How to Choose an Accountant in Australia: 10 Things to Check Before Hiring

Choosing an accountant is one of the more consequential business decisions you will make. The right one will legally reduce your tax, keep you compliant, and flag opportunities you wouldn’t find on your own. The wrong one will file your return and disappear until next July, leaving you to catch problems only when the ATO does.

In Australia, the accounting market includes people with vastly different qualifications, registrations, and capabilities. Not all of them can legally do the same things. This guide covers the ten factors that actually matter, the credentials to verify before you hand anyone access to your financial records, the red flags that predict a poor relationship, and the questions to ask in a first conversation.

Do You Actually Need an Accountant?

Not everyone needs a paid accountant. For individuals with simple employment income and basic deductions, lodging through the ATO’s free myTax platform via myGov produces the same outcome as an accountant for a straightforward return. If your income is from one employer, your only deductions are standard work-related expenses, and you have no investment income or assets with CGT implications, myTax handles this well.

You should engage a registered tax agent when your situation includes any of the following:

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  Rental property or multiple investment properties (depreciation schedules, interest apportionment, repairs vs improvements)
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  Capital gains or losses from shares, property, or cryptocurrenc
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  Business income as a sole trader, partnership, company, or trust
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  Multiple income sources requiring careful categorisation
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  Superannuation strategies (concessional contributions, catch-up contributions, SMSF)
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  A dispute or review from the ATO
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  Outstanding tax returns from prior years
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  Significant life change (business sale, inheritance, divorce) with tax implications

For any of these situations, the cost of a registered tax agent is typically less than the tax they will save you, the penalties they will prevent, or the time they will recover from your calendar.

Types of Accountants in Australia: What They Can and Cannot Do

The word “accountant” covers a wide range of credentials in Australia. The credential that matters most for tax compliance work is registration with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). Professional body membership (CPA Australia, CA ANZ, IPA) adds accountability but does not by itself authorise an accountant to lodge your tax return.

10 Things to Check When Choosing an Accountant

1. Verify TPB Registration Before Anything Else

The single most important pre-engagement check. Go to tpb.gov.au, search by name or business name, and confirm the person is a registered tax agent. This takes under two minutes. If they are not on the register and they are offering tax return services, walk away.

2. Check Professional Body Membership

Membership of CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or the IPA is voluntary but meaningful. Members must maintain continuing professional development (CPD) each year, adhere to a professional code of conduct, and may be subject to disciplinary proceedings by their body. An accountant who is a member of a recognised professional body has an additional layer of accountability beyond TPB registration. The Kalculators is an IPA Practice of the Year SA/NT 2025 award recipient.

3. Industry Experience Relevant to Your Situation

Accounting issues vary significantly by industry and entity type. A tradesperson faces different deduction questions than a doctor; a family trust has different obligations than a sole trader. An accountant who regularly works with businesses like yours will code your transactions correctly, know the common deductions for your occupation, and flag issues specific to your situation without needing to research them at your expense.

4. Accounting Software Competence

If your business already uses cloud accounting software (Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks Online), your accountant should be proficient with it. Xero Advisor Certified and MYOB Certified status are annual qualifications that require testing. An accountant who is an Xero Gold or Platinum Partner (or equivalent MYOB status) has met a high volume threshold with the software, indicating genuine proficiency rather than occasional use. The Kalculators is an Xero Gold Partner.

5. Clear, Written Pricing

Pricing ambiguity creates billing disputes. Before engaging any accountant, get a written engagement letter that specifies the scope of work, the fee structure (hourly, fixed, or monthly retainer), what is included, and what is billed additionally. Vague verbal fee estimates are frequently exceeded. Ask specifically whether my return is more complex than expected, how the pricing change will affect me, and when you will let me know.

6. Scope of Services That Matches Your Needs

Some accounting firms specialise in individual tax returns only. Others cover the full spectrum: bookkeeping, BAS, payroll, business tax returns, SMSF, CGT planning, and business advisory. If you anticipate growing into more complex needs, choosing a firm that can grow with you avoids the disruption of switching accountants as your situation evolves. Confirm upfront which services are in-house and which are referred to a third party.

7. Communication Style and Availability

Your accountant should be reachable by phone and email within a reasonable timeframe during the income year, not just at tax time. An accountant who is inaccessible when you have a question about a transaction, an ATO letter, or a business decision with tax implications is not functioning as an advisor; they are a once-a-year return filer. Ask specifically how they handle client communications and what their typical response time is.

8. Who Will Actually Prepare Your Work

In larger accounting firms, a junior accountant or bookkeeper often prepares returns and workpapers, with a senior accountant reviewing and signing off. This is not inherently bad; it is standard practice, but you should know it up front. Ask who prepares my return, who reviews it, and whom I will speak with when I have questions. A junior preparer overseen by a knowledgeable senior is a reasonable arrangement. An unreviewed junior filing without oversight is not.

9. Proactive Advice, Not Just Reactive Compliance

The difference between a good accountant and a great one is proactive communication. A great accountant notifies you when the super guarantee rate changes, when an ATO focus area matches your profile, when a new deduction becomes available for your situation, or when a business decision you are considering has tax implications you should know about. If the accountant’s only contact with you is an annual form to sign, they are not working in your interest.

10. Reviews, References, and Reputation

Google reviews, accounting body member directories, and direct client references all provide signals. For South Australian businesses, check whether the firm holds local professional recognition. Ask the accountant for one or two client references in situations similar to yours. An accountant who has nothing to hide will readily provide them. Read Google reviews critically: pay attention to how the firm responds to negative reviews as much as the reviews themselves.

Red Flags to Avoid When Choosing an Accountant

This section targets the PAA question: 'What are the red flags of accountants?'

How Much Should You Pay for an Accountant in Australia?

Cost varies significantly based on complexity, location, and service scope. The table below provides indicative ranges for the Adelaide and broader South Australian market:

9 Questions to Ask an Accountant Before Hiring

How The Kalculators Can Help

The Kalculators is a registered tax agent and registered BAS agent firm with Xero Gold Partner status, operating from three offices in Adelaide (Salisbury, Blair Athol, and Morphett Vale) with online services across South Australia. Our team covers individual tax returns, small business and company tax returns, bookkeeping, BAS lodgment, SMSF administration, and business advisory services.

We are the IPA Practice of the Year SA/NT 2025, recognition from the Institute of Public Accountants for our practice standards and client outcomes. Founded in 2011 by Kaleem Ulah, the firm serves over 20,000 clients annually across Adelaide and regional SA.

If you have been self-lodging and are concerned that prior-year returns may have missed deductions or contained errors, our second look assessment service reviews previously lodged returns and lodges amendments where corrections are warranted. For new clients, see our individual tax return service or our small business tax return service to get started.