As you’re shopping around to find an accountant, you might like to ask some of these questions.  They’ll help you explore the accountant’s services, and understand more about the fees and administration involved in meeting your needs.

It’s a good idea to contact a number of accountants before choosing one to act on your behalf. Having a good working relationship is important, so if you first speak to a secretary when you call, don’t be afraid to ask for a minute or two of the accountant’s time.

What will you need me to provide?

Your accountant may ask you to provide original paperwork in a particular format, or may be happy to work with your own bookkeeping records – whether they are computerised or in hard copy form.

Will I need to set up new systems?

Some accountants insist on using a particular type of software to organise your accounts – such as payroll software.  Others may be able to prepare your accounts using their own systems.  It’s important to find out in advance if the accountant you’d like to use will want software to be installed onto your business systems.

How will I pay you – monthly, quarterly, or annually?

For basic accountancy, many firms provide a ‘menu’ of charges.  For more complex accountancy, it’s important to find out how your accountant will expect to be paid and with what level of frequency.

Which services do you offer?

Some accountants will focus on one area of accountancy, but others may offer a range of services – some of which could be useful to you. 

Do you work on my accounts personally, or outsource my affairs?

Building up a relationship with your accountant is important.  So it’s a good idea to find out who’s actually working with your information.  It could be your accountant, a member of your accountant’s in-house team, or an outsourced resource – no less expert, but perhaps not always on hand for personal contact.