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How to verify that an accountant is reliable in Quebec: The Cross-Check method
July 23, 2026
At a Glance. To verify that an accountant is trustworthy in Quebec, cross-check two sources. On one hand, public records: the Ordre des CPA du Québec directory if the professional identifies as a CPA, and the Quebec Business Register for their business. On the other hand, look for concrete evidence: professional liability insurance, genuine client reviews, and expertise in your industry. This is exactly what the Bankeo Trust Index does: it reviews more than 20 criteria before presenting you with an accountant from its network of over 1,500 professionals. This article provides you with a comprehensive guide to verifying everything yourself, or delegating the verification process, at no cost.
Entrusting your financials to the wrong person can be costly: incorrect tax returns, penalties from the CRA and Revenu Québec, missed tax credits, and hours spent starting over with someone else. Yet most business owners choose their accountant based on a recommendation or an ad, without doing any due diligence. Since 2023, Bankeo has received more than 15,000 requests for matching, and one reason comes up often: a past bad experience that could have been avoided with a few simple checks at the outset. Here’s the method, step by step. It complements our guide on How to Choose the Right Accountant for Your Business.
When an entrepreneur says, “I want a reliable accountant,” they’re actually referring to four very different guarantees. That’s why a single check is never enough:
Public records verify legitimacy. Other forms of assurance require proof. The method below combines both.
In Quebec, the title of CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) is a protected title regulated by the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec. To use this title, a professional must be listed on the Order’s roster and in good standing: continuing education requirements must be up to date, and insurance and ethical obligations must be met. This registry is public: on the Order’s website (cpaquebec.ca), you can search for a professional’s name and view their status, for free, in just two minutes.
But you still need to know how to interpret what you find there:
| What You See on the Order’s List | What this means | Your First Instinct |
|---|---|---|
| Active registration, member in good standing | Today, professionals are entitled to use the CPA designation | Green light on the credentials; proceed with the other checks |
| Suspended Status or Restricted Practice Rights | The Order has restricted what professionals can do | Ask for detailed explanations before moving forward |
| Struck from the roll | The professional is no longer authorized to use the title “CPA” | If they’re still calling themselves a CPA, move on |
| Not listed on the register | The person is not a CPA (or the name is misspelled) | If they claim to be a CPA, that’s a major red flag; otherwise, it’s not necessarily a deal-breaker |
For the complete step-by-step guide, including Ontario, see our article on How to verify an accountant’s registration with the Order of CPA.
“Accountant” is not a protected title in Quebec; “CPA” is. An accountant who is not a CPA can certainly keep your books, file your GST and QST returns, and assist you on a day-to-day basis, often at a lower cost. Only certain tasks, such as auditing and certifying financial statements, are reserved for CPA auditors. The issue, therefore, is not “CPA or nothing”, it’s that the title they claim is accurate, and that the rest of the verification process follows through.
The Order’s directory answers only one question: Is this person currently authorized to call themselves a CPA? That’s essential, but it’s a narrow criterion. It doesn’t cover accountants who aren’t CPAs (who are perfectly legal in Quebec to handle bookkeeping and routine tax filings). It doesn’t tell you whether the business billing you actually exists, whether the professional has experience in the restaurant or construction industries, whether they respond to emails in April, or what their clients think of them after two years.
In other words: the Order’s list is the first step in a process, not the entire process. That’s where the Bankeo Trust Index comes in.
Before introducing you to an accountant, Bankeo screens them based on more than 20 criteria: this is The Bankeo Trust Index. Five of these criteria are publicly disclosed because they are factual and verifiable by anyone. The table below cross-references each of these criteria with the public registry or concrete evidence that allows you to verify them yourself. This is the same approach that Bankeo systematically applies to its network, in a “do-it-yourself” format.
| Bankeo Trust Index Criteria | How to Check This Yourself | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability Insurance | Request a current insurance certificate: name of the insurer and coverage period | Evasive answers, “that’s not necessary,” expired certification |
| A Genuine, Established Business | Search for the business in the Quebec Business Register: NEQ, address, executives, years in business | Business cannot be found, registration revoked, address cannot be verified |
| Registration with the professional association (for CPAs) | Check the Order’s directory on cpaquebec.ca: active and in good standing | CPA title listed but name not found on the roster; status: disbarred or suspended |
| Real customer reviews | Read Google reviews over time and ask for one or two references in your industry | No reviews, generic reviews posted in the same week, refusal to provide references |
| Expertise in Your Industry | Ask three questions specific to your situation: GST and QST filing online, CCQ payroll, tips, and advance payments | Vague answers, no clients comparable to yours |
Two important clarifications. First, the Bankeo Trust Index is a set of verification criteria, not a certification audit or a public ranking of accounting firms: it defines, in concrete terms, what “vetted accountant” means at Bankeo. Second, the other criteria remain our formula: responsiveness, quality of support, and the ability to take on new clients. It’s this formula that helps you find not just any accountant, but THE right one for you.
In order of effectiveness, here is the condensed version to follow for each accountant you’re considering:
Good news: reliability doesn’t necessarily come at a higher price. The Market benchmark is a median of about $3,000 per year, with most engagements ranging from $500 to $6,000 depending on the service and industry. These figures are based on the actual fees from 1,248 engagements completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received; the details can be found in the Bankeo Fee Barometer, and we outline the main points in our Study on the Cost of an Accountant in Quebec in 2026.
Price itself can also serve as a verification tool: a quote that falls well below these ranges, without a clear explanation, warrants the same scrutiny as an unverifiable title. Conversely, a market-rate price, detailed in writing, is a sign of professionalism.
Bankeo connects you for free with vetted accountants from its network of over 1,500 partners. Each profile is screened using the Bankeo Trust Index before being presented to you: you compare, you choose, and we’re always here to support you. Free service, no obligation, and matching is often completed within 48 hours. Rated 4.7/5 based on over 180 Google reviews.
Find my accountantCheck the Ordre des CPA du Québec 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 just two minutes. If the professional uses the CPA designation but their name cannot be found on the roster, or if their status is listed as struck off or suspended, this is a major red flag.
No. “Accountant” is not a protected title in Quebec: an accountant who is not a CPA can legally maintain your books, file your GST and QST returns, and provide you with day-to-day advice. Only certain activities, such as auditing and certifying financial statements, are reserved for CPA auditors. For a non-CPA, reliability is verified in other ways: professional liability insurance, a registered business, client reviews, and experience in your industry.
This is the verification process that every accountant in the Bankeo network undergoes before being introduced to you: more than 20 criteria. Five of these criteria are publicly disclosed because they are factual and verifiable: professional liability insurance, a real and established business, membership in the Ordre des CPA, genuine client reviews, and expertise in your industry. The rest is the Bankeo formula, the one that finds THE right accountant for your situation, not just a name on a list.
Key red flags: a CPA designation displayed but not listed on the Order’s roster; a business not listed in the Quebec Business Register or one that has been struck off; the inability to obtain a liability insurance certificate; zero customer reviews or generic reviews all posted at the same time; promises of guaranteed tax refunds; and a price well below market value with no written explanation.
The median is approximately $3,000 per year, and the vast majority of 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.
Yes, absolutely. You describe your needs, we present you with accountants who have already been vetted by the Bankeo Trust Index, you choose one, and you pay nothing to Bankeo, neither upfront nor afterward. Bankeo is compensated by the accountants in its network through a fixed fee per file, which is known in advance. The matching process is often completed within 48 hours, and the service is rated 4.7/5 based on over 180 Google reviews.
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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