Contractor
Questions to ask an accountant before hiring them: The checklist
July 23, 2026
At a Glance. Before hiring an accountant in Quebec, just twelve questions are enough to distinguish a true professional from a risky bet. These questions cover six key areas: professional liability insurance, the business behind the name, registration with the Ordre des CPA du Québec if the accountant identifies as a CPA, client reviews, expertise in your industry, and clarity regarding fees and services. This checklist isn’t made up on the spot: it’s based on the Bankeo Trust Index, the method that evaluates every accountant in the network across more than 20 criteria before matching takes place. As for pricing, the Market benchmark is a median of approximately $3,000 per year, with most engagements ranging from $500 to $6,000. All amounts are in Canadian dollars.
Hiring an accountant means entrusting them with your CRA and Revenu Québec filings, your taxes, and sometimes your payroll and business decisions. Yet most entrepreneurs choose an accountant based on a friend’s recommendation and price, without asking the questions that really matter. This article turns Bankeo’s vetting method into a checklist you can use yourself: each question, the expected correct answer, and the red flags that should make you think twice. It complements our guide to Choosing the Right Accountant for Your Business.
Before introducing you to an accountant, Bankeo evaluates them based on more than 20 criteria: this is The Bankeo Trust Index. Five objective criteria are publicly disclosed, because anyone can verify them: professional liability insurance, a real and established business, verified membership in the Ordre des CPA, genuine customer reviews, and expertise in your industry. The others relate to the expertise involved in the matching process: responsiveness, the quality of follow-up, transparency of fees, and the quality of advice.
The good news: these categories of criteria translate into specific questions you can ask yourself before signing anything. The first five checks can be done online, without a face-to-face meeting. The next seven should be asked during an interview, just as if you were hiring a key employee. Because that’s exactly what you’re doing.
| Questions to Ask | What She Checks | What Does a Good Answer Look Like? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Do you have up-to-date professional liability insurance? | Your Protection in Case of an Error | Yes, with a certificate available upon request |
| 2. What business do you work for, and how long have you been there? | Legitimacy and Experience | A NEQ number verifiable with the Registraire des entreprises, and clear years of operation |
| 3. Are you a member of the Ordre des CPA du Québec? (if they identify themselves as a CPA) | A Genuine Title in Good Standing | Yes, verifiable in the Order’s public registry |
| 4. Do you have any clients who can provide references? | A Verifiable Reputation | Google reviews, contactable references |
| 5. Do you have clients in my industry? | The Right Industry Fit | Real-world examples and tax deductions specific to your line of work |
| 6. How much does it cost, what’s included, and what’s billed as an extra? | Transparency Regarding Fees | A fixed fee agreed upon in advance, itemized in writing |
| 7. Do you handle both federal AND Quebec tax filings: T1 and TP1, or T2 and CO-17, GST/QST, and source deductions? | Comprehensive Tax Expertise | Yes, both stages, with a schedule of due dates |
| 8. How quickly do you respond during peak season? | Responsiveness | A specific commitment in business days, not a vague “it depends” |
| 9. Who will be my point of contact, and how often will we meet to review progress? | Follow-up and Communication | A designated contact person and a schedule agreed upon in advance |
| 10. What software do you use, and who controls my access to it? | Tools and Independence | Popular cloud-based software, with access that remains yours |
| 11. Who handles my account on a day-to-day basis? | Firm Structure | Clear Roles and an Explanation of Oversight |
| 12. Will you help me plan for: tax instalments, salary or dividends, RRSPs, and TFSA? | Proactive Advice | Examples of recommendations made to clients like you |
These five questions correspond to the five criteria that the Bankeo Trust Index publicly discloses. They are factual: the answer is either true or false, and you can verify it.
This is the first thing Bankeo checks, and for good reason: if an error in your tax returns results in penalties or interest charges, the professional’s insurance is your safety net. Ask if the coverage is up to date and if a certificate of coverage is available. A reputable professional will provide it without hesitation.
Look for a registered business with a physical address and a track record, not an anonymous listing found in the classifieds. In Quebec, this check is free: the Registraire des entreprises lets you search for a business by name or NEQ and view its registration date, address, and officers. It takes just two minutes to find out who you’re entrusting your financials to.
The CPA designation is protected: anyone claiming to be a CPA must be registered and in good standing with the Ordre des CPA du Québec, and the membership registry is public. You don’t always need a CPA: for bookkeeping, GST and QST returns, or a simple tax return, a good accountant who isn’t a member of the Order can do the job just fine. However, certain tasks, such as audits or reviews of financial statements required by a bank, are reserved for CPAs. Many accountants in the Bankeo network are accountants, and when they are, their membership in the Order of accountant is verified.
A reputation can be verified: Google reviews, references you can contact, and a track record of clients served. A blank page isn’t a deal-breaker for a firm just starting out, but it must be offset by the rest of the checklist. Be especially wary if they refuse to provide any references at all.
