What questions should I ask an accountant before hiring them?

Ask five things: who will actually handle my work, how often will we meet and talk, how quickly do you respond, what experience do you have with businesses like mine, and how does switching over to you work. The answers tell you whether you are hiring a relationship or just a lodgement service. Listen for specific answers with names, timeframes and process steps, not general promises.

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How do I choose the right accountant for my business?

Choose an accountant based on four things: credentials for your level of complexity, experience with businesses like yours, a working relationship that includes year-round planning (not just at tax time), and a track record of quick responses. Price and convenience matter, but they shouldn’t decide it. The right accountant is the one who will still suit your business as it grows.

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Should I be worried if my accountant takes weeks to reply?

Yes, if it is a pattern rather than a one-off. An occasional slow reply around lodgement deadlines is understandable, but routinely waiting weeks for an answer usually means your file isn’t getting regular attention. For an established business, slow answers lead to delayed decisions, missed planning opportunities and avoidable stress near deadlines.

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What records do I need from my old accountant when I switch?

When you switch accountants, you need your last two to three years of financial statements and tax returns, your BAS lodgement history, the balances that carry forward (such as depreciation schedules, loan accounts and tax losses), and entity documents like trust deeds and company registers. Your new accountant usually requests all of this for you through a professional clearance letter, so you rarely have to chase it yourself.

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When is the best time of year to change accountants?

The best time to change accountants is just after a lodgement is finished, such as straight after a quarterly BAS or once last year’s tax return is lodged, because the handover starts from a clean point. If you want proactive tax planning before 30 June, switching by around March gives your new accountant time to learn your numbers first. A well-run switch can still happen at any time of year.

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Do I need a chartered accountant or just a registered tax agent?

For a straightforward tax return, a registered tax agent is all you legally need. If you run a business and want advice on structures, tax planning, growth or an eventual exit, a chartered accountant brings a materially higher level of training and professional accountability. The two are not mutually exclusive, and the strongest firms hold both credentials.

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What’s the difference between a chartered accountant and a CPA?

A Chartered Accountant (CA) and a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) are both qualified members of professional accounting bodies in Australia, with similar standing and rigorous entry requirements. The main difference is the body itself: CAs belong to Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and CPAs belong to CPA Australia, each with its own professional program. For most clients, the individual’s experience and fit for your situation matter more than which of the two letters they hold.

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Why does my accountant only contact me at tax time?

Most accountants only contact you at tax time because their service is built around compliance: preparing and lodging your return once a year. That model does the legal minimum but leaves out the planning and advice that actually help a business move forward. If you want more than annual lodgement, you usually need an accountant who offers ongoing advisory rather than a once a year relationship.

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How do I switch accountants without disrupting my business?

Switching accountants is more straightforward than most owners expect, and your new accountant handles most of it. You sign an engagement with the new firm, they request your records and history from the old one through a standard professional handover, and your obligations continue without a gap. The main thing you control is timing the move for a quieter point in your cycle rather than mid lodgement.

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What are the signs my current accountant isn’t doing a good job?

The clearest signs are slow or vague communication, contact that only happens at tax time, and a tax bill that surprises you every year. If your accountant never suggests anything proactively, cannot explain your numbers in plain terms, or makes you feel like a nuisance for asking questions, the relationship is underperforming. A good accountant should leave you better informed and ahead of problems, not chasing answers.

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