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Questions to ask an accountant before hiring them: the checklist
23 / 7 / 2026
En bref. Avant d'engager un comptable au Québec, douze questions suffisent à séparer un vrai professionnel d'un pari risqué. Elles couvrent six familles : l'assurance responsabilité civile professionnelle, l'entreprise derrière le nom, l'inscription à l'Ordre des CPA du Québec si le comptable se présente comme CPA, les avis clients, la maîtrise de votre secteur, puis la clarté des honoraires et du service. Cette check-list n'est pas improvisée : elle est dérivée de l'Indice Bankeo, la méthode qui évalue chaque comptable du réseau sur plus de 20 critères avant un jumelage. Côté prix, le repère du marché : une médiane d'environ 3 000 $ par année, la plupart des mandats entre 500 $ et 6 000 $. Tous les montants sont en dollars canadiens.
Hiring an accountant means entrusting them with your CRA and Canada Revenue Agency returns, your taxes, sometimes your payroll, and your business decisions. Yet, most entrepreneurs choose based on a friend's recommendation and price, without asking the questions that truly matter. This article transforms Bankeo's verification method into a checklist you can use yourself: each question, the expected correct answer, and the red flags that should make you reconsider. It complements our guide to choosing the right accountant for your business .
Avant de vous présenter un comptable, Bankeo l'évalue sur plus de 20 critères : c'est l'Indice Bankeo. Cinq critères factuels sont dévoilés publiquement, parce que n'importe qui peut les vérifier : une assurance responsabilité civile professionnelle, une entreprise réelle et établie, l'inscription à l'ordre vérifiée pour les CPA, de vrais avis clients et la maîtrise de votre secteur. Les autres relèvent du savoir-faire du jumelage : la réactivité, la qualité du suivi, la clarté des honoraires, la qualité du conseil.
The good news: these sets of criteria translate into concrete questions you can ask yourself before signing anything. The first five checks are done online, without an appointment. The following seven are asked in an interview, just as if you were hiring a key employee. Because that's what you do.
| The question 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 error | Yes, with a certificate available upon request. |
| 2. Which company do you work for and for how long? | Real existence and experience | A verifiable NEQ (Quebec Enterprise Number) from the Registrar of Enterprises, with clear years of operation. |
| 3. Are you registered with the Ordre des CPA du Québec? (if presenting himself as a CPA) | A real and valid title | Yes, verifiable in the Order's public register |
| 4. Do you have any clients who can provide testimonials? | A verifiable reputation | Google reviews, accessible references |
| 5. Do you have clients in my sector? | The right sector match | Concrete examples and deductions specific to your profession |
| 6. How much, what is included and what is charged extra? | Clarity of fees | An amount known in advance, detailed in writing |
| 7. Do you cover both federal AND Quebec: T1 and TP1, or T2 and CO-17, GST and QST, DAS? | Full tax expertise | Yes, both levels, with a schedule of deadlines. |
| 8. What is your response time during peak season? | Responsiveness | A precise commitment in working days, not a vague "it depends". |
| 9. Who will be my contact person, and how often will we have a check-in? | Monitoring and communication | A designated contact person, a pre-agreed pace |
| 10. What software do you use, and who owns my access? | Tools and autonomy | A common cloud-based software, access that remains yours |
| 11. Who handles my case on a daily basis? | Cabinet organization | Clear roles and explained supervision |
| 12. Will you help me plan: down payments, salary or dividends, RRSP and TFSA? | Proactive advice | Examples of recommendations made to clients like you |
These five questions correspond to the five criteria that the Bankeo 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 declarations results in penalties or interest, the professional's insurance is your safety net. Ask if the coverage is up to date and if a certificate is available. A reputable professional will provide it without hesitation.
You're looking for a registered business, with an address and history, not an anonymous profile found in classified ads. In Quebec, verification is free: the Enterprise Registrar allows you to search for a business by name or NEQ (Quebec Enterprise Number) and view its registration date, address, and directors. Two minutes to tell you who you're entrusting with your numbers.
The CPA designation is protected: anyone claiming it must be registered and in good standing with the Ordre des CPA du Québec, and the membership register is public. You don't always need a CPA: for bookkeeping, GST/QST returns, or a simple income tax return, a good accountant who isn't a member of the Order can do the job perfectly well. However, certain engagements, such as audits or reviews of financial statements required by a bank, are reserved for CPAs. Many accountants in the Bankeo network are CPAs, and when they are, their registration with the Order is verified.
A reputation is built on Google reviews, contactable references, and a history of clients served. A blank page isn't necessarily a disqualification for a startup firm, but it must be compensated for by the rest of the checklist. Be especially wary of a refusal to provide any references whatsoever.
