Questions to ask an accountant before you hire them | AccountingStack

Choosing the right accountant is one of the most important financial decisions you will make for your business. Get it right and you will have a trusted adviser who saves you money, keeps you compliant, and gives you confidence at every stage of growth. Get it wrong and you could end up paying for poor advice, missed deadlines, or a relationship that simply does not work for you.

The good news is that most accountants offer a free initial consultation, whether over the phone, via video call, or in person. That first meeting is your opportunity to interview them just as much as it is for them to understand your needs. Going in with a clear set of questions puts you in control and gives you a consistent basis for comparing two or three candidates before you decide.

Below are 18 questions worth asking, grouped by theme. You do not need to work through all of them in one sitting, but knowing what to ask means you will not walk away having forgotten something important.

Questions about qualifications and regulation

Not everyone who calls themselves an accountant is regulated or qualified. In the UK, accounting is not a legally protected profession in the same way that law or medicine is, which means anyone can offer bookkeeping or accounting services. That makes it important to check credentials upfront.

1. Are you a member of a recognised professional body?

The main bodies to look for are ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales), ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians), and ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland). Membership means the accountant has passed rigorous exams, is subject to a code of ethics, has to complete continuing professional development each year, and can be reported to their body if something goes wrong. A good answer names one of these bodies and confirms current, active membership. You can usually verify this on the body's website.

2. Do you hold professional indemnity insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance (PII) protects you if the accountant makes an error that causes you financial loss. All regulated members are required to hold it, but it is still worth asking directly. A confident accountant will have no hesitation confirming their cover. If they are vague or cannot provide details, treat that as a warning sign.

3. Are you registered with HMRC as an agent?

To deal with HMRC on your behalf, including submitting tax returns, responding to enquiries, and managing your PAYE scheme, your accountant must be registered as an agent with HMRC. Most practising accountants are, but it is worth confirming. If they are not yet registered, ask how long the process will take, as it can delay their ability to act for you.

Questions about experience and specialisms

A qualified accountant is not necessarily the right accountant for your situation. Experience and specialism matter enormously. An accountant who spends most of their time working with sole traders and freelancers may not be best placed to advise a growing limited company with employees, and vice versa.

4. Do you have experience with businesses like mine?

Be specific. If you are a contractor working through a limited company, ask whether they work with contractors and understand IR35. If you are a landlord, ask whether they handle rental income and property capital gains tax regularly. You are looking for an accountant who can answer your questions without needing to look everything up. Relevant experience also means they are more likely to flag opportunities specific to your situation, such as relevant allowances or reliefs you might not know about.

5. Do you have clients in my industry?

Industry knowledge goes beyond business structure. A practice with clients in your sector will already understand the typical costs, margins, compliance obligations, and seasonal cash flow patterns you face. This can save time and money. It also means their advice is grounded in real experience rather than general principles. Ask whether they can share a broad sense of the industries they serve.

6. How many clients do you currently work with?

This question tells you a lot about capacity and attention. A sole practitioner with 300 clients may be stretched thin; a larger practice with a dedicated client manager model may offer more consistent service. There is no perfect number, but you want confidence that your file will not sit at the bottom of a pile. Follow up by asking who specifically will handle your account day to day.

Questions about fees and services

Fee surprises are one of the most common complaints clients have about accountants. Getting clarity on cost and scope before you sign any engagement letter will save friction later.

7. What services are included in your fee?

Ask for a clear list. Common inclusions are year-end accounts preparation, corporation tax return (CT600), self-assessment tax return, payroll, and VAT returns. But the detail varies widely. Some practices include unlimited phone and email support; others charge by the hour for queries. Make sure you know exactly what you are getting for the price quoted.

8. How do you charge: fixed fee, monthly retainer, or hourly?

Fixed fees and monthly retainers give you budget certainty. Hourly billing can lead to unexpected invoices, particularly in a busy year. Most modern practices have moved towards fixed-fee or subscription-style pricing, which tends to work better for small businesses. If they charge hourly, ask for an estimate of typical annual costs for a business like yours.