Restaurant industry (tips, staff turnover), construction (CCQ payroll, project-based accounting), technology (tax credits), rental real estate (depreciation, ownership structure): every industry has its own rules and pitfalls. Ask for examples of clients in your industry, and pay attention to whether the accountant spontaneously mentions a deduction or requirement specific to your line of work. This is the most revealing test on the list.
Three checks can be done online, for free, in about ten minutes: the Ordre des CPA du Québec membership registry (professional credentials), the Registraire des entreprises (the NEQ number and the business’s existence), and Google reviews (reputation). Do these checks before your first meeting: you’ll already know who you’re talking to, and your interview questions will be all the more precise as a result.
The Index’s undisclosed criteria cover expertise: speed, follow-up, clarity, and the quality of advice. During an interview, these categories translate into seven specific questions.
The question of price is much easier to ask when you know the Market. Based on actual fees from 1,248 engagements secured through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received, the median cost of an accountant is approximately $3,000 per year, and most contracts range from $500 to $6,000 depending on the service and industry. This is a general guide, not your specific price: the detailed breakdown, by service and industry, is published in the Bankeo Fee Barometer, and our Comprehensive Study on the Cost of Hiring an Accountant in Quebec in 2026 explains the methodology.
Armed with this price range, question 6 takes on a different meaning: you’re no longer asking “how much?”, but rather “what’s included in that amount?”. A price difference should be justified by a difference in service, never by vagueness. For a breakdown by service type, see also our guide on The Cost of an Accountant’s Services in Quebec.
The value of a checklist lies as much in knowing what to ask as in recognizing a bad answer. Here are the five most common questions, based on inquiries received by Bankeo.
| The answer you’ll hear | What it indicates |
|---|---|
| “Insurance? Nothing ever happens.” | No safety net if a mistake is made. That’s a backdoor rejection: move on to the next one. |
| “We’ll figure out the price based on the time spent.” | Unexpected invoice. Without a written estimate, you find out the amount at the worst possible moment. |
| “I handle all industries, no problem.” | A generalist with no track record. Ask for two specific examples from your industry before moving forward. |
| Claims to be a CPA, but cannot be found in the Order’s registry. | A reserved account used without registration is a serious red flag. Always check, it only takes two minutes. |
| No response for three days during the grace period. | Responsiveness during the hiring process is key, not something that comes later: it won’t get any better after you sign the contract. |
One red flag warrants a second look; two warrant a polite refusal. The checklist puts you in the driver’s seat, so you’re in control rather than at the mercy of others.
Bankeo connects you for free with vetted accountants from its network of over 1,500 partners, evaluated based on more than 20 criteria using the Bankeo Trust Index: insurance, business experience, professional certification for CPAs, customer reviews, and expertise in your industry. You have the final say, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Free service, no obligation, and matching is often completed within 48 hours. Rated 4.7/5 based on over 180 Google reviews.
Find my accountantTwelve questions, divided into six categories: professional liability insurance, business registration, membership in the Ordre des CPA du Québec if they identify as a CPA, client reviews and expertise in your industry, as well as fees, coverage of both levels of taxation, responsiveness, communication, Tools, firm organization, and proactive advice. The first five can be verified online, even before the meeting.
The membership registry of the Ordre des CPA du Québec is public and available online at cpaquebec.ca. If the accountant identifies themselves as a CPA, their name must appear on the registry with their membership in good standing: the title is protected, and using it without registration is prohibited. Bankeo verifies this for the CPAs in its network before any matching occurs.
Not always. For bookkeeping, GST/QST returns, or a simple tax return, a competent accountant who isn’t a member of the Order can do the job just fine. However, certain tasks are reserved for CPAs, such as auditing or reviewing financial statements, which are often required by a bank or an investor. Many accountants in the Bankeo network are CPAs: the need depends on your specific situation.
The median fee is approximately $3,000 per year, and most engagements range from $500 to $6,000, depending on the service and industry. These figures are based on the actual fees for 1,248 assignments completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received. The breakdown, by service and sector, is published in the Bankeo Fee Barometer.
No professional liability insurance, a price that remains unclear after two discussions, a CPA designation that can’t be found in the professional association’s registry, no references that can be reached, and slow responses from the very first exchanges. Even just one of these red flags warrants a second look; two are reason enough to move on to the next candidate.
Yes, that’s the principle behind the Bankeo Trust Index: before introducing you to an accountant, we verify their insurance, their business, their registration with the professional association (for CPAs), their client reviews, and their expertise in your industry, among more than 20 criteria. The service is free for entrepreneurs, with no obligation, and the matching process is often completed within 48 hours. You have the final say, and we’re always here to support you.
General information provided for informational purposes only, based on known 2026 tax rules. It is not a substitute for the advice of a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA): always consult a professional regarding your specific situation.
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