Accountants "most valued" business advisors

Accountants are seen as the most valuable professional advisors to small businesses, according to a new poll.

The survey by financial advisors' website Unbiased.co.uk shows 21 per cent of these companies believe their number crunchers offer wise counsel.

Of the 54 per cent of SME owners who had sought guidance on accountancy and book-keeping issues, 48 per cent said their accountant had saved them money in the long run and 47 per cent felt they had helped them understand the UK's complex tax system.

However, while business owners appreciated having a good accountant for advice, they ultimately saw themselves as the best source of business know-how, with 31 per cent rating their own judgement as the most valuable tool when running a company.

Karen Barrett, Unbiased.co.uk's chief executive, said: "While some business owners value their own judgement over anyone else's, when it comes to the running of their business it's important to seek professional advice."