While some leave it until the last minute, selecting an accountant for your business is an important exercise. It can mean the difference between comprehensive reporting and maximum tax returns and leaving money on the table. It can also ensure you receive timely, accurate advice regarding your business structure, practices, entitlements and more.

Steps to find an accountant

The first consideration is defining what you need an accountant for. It may sound like an obvious factor, but it’s one that many people skip over. While some accountants specialise in individual tax returns, others have vast experience with small business accounting in certain industries or even crypto tax.

Take a moment to clarify what specialties you need your accountant to have, and start from there.

One of the best places to find a good accountant is via personal references. Do you have friends or family with a similar requirement to you, for their accountant? Ask for recommendations.

Be sure your accountant is a member of a professional body, which ensures they have tertiary qualifications and meet regulatory standards:

Do you require your accountant to provide advice about investments or retirement plans? They must have an Australian Financial Services Licence.  You can check your accountant’s credentials here.

You can also use the above links to search for accountants.

Questions to ask

Here are some suggested questions when looking for an accountant:

  • What are your qualifications and your professional memberships?
    • Look for: the above-mentioned organisations
  • Do you have any specialities?
    • Look for: answers that align with what you need in an accountant
  • What do you charge?
    • Look for: Pricing that aligns with industry standards (you may need to do some research) and a cost that’s reasonable for you
  • Do you have a system for complaint management?
    • Look for: a standard plan for dealing with complaints
  • How do you gather the necessary paperwork?
    • Look for: a practice that suits you, for example, “in-person”, or “via email” or “via mail”

QC Services and Team

At QC Accountants, we specialise in business accounting as well as individual accounting needs.

Our services include:

  • Small business packages
  • Business startups
  • Bookkeeping
  • Tax and BAS returns
  • Business support and advice
  • Superannuation funds

We pride ourselves on our practice of listening carefully to clients’ needs, before making recommendations. Our team comes with a range of experience and specialities.

How can QC Accountants Help?

Knowing how to find a good accountant can be a tricky thing. There are many factors to consider and options to research. If you’d like to chat with QC Accountants about your needs as a business or individual, we’d be happy to discuss them with you.

We are available on email ([email protected]) or telephone (07 5593 6060).