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Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Accountant

Michael Cutajar|18 May 2026|3 min read
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Hiring an accountant is mostly decided in the first conversation — if you ask the right things. Most people don't, and find out the gaps later, usually at the worst time.

Here's the checklist I'd use, grouped by what each question actually tells you. Bring it to any first call.

Credentials and licensing

  • "What are you licensed as, and where?" — You want a real, current credential (CPA, EA, Chartered Accountant, or local equivalent) valid in your jurisdiction. "Tax preparer" isn't the same as a licensed accountant.
  • "Are you registered with [the relevant professional body]?" — Verifiable membership you can check independently.
  • "Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?" — A serious professional does. It also signals they expect to stand behind their work.

Fit for your situation

  • "How many clients like me do you handle?" — A freelancer, a landlord, and a limited company are different specialisms. You want someone who does your kind of work routinely.
  • "Which jurisdictions do you cover?" — Critical if you have foreign income, recently moved, or sell across borders.
  • "Who actually does my work — you or a junior?" — Fine either way, but you should know.

Fees and scope

  • "Is this a fixed fee or hourly, and what's included?" — Predictability matters. Find out if the fee covers only the return or also questions during the year.
  • "What costs extra?" — Surface the add-ons before they surprise you.
  • "Can you review work I've already prepared, rather than redo it?" — Increasingly important (see below).

Communication

  • "How and how quickly do you respond during busy season?" — A great accountant you can't reach in filing season isn't great for you.
  • "Will you explain your reasoning, or just hand me a number?" — You want someone who shows their working.

The AI question (new, and revealing)

If you're using AI for any of your tax or bookkeeping — and more people are every year — these two questions tell you a lot fast:

  • "Will you review a worksheet my AI agent produced, or do you insist on starting over?" — An AI-fluent accountant will happily review sound work; one who reflexively rejects it will charge you twice.
  • "How do you check AI-generated numbers?" — A good answer shows they understand where AI gets tax right and where it goes wrong. (There's a fuller take in How to Find an Accountant Who Works With AI.)

What good answers sound like

You're listening for specifics, transparency, and plain language. Vague fees, dodged questions, jargon walls, or grand promises before they've seen your numbers are the warning signs. Clear credentials, a straight answer on price, and a willingness to explain are the green lights.

The faster path

You can run these questions across several firms yourself — or start with accountants who are already vetted. The OpenAccountants network connects you with credentialed professionals who review tax work (including AI-generated worksheets) in the jurisdictions they're licensed in, so the credential and AI-fluency questions are already answered.

Either way, ask the questions. Ten minutes of the right ones saves you a year of the wrong accountant.