The most common mistakes made with an accountant - and how to avoid them

Even the best entrepreneurs fall into these traps... The good news is that they can be avoided. Here's a practical checklist to help you work more closely with your accountant, avoid costly mistakes and regain control of your business.

🧩 What you'll discover in this checklist

You think your accountant "manages everything"? Do you validate his requests without looking too closely? Are you afraid to ask questions?

You're not alone. These mistakes are common... but not inevitable.
With this checklist, you'll :

• Understanding the most common pitfalls
• Identify what you can do concretely
• Build a healthy, proactive relationship with your accountant

Ready to go? Unroll the checklist 👇

📋 The complete checklist to avoid mistakes with your accountant

1. 🤔 Thinking that "the accountant will manage everything."

"I pay an accountant, so he takes care of everything."
False. Your accountant needs your input to do his job properly.

A good accountant can only process what you give him. If invoices, contracts or supporting documents are missing, the file is incomplete. And you risk errors or penalties.

What you can do:

• Establish a weekly routine for sending her all documents
• Uses an automatic bank synchronization tool
• Share a cloud folder (Google Drive, Dropbox, Notion)

2. 🛑 Do not validate what is submitted

Signing without reading is signing blind. Even if you trust your accountant, you' re still legally responsible.

Incorrectly declared VAT, an erroneous figure in your balance sheet, forgetting to file your CFE... These little mistakes can be very costly in the long run.

What you can do:

• Request a simplified version with key figures before signing
• Take 15 minutes each month to reread and understand the documents.
• Don't hesitate to ask questions if you have any doubts

3. 🗣 Never ask questions

"I don't want to disturb..."
You're not supposed to be a chartered accountant. It's normal not to understand everything.

A good accountant must be able to explain figures and accounting decisions clearly.

What you can do:

• Take notes of your questions as you go along
• Offers a 30-minute update every quarter
• Use a fast communication channel (Notion, WhatsApp...)

4. 📅 Being late on documents

Delay is the enemy of quality. And tax compliance.

Your accountant needs time to get things right. Sending in your documents the day before a deadline means exposing yourself to errors or penalties.

What you can do:

• Create a recurring reminder in your diary (e.g. every 1st of the month)
• Use a tool such as Indy, Pennylane, or Quickbooks to automate
• Give him access to your pro banking space if relevant

5. 📂 Keep scattered documents

One invoice by e-mail, another by paper, a third on WhatsApp? Your accountant can't keep up.

Centralized archiving is essential for clean accounting.

What you can do:

• Organize your docs in a shared folder structured by month
• Uses a scan tool with automatic recognition (e.g. Scanbot)
• No need to send documents "as you go" through all channels

6. 💬 Don't tell the accountant about your plans

Are you planning to hire someone? Setting up a subsidiary? Talk to us before you do.

Your accountant can help you anticipate the tax, social and financial impacts.
But he or she needs to know.

What you can do:

• Warn him as soon as a major change is planned
• Organizes a strategy meeting every 6 months
• Share your growth forecasts or objectives

7. 🕵️‍♂️ Never check your accounts

Just because you unload doesn't mean you have to let go.

A quick monthly check of your accounts will help you avoid errors and oversights.

What you can do:

• Learn to read an income statement (it's easier than you think)
• Track your sales and cash flow month by month
• Checks for inconsistencies or unusual items

8. 📉 Don't challenge the numbers

If your margin is dropping or your earnings are falling, it may be time to investigate.

Your accountant is there to help you analyze, understand and optimize.

What you can do:

• Request an analysis of your results and suggestions for optimization
• Follow a monthly dashboard
• Identify the most profitable products/services

9. 💸 Do not check fees

You're paying for a service: it's normal to understand what you're buying.

Sometimes, additional services are billed, or certain services are not included in the package.

What you can do:

• Ask for details of the services included in your contract
• Check fee invoices at least once a year
• Compare with other firms if necessary

10. 🧱 Not building a real relationship

An accountant isn't just a supplier. He's a strategic partner.

The more transparent, organized and communicative you are... the more he'll be able to help you.

What you can do:

• Regular exchanges, not just at the end of the year
• Give him feedback on what's working (or not)
• Share your vision and priorities

💬 Do you want to go through this checklist together?

At Bankeo, we believe that accounting should never be a source of stress.
Our mission: to help you avoid the pitfalls, regain control and build a smooth collaboration with your accountant (or ours 😉 ).

👉 Want to go through this checklist together?
Drop us a line!

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