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How to verify the reliability of an accountant in France: the cross-checking method
23/7/2026
En bref. Pour vérifier qu'un comptable est fiable au Québec, croisez deux sources. D'un côté, les registres publics : le tableau de l'Ordre des CPA du Québec si le professionnel se présente comme CPA, et le Registre des entreprises du Québec pour son entreprise. De l'autre, les preuves concrètes : assurance responsabilité civile professionnelle, vrais avis clients, maîtrise de votre secteur. C'est exactement le travail que fait l'Indice Bankeo : plus de 20 critères passés en revue avant qu'un comptable du réseau de 1 500+ vous soit présenté. Cet article vous donne la méthode complète pour tout vérifier vous-même, ou pour déléguer la vérification, gratuitement.
Entrusting your accounts to the wrong person is costly: incorrect tax returns, IRS and tax penalties, missed tax credits, and hours spent redoing everything with someone else. Yet, most entrepreneurs choose their accountant based on a recommendation or advertisement, without any due diligence. Since 2023, Bankeo has received over 15,000 matching requests, and one reason comes up frequently: a bad past experience that could have been avoided with a few simple checks at the outset. Here's the step-by-step method. It complements our guide on how to choose the right accountant for your business .
When an entrepreneur says "I want a reliable accountant," they are actually talking about four very different guarantees. That's why a single check is never enough:
Public records cover legitimacy. Other guarantees require evidence. The method below combines both.
In Quebec, the CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) designation is a protected title, regulated by the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec (Quebec Order of Chartered Professional Accountants). To use it, a professional must be registered with the Order and in good standing: current continuing education, and compliance with insurance and professional ethics obligations. This register is public: on the Order's website (cpaquebec.ca), you can search for the professional's name and view their status, free of charge, in two minutes.
But you still need to know how to interpret what you find there:
| What you see on the Order's board | What this means | Your reflex |
|---|---|---|
| Active registration, full member | The professional has the right to use the CPA designation today. | The title has been given the green light; continue with the other checks. |
| Status suspended or right to exercise limited; | The Order has restricted what the professional can do | Ask for a clear explanation before going any further. |
| Removed from circulation | | The professional is no longer entitled to use the CPA designation. | If it still displays CPA, move on. |
| Not found in the table | The person is not a CPA (or the name is misspelled) | If it presents itself as a CPA, that's a major warning sign; otherwise, it's not disqualifying in itself. |
For the complete step-by-step guide, including Ontario, see our article on how to verify an accountant's registration with the CPA Order .
"Accountant" is not a protected title; "CPA" is. A non-CPA accountant can perfectly well keep your books, prepare your VAT returns, and support you on a daily basis, often at a lower cost. Only certain acts, such as auditing and certifying financial statements, are reserved for CPA auditors. The issue, therefore, is not "CPA or nothing": it's that the stated title is genuine, and that the rest of the audit follows suit.
The professional register answers only one question: Is this person entitled to call themselves a CPA today? This is essential, but it's a narrow definition. It doesn't cover accountants who aren't CPAs (perfectly legal in France for bookkeeping and routine tax returns). It doesn't tell you if the company billing you actually exists, if the professional is knowledgeable about restaurants or construction, if they respond to emails in April, or what their clients think of them after two years.
In other words: the Order table is the first row of a method, not the entire method. This is where Bankeo Index comes in.
Avant de vous présenter un comptable, Bankeo le vérifie sur plus de 20 critères : c'est l'Indice Bankeo. Cinq de ces critères sont dévoilés publiquement, parce qu'ils sont factuels et vérifiables par n'importe qui. Le tableau ci-dessous croise chacun d'eux avec le registre public ou la preuve concrète qui permet de le contrôler vous-même. C'est la même logique que Bankeo applique systématiquement à son réseau, en version « faites-le vous-même ».
