Blog / Choosing an Accountant / How to Find an Accountant for a Small Business in the UK
How to Find an Accountant for a Small Business in the UK
· Hattie Smithson
Finding an accountant is easier when you know what work you need done and compare firms on the same things. Use this practical checklist to build a shortlist, ask useful questions and check that the proposed service fits your UK business.
Choosing an accountant is easier when you start with the work your business actually needs. One firm might focus on year-end accounts and tax returns; another may also handle bookkeeping, payroll or regular conversations about cash flow. The goal is to find a firm whose service, experience and way of working suit your business—not to buy the longest list of services.
This guide is for UK small businesses. Tax and reporting responsibilities depend on your business structure and circumstances, so use it to prepare for conversations with firms rather than as individual tax advice.
1. Write down what you need help with
Before contacting firms, list the tasks you want an accountant to take on and the ones you plan to handle yourself. Depending on your business, you might ask about:
- year-end accounts and tax returns
- bookkeeping and keeping records up to date
- VAT returns or payroll
- help understanding reports or planning cash flow
- support with a particular change, such as hiring staff or moving to a limited company
These are examples, not a checklist every business needs. The UK government’s guide to business accounting and financeexplains the importance of keeping accurate records and notes that the accounts and returns required depend on business structure.
Make a short note of your business type, what you sell, roughly how many transactions you handle, the software you use, and any upcoming deadlines or changes. You do not need to send sensitive documents just to ask whether a firm may be a fit.
2. Decide what a good working relationship looks like
Accountants work in different ways. Some offer a local office and in-person meetings; others work with clients remotely. Neither is automatically better. Think about how often you expect to speak, whether you prefer a named contact, and how you want to share records and ask questions.
Also consider how much support you want between filing dates. If you only need a defined annual task, say so. If you want regular bookkeeping or planning conversations, ask how often those are included and who will provide them.
3. Compare like with like
Contact a few firms with the same description of your business and the same list of needs. Ask each to explain in writing:
- which tasks are included in the proposed service
- what you will need to do and when you need to provide information
- who will be your usual contact and how quickly they normally respond
- how fees are charged, what can create extra fees, and how those costs are agreed
- how the service would change if your business grows or your needs change
A low headline fee may cover a narrower service than a higher one. Ask for the same scope from each firm so you can compare the actual work, deadlines, communication and likely additional charges. The government’s accounting guidance for company directors advises checking that an accountant is qualified for the work and reading the terms of engagement before work begins.
4. Check relevant experience and professional status
Ask whether the firm regularly works with businesses like yours and with the tasks you listed. Request the name of the professional body and the person’s designation, then check those details directly with the body if they matter to your decision.
In the UK, “accountant” by itself does not tell you a person’s qualifications or the services they are authorised to provide. ICAEW recommends checking an accountant’s qualifications and experience. Professional-body directories can help with specific checks, but read what each listing confirms: for example, ACCA explains that a firm appearing in its directory is not necessarily regulated by ACCA for every activity. You can consult ICAEW’s directory and guidance and ACCA’s firm search notes, then ask the firm about any permissions required for the particular work you need.
If you need a regulated service such as a statutory audit, ask directly who is authorised to provide it and verify that status with the relevant register or professional body. Do not assume a general accountant directory listing confirms permission for every regulated service.
5. Read the engagement letter before agreeing
Before work starts, read the engagement letter or service agreement. It should make clear what the firm will do, what remains your responsibility, the fees and payment terms, how additional work is approved, and how either side can end the arrangement. If anything is unclear, ask for an explanation in writing.
It is also sensible to ask what happens if a deadline is approaching and the firm is waiting for information from you. A clear process helps both sides understand their part.
Questions to take to an introductory call
- Which parts of my accounting would you handle, and which would I handle?
- What experience do you have with businesses like mine?
- Who would I speak to day to day?
- What is included in the fee, and what could cost extra?
- How do you work with my accounting software and records?
- What would you need from me in the first month?
- How do you handle handovers if I am changing accountants?
Make a shortlist, then choose the clearest fit
After speaking with firms, compare their answers against your original list. Look for a clear scope, relevant experience, understandable fees and a communication style that works for you. If you are unsure, ask a follow-up question before deciding.
When you are ready to explore options, browse accounting firms in the UK or share what support your business is looking for. A shortlist is a starting point: discuss the details with each firm and decide whether its proposed service is right for your business.