Bilingual or English-speaking accountant in Quebec: how to find one

En bref. Trouver un comptable bilingue ou anglophone au Québec est plus compliqué qu'il n'y paraît : une recherche Google classe les cabinets selon leur référencement et un annuaire professionnel liste des noms, mais aucun des deux ne permet de filtrer les comptables selon une capacité de service en anglais réellement vérifiée. Le jumelage Bankeo traite la langue comme un critère à part entière : vous précisez la langue de service souhaitée, et on vous présente des comptables vérifiés du réseau de 1 500+ partenaires qui y répondent, gratuitement, souvent en 48 heures. Côté budget, rien ne change : la médiane des honoraires reste d'environ 3 000 $ par année.

Your clients are in Ontario, your banker works in English, your team is Anglophone, or you've just arrived in Quebec: there are plenty of reasons to look for a bilingual accountant. The problem is that the language of service is one of the most difficult criteria to validate externally. This guide reviews the situations where bilingualism truly matters, what "bilingual" should actually encompass, why standard search tools fail on this criterion, and how to obtain a match that is genuinely filtered by language. It complements our article on how Bankeo's matching service works .

Why look for a bilingual accountant?

Quebec does business in both languages. According to the 2021 Statistics Canada census Canada 46.4% of Quebecers are bilingual in French and English, the highest proportion in the country. As soon as your business sells outside the province, hires Anglophones, or reports to English-speaking financial partners, your accountant becomes your financial translator: they must be as comfortable explaining a notice of assessment in English as they are preparing a CO-17 return in French.

Here are the most common situations, and what they actually require from your accountant:

In all these cases, the same reality prevails: deliverables intended for the Quebec administration remain in French, while the business relationship itself takes place in English. It is precisely this bridge that the bilingual accountant provides.

What exactly should a "bilingual" accountant cover?

Holding a conversation in English and mastering English accounting vocabulary are two different things. Before committing, make sure the firm's bilingualism covers:

• Technical vocabulary in both languages. Annual accounts, balance sheet, contribution notice, withholding tax (DAS): your accountant must be able to discuss these with you in English and draft the official documents in French.
• Written communications. Emails, engagement letters, management reports: the written department is often the weak link in a firm that is "bilingual" only orally.
• Exchanges with the two tax administrations. Your federal returns (T1, T2) can be processed in English with the IRS; your French returns (TP1, CO-17) and taxes (TPS 5%, VAT 9.975%, administered by the tax administration) are handled in French.
• Your tools. Many accounting software programs operate in English by default: an accountant who is comfortable in both languages ​​can correctly configure your taxes and reports, regardless of the interface language.

Google, directories, matching: who really filters by language?

Typing "English speaking accountant Montreal" into Google returns search engine optimized pages, not firms whose ability to provide services in English has been verified. Professional directories and booklets confirm a firm's status and provide contact information, which is helpful, but language proficiency is at best a self-declared feature: no one verifies that the person who will be managing your books daily can answer your questions in English, or even that the firm is accepting new clients. The following table compares the three approaches based on the criterion that interests you: language.

The difference can be summed up in one sentence: Google and directories give you a list to sort yourself, matchmaking gives you a pre-filtered selection, where the language of service has been confirmed before anyone is presented to you.

The method: to make language a matching criterion;

In practical terms, here's how to transform your language requirement into a selection filter rather than an unpleasant surprise:

1. Describe your situation in the free application: sector, status (self-employed, incorporated company), size and services sought (bookkeeping, taxes, payroll).
2. Specify the language of service: English only, French only or bilingual, both orally and in writing.
3. Bankeo filters its network of 1,500+ accountants according to your criteria: language, but also specialty, sector and region.
4. You receive proposals from audited accountants who meet the language criterion, often within 48 hours.
5. You choose freely, and we support you, always: if we don't click, even months later, we will introduce you to other accountants, free of charge.

The language criterion actually broadens your options instead of restricting them: if few firms in your area operate in English, an online accountant elsewhere in Quebec can perfectly well keep your books, produce your returns and meet with you via videoconference in the language of your choice.