Restaurants (tips, staff turnover), construction (CCQ payroll, project-based accounting), technology (tax credits), rental properties (depreciation, ownership structure): each sector has its own rules and pitfalls. Ask for examples of clients in your field, and listen to see if the accountant spontaneously mentions a deduction or obligation specific to your industry. This is the most revealing test on the list.
Three checks can be done online, free of charge, in about ten minutes: the register of members of the Ordre des CPA du Québec (credentials), the Quebec Enterprise Registrar (business registration number and company existence), and Google reviews (reputation). Complete these checks before the first meeting: you'll already know who you're talking to, and your interview questions will be much more precise.
The undisclosed criteria of the Index cover expertise: speed, follow-up, clarity, and quality of advice. In interviews, these families become seven concrete questions.
La question du prix est beaucoup plus facile à poser quand vous connaissez le marché. Basé sur les honoraires réels de 1 248 mandats conclus via Bankeo (2024-2026), sur plus de 15 000 demandes reçues, un comptable coûte en médiane environ 3 000 $ par année, et la plupart des mandats se situent entre 500 $ et 6 000 $ selon le service et le secteur. C'est une orientation, pas votre prix : le détail, ventilé par service et par secteur, est publié dans le Baromètre Bankeo, et notre étude complète sur le coût d'un comptable au Québec en 2026 en présente la méthodologie.
Armed with this price range, question 6 takes on a different character: you no longer ask "how much?", you ask "what is included in this amount?". A price difference is justified by a difference in service, never by ambiguity. For a breakdown by service type, also consult our guide on the cost of accounting services in Quebec .
The value of a checklist lies as much in knowing what to ask as in recognizing an incorrect answer. Here are the five most frequent, observed in requests received by Bankeo.
| The answer heard | What is she signaling? |
|---|---|
| "Insurance? Nothing ever happens." | No safety net for mistakes. It's a disguised refusal: move on to the next one. |
| "The price will depend on the time spent." | Unpredictable bill. Without a written price range, you only find out the amount at the worst possible moment. |
| "I cover all sectors, no problem." | Generalizing without evidence. Ask for two concrete examples in your field before going any further. |
| He calls himself a CPA, but cannot be found in the Order's register. | Using a reserved title without registration is a serious red flag. Always check, it only takes two minutes. |
| Three days without a response during the courtesy period. | Responsiveness to recruitment is the peak, not the trough: it will not improve after the signing. |
A single red flag warrants a second check; two, a polite refusal. The checklist keeps you in a position to choose, instead of being passive.
Bankeo vous jumelle gratuitement avec des comptables vérifiés de son réseau de 1 500+ partenaires, évalués sur plus de 20 critères avec l'Indice Bankeo : assurance, entreprise, inscription à l'ordre pour les CPA, avis clients, maîtrise de votre secteur. Vous gardez le choix final, et on vous accompagne, toujours. Service gratuit, sans engagement, jumelage souvent complété en 48 h. Noté 4,7/5 sur plus de 180 avis Google.
Find my accountantTwelve questions, in six categories: professional liability insurance, registered business, registration with the CPA Order if presenting themselves as a CPA, client reviews and expertise in your sector, then fees, coverage of both tax brackets, responsiveness, communication, tools, firm organization, and proactive advice. The first five can be checked online, even before the meeting.
The register of members of the Ordre des CPA du Québec is public and available online at cpaquebec.ca. If an accountant presents themselves as a CPA, their name must be listed there, and their file must be in good standing: the title is reserved, and using it without registration is prohibited. Bankeo performs this verification for CPAs in its network before any matching process.
Not always. For bookkeeping, GST/QST returns, or a simple tax return, a competent accountant who isn't a member of the professional body can do the job perfectly well. However, certain tasks are reserved for CPAs, such as auditing or reviewing financial statements, which are often required by a bank or investor. Many accountants in the Bankeo network are CPAs: the need for one will depend on your specific situation.
En médiane, environ 3 000 $ par année, et la plupart des mandats se situent entre 500 $ et 6 000 $ selon le service et le secteur. 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 détail, ventilé par service et par secteur, est publié dans le Baromètre Bankeo.
No professional liability insurance, a price that remains unclear after two discussions, a CPA designation not found in the Order's register, no contactable references, and delayed responses from the very first exchanges. Only one of these red flags warrants a second look; two justify moving on to the next candidate.
Oui, c'est le principe de l'Indice Bankeo : avant de vous présenter un comptable, on vérifie son assurance, son entreprise, son inscription à l'ordre pour les CPA, ses avis clients et sa maîtrise de votre secteur, parmi plus de 20 critères. Le service est gratuit pour l'entrepreneur, sans engagement, et le jumelage est souvent complété en 48 h. Vous gardez le choix final, et on vous accompagne, toujours.
General information provided for guidance purposes only, reflecting current 2026 tax rules. It does not replace the advice of a CPA: always consult a professional for your specific situation.
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