Start with the jobs you need done
Write a short list of recurring work: bookkeeping, accounts, tax returns, VAT, payroll or reporting. Then separate the occasional decisions, such as hiring, funding or selling. A provider can be a good fit for routine reporting while a specialist engagement is needed for a transaction. This list makes conversations with different accountants easier to compare.
Ask about the working relationship
Find out who answers questions, how information is shared and what review meetings are included. Ask how missing records are handled and what happens if you have an urgent issue. A useful answer describes a process and its boundaries; it should not leave you guessing whether every call is included.
Check qualifications and scope
Verify any professional qualification through the relevant membership directory. A person’s qualification is distinct from the scope of a particular engagement. Ask which tasks are included, which are excluded and what the business must supply. Also establish how fees for additional work will be agreed.
Compare proposals using the same brief
Illustrative example: one quote covers annual accounts only, while another includes bookkeeping and a tax return. The lower total is not a like-for-like comparison. Put each service, information requirement, review step and fee basis alongside the others before deciding. Keep a note of unresolved questions and ask for them to be clarified in the proposal.