How much does a bilingual accountant cost?

Le critère de langue ne devrait pas changer la facture. Pour une entreprise, la médiane des honoraires comptables se situe autour de 3 000 $ par année, et la plupart des mandats se concluent entre 500 $ et 6 000 $ selon le service, la taille et la complexité du dossier. Ces chiffres sont basés sur les honoraires réels de 1 248 mandats conclus via Bankeo (2024-2026), sur plus de 15 000 demandes reçues ; le Baromètre Bankeo détaille les fourchettes par type de service.

A word of advice: beware of a "bilingualism bonus." Serving clients in English is standard practice for many Quebec firms, particularly in the Montreal area; if a firm significantly increases its fees simply because you request service in English, compare them with other proposals before signing.

Five questions to test bilingualism before you commit

Once the candidates have been identified, verify their actual proficiency in English. Ask these questions during the first meeting:

• "Who will work on my file on a daily basis, and in what language?" The partner who greets you may be perfectly bilingual, but not the person who will keep your books each month.
• "Can you produce my financial statements and reports in English?" Essential if you are reporting to English-speaking investors or a bank.
• "How do you manage exchanges with the tax authorities?" The answer should show that the firm navigates with ease between the two administrations and the two languages.
• "Do you have clients like me who work in English?" Real-world experience is better than a box ticked in a profile.
• "In what language will your mission statement and written communications be?" This is where only one oral bilingualism is revealed.

To go further, our complete list of questions to ask an accountant before hiring them also covers prices, deadlines, and availability.

Frequently asked questions

How to find an English-speaking or bilingual accountant?

There are three ways to find an accountant: Google search, professional directories, and matching. Only matching allows you to filter by verified service language: you specify your needs in a free request, and Bankeo presents you with verified accountants from its network of 1,500+ partners who can actually serve you in English, French, or both languages.

Does a bilingual accountant cost more?

Non, la langue de service ne devrait pas changer la facture. La médiane des honoraires se situe autour de 3 000 $ par année et la plupart des mandats se concluent entre 500 $ et 6 000 $ selon le service, d'après les honoraires réels de 1 248 mandats conclus via Bankeo (2024-2026), sur plus de 15 000 demandes reçues. Le Baromètre Bankeo détaille ces fourchettes par type de service.

Can my company deal with the tax authorities in English?

The Quebec government communicates with businesses in French, in accordance with the Charter of the French Language: your TP1 or CO-17 returns and your exchanges with Revenu Québec are therefore conducted in French. The tax administration; Canada We offer our services in both official languages. A bilingual accountant manages these communications for you and explains everything in English if that is your working language.

Can an accountant practice solely in English?

Many Quebec firms serve their clients in English, particularly in the Montreal area. That said, to hold the CPA designation, a professional must be a member of the Quebec CPA Order and possess a suitable knowledge of French, like all members of a professional order. The real rarity, therefore, is not French proficiency: it is the ability to provide comprehensive services in English, both spoken and written, which is rarely advertised and never verified by directories.

Can I work remotely with a bilingual accountant?

Yes, and it's often the best way to broaden the pool of candidates. Bookkeeping, tax returns, and meetings can all be done very well remotely: online document sharing, video conferencing in your preferred language, and electronic signatures. If bilingual firms are scarce in your area, an online accountant based elsewhere in Quebec can serve you with the same level of professionalism.

How quickly can Bankeo put me in touch with a chartered accountant?

Your application takes just a few minutes to complete, and the service is completely free for entrepreneurs. Initial proposals often arrive within 48 hours, and you'll be presented with as many accountants as needed. If you don't click with the first one, even months later, you'll be introduced to others, at no cost. Since 2023, Bankeo has received over 15,000 applications from entrepreneurs.

Official sources

1. Statistical Canada 2021 Census: French-English bilingualism among Canadians
2. Revenue Quebec, Business section
3. Revenue Agency of the | Canada
4. Quebec CPA Order
5. Office of the French Language;