What to ask when choosing an accountant
The right accountant is a business partner, not just a compliance provider. Here are the questions worth asking before you commit.
Your accountant should be more than a compliance provider
Too many people pick an accountant on price alone, then discover their “cheap” accountant simply files the accounts and disappears for the rest of the year. The right accountant acts as a business partner — someone who understands your business and is worth calling when things change.
Here are the questions we’d recommend asking before you commit.
1. Are you chartered, and who will actually do my work?
Look for a firm regulated by a recognised body such as the ICAEW. And ask who will handle your affairs day to day. Will it be a qualified accountant, or the work passed to less experienced staff? You want to know who you’ll be dealing with.
2. What’s included in the fee?
Accountancy fees vary enormously — and so does what’s included. Get clarity on what your monthly or annual fee covers:
- Year-end accounts and tax return?
- Corporation tax or self assessment filings?
- Payroll, VAT and CIS?
- Bookkeeping, or is that extra?
- HMRC correspondence?
- One-off questions during the year?
A fee that looks cheap at first can be expensive once the extras are added.
3. How do you communicate?
Will you have a dedicated point of contact? How do you reach them — email, phone, in person? How quickly do they respond? For many business owners, “an accountant who answers the phone” is the single most valuable feature.
4. Do you understand my kind of business?
Ask whether they work with businesses or individuals like yours. A firm that specialises in property landlords, contractors or startups will usually be far more useful than one that just processes returns, because they’ll know the common pitfalls and opportunities.
5. Will you proactively look for savings?
A good accountant doesn’t just report the numbers — they flag opportunities. Will they review your tax position during the year? Will they tell you about reliefs you qualify for? The most valuable advice often saves far more than the fee costs.
6. What software do you work with?
If you already use accounting software, make sure your prospective accountant is happy with it. Equally, if you don’t, ask what they’d recommend. The right tooling makes the whole relationship smoother.
7. Can you help when things go wrong?
What happens if HMRC writes to you? If your return is queried or you face an investigation, is that covered — and by whom? Knowing your accountant has your back in that situation is worth paying for.
8. Why should I choose you?
A good accountant will be able to tell you clearly what makes them different. If the only answer is “we’re cheap”, that’s an answer in itself.
Start with a conversation
Choosing an accountant works best when it starts with a conversation, not a quote. That’s why every relationship with Yussouf & Co begins with a free, no-obligation consultation — a chance to ask these questions of us.
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