Hire accountant in which country?

In my mind, our tax situation for 2011 is going to be pretty well complicated, and I'm seeking advice from which country we should hire an accountant?

From Jan 1 to June 19, my husband (a dual UKC/USC) was working/living in the US.
From June 20 to Nov. 30, my husband was working in the UK.

From Jan 1 to Oct. 13, I was in the US, and was receiving Unemployment Insurance.
From Oct. 14th til we leave on Dec. 6th, I have been living in the UK & I have not been working or receiving income of any sort.

We took a full disbursement of both of our 401(k)'s in order to relocate overseas (and now to move back).

On Dec. 6th, we are returning to the US, where my OH will take up employment on Dec. 12th.

I don't know if we should hire an accountant in the US to do our taxes, or someone in the UK. I've never met/heard of any accountants in our local area in the US that would be versed in foreign income and the UK/US tax treaties. And I think as well, that my OH may be due a refund on taxes he paid in the UK since he didn't work a full year here, so I'd like to know how that would affect the whole picture.

Any advice anyone?

I guess no one can give any advice?

When you were working here, were you both PAYE? Then I don't think you'd have to do anything with taxes here, it's in the US where you have to file. And really, it's only a couple of different forms re residency. I did my taxes on my own when I first came over and spent about equal times here and there; and if I can understand the forms, any trained CPA can!

So my unprofessional advice is to get a US accountant when you get your W2s in the new year. 

There is a thread in the tax area somewhere where folks posted recommendations on dual qualified accountants. Personally I have found you are better off getting someone in the uk. And you are worth filing a uk return for a refund.

There is a thread in the tax area somewhere where folks posted recommendations on dual qualified accountants. Personally I have found you are better off getting someone in the uk. And you are worth filing a uk return for a refund.

I'll have a look for that thread then, I also got the names of a couple of US based firms from the Britishexpats forums. I'll probably give a call to both and see what kind of quotes we will get.

If we selected a UK-based firm, does anyone know if we'd have to send them the originals of our W2s and 1099s, or could we simply scan and email them? I'd rather not have the chance of them getting lost in the post on the way here to the UK.

Sending scans is totally normal.

ETA:  Here was the thread I was thinking of but others are out there.  http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=67519.0