The focus of Longs Accountancy is customer care. We care about our clients and show this by committing to open communication and continuous professional development. Let us take on the burden of complex accounting and tax rules, so that you can refocus on your customers and community.
What to Expect
We believe clarity builds confidence. To make things simple, here’s a step-by-step overview of how we’ll work together, from your very first conversation with us through to ongoing support.
1. First Contact
We love a good chat, knowing and caring about our clients accentuates the importance of our service. Our job is much more fun when we get along with our clients and we hope our first contact builds a good foundation for our working relationship.
2. Initial Meeting
Every new client gets a face-to-face meeting. It is an opportunity to properly introduce ourselves and the meeting will allow us to get down to the serious business of your finances. During this meeting we will get a full picture of your situation and give you an accurate quote for our services.
3. Onboarding
If you decide we are the accountants for you we will take you through our onboarding process from start to finish at the end of our first meeting. No messing about with a disjointed process, we will have prepped you on what documents we might need during our first contact.
4. Quick Turnaround
After the initial contact and face-to-face meeting, we will know all the information we need to complete your work. There is no hesitation. We will get started straight away.
5. Client Portal
Our client portal, accessible through our website, will be where we upload all sensitive forms, calculations and information. It is also a GDPR compliant space for you to remotely sign your tax returns from the comfort of your own home. You can also upload any sensitive information for us to view knowing that your documents are secure.
6. Payment Reminders
We will make sure you never miss a payment. We will send payment reminders 28 days before any deadline and then once a week thereafter.
Never again receive a late payment letter from HMRC.
7. Annual Review
A lot can change in 12 months, we will invite you to an annual
review to make sure the information we hold is up to date, we have all relevant
information for the current year, and we have a chance to identify any tax planning
opportunities. Not to mention we want to see you again and hear about what’s
important to you.