9. What would cause my fees to increase?

Even with a fixed fee, certain events can trigger extra charges: HMRC investigations, late submission of records, additional payroll runs, or the need to reconstruct missing bookkeeping. Ask the accountant to list the most common reasons fees go up so you are not caught off guard. Understanding this also helps you work more efficiently with them.

10. Are there any setup costs?

Some practices charge an onboarding fee, particularly if they need to bring your accounts up to date, migrate you to new software, or deal with a backlog of filings. Others absorb this into the first year's fee. Ask upfront so you can compare like for like when assessing quotes from different firms.

Questions about communication and software

The quality of communication often determines whether a client relationship feels good or frustrating, regardless of technical competence. These questions help you understand how the practice operates day to day.

11. Who will be my main point of contact?

At larger firms, the partner you meet in the initial consultation may hand you off to a junior account manager once you sign. That is not necessarily a problem, but you should know who you are actually dealing with and what their experience level is. At smaller practices, you may work directly with the accountant throughout. Ask to be introduced to the person who will handle your account if it is not the person you are speaking to.

12. How do you prefer to communicate: email, phone, or video call?

Make sure their preferred communication style matches yours. If you like picking up the phone for a quick answer and they only respond to email, that mismatch will cause frustration over time. Ask whether they have a client portal, and if so, how it works. Some practices use dedicated portals for document sharing and messaging; others rely on email.

13. What accounting software do you use, and will I need to change?

Most practices work with one or two cloud platforms, typically Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage. If you are already using software they support, the transition is likely smooth. If they work only with a platform you are not on, ask whether migration is included in fees and how long it typically takes. With Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for ITSA) coming in from April 2026 for sole traders and landlords, software compatibility is more important than ever.

14. How quickly do you typically respond to queries?

There is no universal standard, but a reasonable expectation for routine queries is one to two working days. Ask whether response times change during busy periods such as January (self-assessment deadline) or March and April (year-end season). Some practices are transparent about service level standards; others are not. The way they answer this question tells you a lot about how client service is managed.

Questions about tax and planning

Many accountants focus primarily on compliance: preparing accounts, filing returns, and meeting deadlines. That is necessary but not sufficient if you want proactive support. Tax planning, done well, can make a material difference to what you keep each year.

15. Can you help with tax planning, not just compliance?

Ask for examples of planning work they have done for clients in a similar position to you. This might include salary and dividend structuring for limited company directors, pension contribution timing, capital gains tax deferral strategies, or advice on whether to incorporate. An accountant who can only confirm what you owe is less valuable than one who helps you reduce that figure legally.

16. How do you stay up to date with changes in tax law?

Tax law changes every year. A good accountant reads HMRC updates, attends CPD training, and is a member of a professional body that provides regular technical updates. Listen for a specific, credible answer rather than a vague assurance. For 2025/26 and beyond, areas of particular change include MTD for ITSA, employer National Insurance rates, and capital gains tax thresholds.

Questions about the relationship and transition

Understanding what happens if the relationship does not work out is just as important as understanding how it starts.

17. How will you handle the handover from my current accountant?

A professional firm will manage this process on your behalf. They will write to your previous accountant (the professional clearance letter), request your accounting records and prior year returns, and update HMRC with their agent authorisation. Ask what you need to do and what they will handle. A good answer involves minimal effort on your part.

18. What happens if I want to leave?

You should always be able to leave. Ask about the notice period in their engagement letter (typically one to three months), whether there are any exit fees, and how they handle the return of your records and documents. Your accounts and financial data are yours, and a reputable firm will confirm this without hesitation.

What to do after the meeting

Once your initial consultation is over, take a few minutes to write up your notes while the conversation is fresh. Note how the accountant made you feel as much as what they said: did they listen carefully, or did they seem distracted? Were their answers clear and direct, or vague and hedging?

Ideally, speak to two or three candidates before deciding. Comparing quotes and impressions side by side makes the decision much easier. Price matters, but it should not be the only factor. A slightly more expensive accountant who communicates proactively and understands your industry is likely to deliver better value than a cheaper one who is hard to reach.

Trust your instincts on communication style. You will be sharing sensitive financial information with this person for years. The relationship works best when there is mutual respect and you feel comfortable asking questions, however basic they might seem.

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