Further demands for accountants to be legally recognised

Date: 13th August 2008

The campaign to give the term 'accountant' legal protection seems to be gaining ground.

Earlier this month, the Liberal Democrats' deputy leader sponsored an early day motion in parliament to have the term 'accountant' legally recognised.

Now, a group of accountants from the north-east of England have said that protection is needed to ensure small businesses and sole traders have access to the best possible tax advice and help.

In an interview with LDP Business, Ilyas Patel, a spokesperson from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the north-west, explained that recent data supported the theory that small businesses tended to view their accountant as one of their most trusted advisers.

"When people seek the help of an accountant and depend on the advice they get, they have no effective redress against unqualified practitioners for incompetent or unprofessional work," he added.

"Parallels can be drawn with many other professionals such as lawyers and doctors who must have recognised qualifications and keep their knowledge up to date."

A recent petition posted on the government's Number Ten website calling for the term accountant to be protected has already attracted some 4,000 signatures.