Working With an Accountant
Questions to Ask an Accountant Before You Hire One
The right questions for an accountant are the ones about how the work will actually run: who does the books, how the fee is set, when reports arrive, what happens when something is behind, and what is left out of scope. Ask them on the first call. The answers tell you more than any credentials page will.
This guide is part of our accounting services in Wilmette, IL. Book a free consultation or call (847) 644-2288.
01Who will actually do my books?
Ask whether the person you are talking to is the person who will see your transactions each month, or whether the work is passed down and reviewed later. Neither answer is wrong on its own. What you want is a clear one, and a named person you can reach when a question comes up.
At NorthPeak the founder is the one you deal with directly. That is easy to state because the practice is built that way.
02How is the fee set, and will it change?
The answer you want is a fixed figure, in writing, after someone has looked at your books. The answer to be wary of is an hourly rate with no estimate, or a package price quoted before anyone has asked how many transactions you run. Ask what would cause the fee to change and how much notice you would get. Our guide on what an accountant costs explains what drives the number.
03When will I get my reports, and what will they say?
A monthly close should land on a predictable schedule, and the reports should be the three statements plus whatever you agreed to track. Ask to see a sample. If the firm cannot describe what you will receive and when, you will spend the year chasing it.
04What if my books are behind?
Every owner asks this apologetically, and there is no need. Catch-up work is common. The question is whether the firm will scope it separately, so you know the one-time cost apart from the ongoing fee, or fold it into the first few months where it is hard to see.
05What is not included?
This is the question most people forget, and the one that decides whether the first invoice surprises you. Payroll, sales tax filings, 1099s, tax planning during the year, and calls outside the scheduled review may each be in or out. A firm that has thought about your job can list its exclusions without hesitating.
06Will you tell me if I do not need you yet?
A good firm will. Some businesses are too small or too simple for a monthly engagement, and the honest answer is a checklist and a call back in a year. Our free 30-minute consultation ends that way sometimes. Book one or call (847) 644-2288, and bring these questions with you.
07Which questions matter most for tax?
Ask whether planning happens during the year or only at filing. A preparer records what already happened. A planner changes the number before it is set. The difference is the subject of our guide to tax planning versus tax preparation, and it is the biggest gap between accounting firms that look alike on paper. Our accounting services include tax preparation for the business and its owner at every level.
Common questions
Should I ask about credentials?
Ask what the firm has done for businesses like yours and who will handle your work. Chaudhry Ahmad brings controller-level experience, and the practice describes its work plainly rather than leaning on titles.
How long should the first conversation take?
Ours is 30 minutes and free. That is enough to describe the business, the state of the books, and where the gaps are.
Is it rude to ask what is excluded?
No. It is the most useful question on the list, and a firm that has scoped your work properly will welcome it.
Have a question about your situation?
Book a free 30-minute consultation and we'll walk through it together.
Schedule a ConsultationThis article is general information, not individualized tax, legal, or financial advice. Every situation is different. Reach out and we'll look at yours directly.