| Bankeo Index Criteria | How to verify it yourself | Warning signal |
|---|---|---|
| Professional liability insurance | Request a current insurance certificate: name of the insurer and duration of coverage | Evasive answer, "no need for that", expired certificate |
| A real and established company | Search for the company in the Trade and Companies Register: RCS, address, directors, seniority | Company not found, registration cancelled, address unverifiable |
| Registration with the professional order (for CPAs) | Consult the Order's register at cpaquebec.ca: active and up-to-date registration | CPA title displayed but name not found on the roster, status struck off or suspended |
| Real customer reviews | Read Google reviews over time and ask for one or two references in your area. | Zero reviews, generic reviews published the same week, refusal to provide references |
| Mastery of your sector | Ask three questions specific to your situation: online VAT, CCQ payroll, tips, deposits | Vague answers, no customer comparable to yours |
Deux précisions honnêtes. D'abord, l'Indice Bankeo est un ensemble de critères de vérification, pas un audit certifiant ni un classement public de cabinets : il définit concrètement ce que « comptable vérifié » veut dire chez Bankeo. Ensuite, les autres critères restent notre recette : rapidité, qualité d'accompagnement, capacité à prendre de nouveaux dossiers. C'est cette recette qui permet de trouver non pas un comptable, mais LE bon pour vous.
In the most efficient order, here is the condensed version to unroll for each accountant you are considering:
Bonne nouvelle : la fiabilité ne se paie pas forcément plus cher. Le repère du marché, c'est une médiane d'environ 3 000 $ par année, la plupart des mandats se situant entre 500 $ et 6 000 $ selon le service et le secteur. Ces montants sont basés sur les honoraires réels de 1 248 mandats conclus via Bankeo (2024-2026), sur plus de 15 000 demandes reçues ; le détail vit dans le Baromètre Bankeo, et on en présente les grandes lignes dans notre étude sur le coût d'un comptable au Québec en 2026.
The price itself becomes a verification tool: a quote far below these ranges, without a clear explanation, warrants the same questions as an unverifiable title. Conversely, a market price, detailed in writing, is a sign of professionalism.
Bankeo connects you, free of charge, with audited accountants from its network of over 1,500 partners. Each profile is reviewed by the Bankeo Index before being presented to you: you compare, you choose, and we support you every step of the way. This free, no-obligation service often results in a perfect match within 48 hours. Rated 4.7/5 based on over 180 Google reviews.
Find my accountantConsult the Quebec CPA Order's directory at cpaquebec.ca: search for the professional's name and verify that their registration is active and in good standing. It's public, free, and takes two minutes. If the professional displays the CPA designation but their name cannot be found on the directory, or if their status is deregistered or suspended, this is a major red flag.
No. "Accountant" is not a title reserved for accountants in Quebec: an accountant who is not a CPA can legally keep your books, prepare your VAT returns, and provide you with day-to-day advice. Only certain acts, such as auditing and certifying financial statements, are reserved for CPA auditors. For a non-CPA, reliability is verified differently: professional liability insurance, registered business, client reviews, and experience in your industry.
C'est la vérification que chaque comptable du réseau Bankeo passe avant de vous être présenté : plus de 20 critères. Cinq sont dévoilés publiquement parce qu'ils sont factuels et vérifiables : assurance responsabilité civile professionnelle, entreprise réelle et établie, inscription à l'ordre pour les CPA, vrais avis clients et maîtrise de votre secteur. Le reste constitue la recette Bankeo, celle qui trouve LE bon comptable pour votre situation, pas juste un nom dans une liste.
The main ones: a CPA title displayed but not found on the Order's register; a company absent from the Paris Trade and Companies Register or struck off; the impossibility of obtaining a certificate of civil liability insurance; zero customer reviews or generic reviews all published at the same time; promises of guaranteed tax refunds; and a price far below market value without written explanation.
La médiane est d'environ 3 000 $ par année, et la grande majorité 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.
Yes, absolutely. You describe your needs, we present you with accountants who have already been selected through the Bankeo Index, you choose, and you pay nothing to Bankeo, neither initially nor subsequently. Bankeo is compensated by the accountants in its network through fixed fees per completed transaction, known in advance. The matching process is often completed within 48 hours, and the service has a 4.7/5 rating based on over 180 Google reviews.
General information provided for guidance purposes only, reflecting the current 2026 tax regulations. It does not replace the advice of an accountant or chartered accountant: always consult a professional for your specific situation.
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