Halesowen accountancy firm Nicklin LLP has
welcomed reports that more and more companies in
the UK are considering using small and medium-sized
accounting firms for their audit work.
Experts have predicted a long-term shift in
the audit market, with the 'big four' firms reporting slower growth
than the rest of the market, as companies consider switching to
their smaller, and often less expensive, rivals.
Entrepreneur and star of
TV's Dragon's Den Peter Jones recently told Accountancy Age
magazine that he assigns a mid-tier firm for his
auditing, and feels they are better than the big
guys.
"I have a slightly different view
of what the accountancy profession is there to do. For me it isn't
necessarily a consultative business. What I want to do is phone my
firm of accountants and say, 'I need some specialist advice in this
area'," he said.
Many medium size accountancy
firms have all the expertise of the larger accountants,
but they tend to command smaller fees. They generally have a lower
level of staff turnover, ensuring clients' continuity in service,
and place a clear emphasis on a
client-focused approach, since client retention is
important.
Nicklin LLP
managing partner Harvey Owen said they
prided themselves on providing an approach that
was tailored to clients' specific needs and met their specific
requirements.
He added: "We really make an
effort to get to know our clients and their businesses, and they
all have a named contact here at Nicklin LLP who they can contact
if they have any problems or questions.
"There has certainly been an
increase in the number of companies putting their audit work out to
tender, allowing firms like us to compete on service and price,
where previously the company concerned may have used the same firm
for years and we wouldn't have had the opportunity to access that
business."