Questions to ask an accountant before hiring them: the checklist

In short. Before hiring an accountant in Quebec, twelve questions are all it takes to separate a true professional from a risky gamble. They cover six areas: professional liability insurance, the company behind the name, registration with the Quebec CPA Order if the accountant presents themselves as a CPA, client reviews, expertise in your sector, and clarity regarding fees and service. This checklist isn't improvised: it's derived from the Bankeo Index, the method that evaluates each accountant in the network on more than 67 criteria before matching them with an accountant. Regarding price, the market benchmark is a median of approximately $2,000 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 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 .

Hence this checklist: the Bankeo Index and its 67 criteria

Before presenting you with an accountant, Bankeo evaluates them based on over 67 criteria: this is the Bankeo Index . Five factual criteria are publicly disclosed, as anyone can verify them: professional liability insurance, a real and established business, verified registration with the professional body for CPAs, genuine client reviews, and expertise in your sector. The others relate to the matching process's expertise: responsiveness, quality of follow-up, transparency of fees, and quality of advice.

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 checklist at a glance: 12 questions to ask

The 5 factual checks, even before the first meeting

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.

1. Professional liability insurance

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.

2. A real and registered business

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.

3. Registration with the Quebec CPA Order, if the accountant presents themselves as a CPA

The CPA designation is protected: anyone claiming it must be registered and in good standing with the Quebec CPA Order, and the membership register is public. You don't always need a CPA: for bookkeeping, VAT 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.

4. Genuine customer reviews

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.

5. Mastery of your sector

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.

The 7 interview questions: methodology, service, and French taxation

The undisclosed criteria of the Index cover expertise: speed, follow-up, clarity, and quality of advice. In interviews, these families become seven concrete questions.

• Fees (question 6). What is included, what is charged extra, the billing frequency: everything must be in writing before signing. Knowing the amount in advance is not a luxury; it's the standard for an organized professional.
• The two tax levels (question 7). In Quebec, your accountant works with two administrations: the CRA at the federal level and Revenu Québec at the provincial level. Specifically: T1 and TP1 forms for sole traders, T2 and CO-17 forms for incorporated companies, 9.975% VAT on taxable sales, and DAS (Declaration of Annual Salaries) if you have employees. Ask who files what and request a schedule of deadlines.
• Responsiveness (question 8). From February to the end of April, all accountants are overwhelmed. Ask about the response time during peak season: a clear commitment in working days is better than a vague promise.
• Communication (question 9). A designated contact person, an agreed follow-up schedule, a meeting before major deadlines: a good accountant is present throughout the year, not just during tax season.
• The tools (question 10). Traditional cloud software, scanned invoices, and above all: you own access to your data. If you ever change accountants, your books go with you.
• Who does the work (question 11)? In many firms, an accounting technician does the data entry and an experienced accountant supervises. This is perfectly fine, as long as the roles are clear and you know who is responsible for your file.
• Proactive advice (question 12). Instalment payments, choosing between salary and dividends, RRSP and TFSA contributions, eligible expenses: a good accountant makes suggestions, doesn't just compile information. Ask for an example of a recommendation made to a client like yourself in the past year.

Fees: grounding the discussion in real data

The question of price is much easier to address when you understand the market. Based on the actual fees of 1,248 mandates completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received, an accountant costs on median approximately $2,000 per year, and most mandates range from $500 to $6,000 depending on the service and sector. This is a guideline, not your price: the breakdown by service and sector is published in the Bankeo Barometer , and our comprehensive study on the cost of an accountant in France in 2026 details the methodology.

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 .

Warning signs: when should the response make you back down?

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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What questions should you ask an accountant before hiring them?

Twelve 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.

How can you verify that an accountant is actually a CPA?

The register of members of the Quebec CPA Order 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.

Do I need a CPA for my small business?

Not always. For bookkeeping, VAT 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.

How much should an accountant cost?

The median fee is approximately $2,000 per year, with most mandates ranging from $500 to $6,000 depending on the service and sector. These figures are based on the actual fees of 1,248 mandates completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received. A detailed breakdown by service and sector is published in the Bankeo Barometer .

What are the main warning signs?

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.

Is Bankeo asking these questions on my behalf?

Yes, that's the principle behind the Bankeo Index: before recommending an accountant, we verify their insurance, business, professional registration (for CPAs), client reviews, and expertise in your industry, among more than 67 criteria. The service is free for entrepreneurs, with no obligation, and matching is often completed within 48 hours. You retain the final choice, and we're always there to support you.

Official sources

1. Quebec CPA Order (membership register and public protection)
2. Quebec Enterprise Registrar (Search in the Trade and Companies Register, NEQ)
3. Revenu Québec, Business section (taxes, VAT, withholdings)
4. Revenue Agency of the | Canada (declarations and obligations of companies)
5. Educaloi (legal information for businesses)