Check
Is my accountant doing enough?
Two comparisons help: what you get against what you agreed, and what you agreed against what your business may need now.
The short answer
Start with your engagement letter, which should set out the work your accountant agreed to do and how fees are worked out. Then compare it with what your business may need now. A gap may simply reflect what was agreed, not poor work, so it is something to discuss with your accountant before anything else.
First: find out what you agreed
The written terms between you and your accountant are the starting point. Professional bodies expect them:
- ACCA says letters of engagement are mandatory for its members in practice, and that the letter should set out the work to be performed and the basis on which fees will be charged.1
- ICAEW's Code of Ethics says an accountant must give fee quotes or the basis of fees in writing, and that this would normally be in the engagement letter.2
If you cannot find your engagement letter, ask your accountant for a copy. If you never had one, ask them to set out in writing what they do for you and what it costs.
Then: compare three things
For each kind of support, ask three questions. Do you receive it? Did you agree it? Might your business need it? The last column is our judgement, not a rule.
| Kind of support | Check in your engagement letter | You may need it if |
|---|---|---|
| Year-end accounts and tax returns | Which returns and accounts are included | You run a limited company or file Self Assessment |
| Bookkeeping | Whether they keep your records or you do | Your records are behind or you have no time to keep them |
| VAT returns | Whether VAT returns are part of the fee | You are registered for VAT |
| Payroll | Whether payroll is included, and for how many staff | You employ people |
| Management accounts | How often, and how soon after the period ends | You need figures during the year, or a lender asks for them |
| Cash flow forecast | Whether it is included and how often it is updated | Cash is tight, you are growing, or you are borrowing |
| Advice during the year | Whether meetings or calls are included, or charged extra | You are making decisions such as hiring or buying equipment |
If something is in your engagement letter and you are not getting it, raise that with your accountant. If something is not in the letter but your business may need it, ask whether they can provide it and what it would cost.
Why a gap is not always a failing
An accountant who only prepares year-end accounts may be doing exactly what you agreed and paid for. Your business may simply have changed since you agreed it. Some accountants offer more if asked; others do not offer certain services at all.
We do not check whether an accountant is competent, qualified or suitable for your business. A comparison like this shows what you receive and what you may need. It cannot show how good the work is.
Questions to ask your accountant
- Can you send me a copy of our engagement letter, or confirm in writing what you do for me?
- Is there anything in it that I am not using, or that you have stopped doing?
- Can you provide figures during the year, such as management accounts? How soon after each month or quarter?
- When will we next talk, and what about?
- If I need more, what would it cost and how would the engagement letter change?
More specific checks
- Have I outgrown my accountant?
- How often should my accountant be in touch?
- Guides for specific situations, such as a lender asking for figures or fees going up.
Sources
- ACCA, "Obtaining professional work" guidance factsheet, issued 1 July 2025, section "Letters of engagement". accaglobal.com. Checked 12 October 2026.
- ICAEW, "Fee information" helpsheet, quoting paragraph R330.5 of the ICAEW Code of Ethics. icaew.com. Checked 12 October 2026; the helpsheet is marked as content for members.