Questions to ask before engaging an accountant

Start with what you need

Before comparing practices, be clear on what you are looking for. It helps to know whether the need is mainly:

• Records kept in order
• Reporting and returns prepared
• Payroll handled
• A sounding board for decisions

Ask about registration

Different services can have different registration requirements. Ask which registrations apply to the work you want, and how you can confirm them. The government’s own websites explain who needs to be registered for which services.

Ask how they would work with you

Day-to-day working style matters as much as technical skill. Useful questions include:

• Who would I deal with day to day?
• How do you prefer to communicate, and how quickly are questions usually answered?
• Which software do you use, and will I have access to my own records?
• How do you handle changes during the year?

Ask what is and is not included

A clear scope prevents misunderstandings. Ask what the work covers, what it does not, and what would be quoted separately.

Ask how fees are explained

Ask how a quotation is prepared, what could change it, and when you would be told if it did. A practice that explains this clearly at the start is easier to work with later.

It is also fair to ask what is not covered by the quotation. Extra requests, late records and one-off projects are common reasons for costs to change, and it is better to understand how those would be handled before the work begins than after.

Compare more than one practice

It is reasonable to speak to more than one practice before deciding. Asking each the same questions makes the answers easier to compare, and you may find that one explains things in a way that suits you better. A conversation is not a commitment.

Signs worth noticing

Some signals suggest a poor fit, whatever the practice’s size or reputation:

• Explanations that stay vague when you ask what the work includes
• Pressure to decide or sign quickly
• Reluctance to explain how fees are worked out
• Answers full of jargon that are not explained when you ask

What a good answer sounds like

A good answer is specific and plain. If you ask how often you would hear from the practice, you might expect an actual rhythm, not “as needed”. If you ask what is excluded, you might expect a short list, not silence. You are not looking for perfect answers, only for answers that make the working arrangement clearer rather than murkier.

Questions about the longer term

Needs change, so it is worth asking early how the arrangement could change with them:

• What happens if my business grows or changes?
• How would we adjust the scope, and how would that be explained?
• How does the arrangement end if it stops being a good fit?

Ask what they would need from you

Good outcomes depend on both sides. Ask what information you would be expected to provide, how often, and what happens if it is late.

Trust your sense of fit

After the questions, notice how the conversation felt. Were explanations clear? Were you rushed? A practice you can ask questions of without hesitating is worth more than one that sounds impressive.