Choosing an accounting firm should not be based solely on price. A good accountant is a financial partner who warns you about risks, monitors regulatory changes, and helps you make better decisions for your business.
How to choose a reliable accounting firm
Accounting services are not limited to processing invoices, filing declarations, and calculating taxes. A good accounting firm should understand your business, respond promptly, and warn you about potential risks and opportunities.
Before signing a contract, pay attention to the following key criteria.
1. Proactivity
Proactivity is one of the most important criteria when choosing an accounting firm.
If your accountant does not inform you about legislative changes, financial risks, and opportunities for optimisation, you do not have a genuine financial partner—you simply have an operator who processes the information provided.
Proactive accounting services can help you avoid:
- Unnecessary tax expenses
- Fines and administrative issues
- Missed deadlines
- Wasted time and unnecessary paperwork
How to check: Ask for a specific example of an optimisation or recommendation that the firm has proposed to one of its clients during the past few months.
The inability to provide a specific answer is usually a sign of passive service.
2. Responsiveness and response time
Fast communication is critically important, especially in urgent situations, during inspections, or when receiving enquiries from the National Revenue Agency.
When dealing with an enquiry from the National Revenue Agency, the difference between receiving a response within two hours and receiving one after two days can be significant.
Slow communication before signing the contract often indicates an even slower response once the working relationship has begun.
How to check: Send a test email or a specific question before signing the contract and observe:
- How quickly you receive a response
- Whether the response is specific and easy to understand
- Whether responsibility is taken for handling your enquiry
3. A clearly assigned contact person
You should know exactly who will be processing your documents and whom you can contact when a question arises.
Vague answers regarding the accountant responsible for your business may be a sign of an unclear organisational structure and poorly assigned responsibilities.
Before starting the collaboration, clarify:
- Who your main point of contact will be
- Who will process your day-to-day documents
- Who will handle urgent and more complex matters
- Who will replace your assigned specialist when they are absent
4. Digitalisation of processes
In 2026, all essential accounting processes should be available online.
This includes:
- Sending and storing documents
- Receiving statements and reports
- Filing the necessary declarations
- Online communication and task tracking
If the firm constantly requires you to deliver folders of paper documents in person, this may be a sign that its processes are outdated, slow, and insufficiently transparent.
Digitalisation is not merely a convenience. It reduces the risk of lost documents, speeds up communication, and gives you greater visibility into the financial condition of your business.
5. Transparent pricing
The price of the accounting service should be clearly specified in writing.
Before signing a contract, you should know:
- Which services are included in the monthly fee
- Which services are charged separately
- How the price changes when the number of documents or employees increases
- Whether there are separate fees for annual accounts, reports, and consultations
A very low starting price combined with numerous additional paid services is a serious red flag.
The phrase “everything is included” has no real value unless you are provided with a written list of the included services.
6. Guarantees and accountability
Mistakes can occur with any accounting service. The important question is how the firm responds and who takes responsibility for the consequences.
Ask in advance what happens in the event of:
- An accounting error
- A missed deadline
- A fine imposed due to the firm’s mistake
- Incorrect information being submitted
A good accounting firm has a clear policy, takes responsibility for its work, and does not automatically transfer the consequences to the client.
5 red flags according to “Eksperta”
When choosing an accounting firm, be particularly careful if you notice any of the following warning signs:
- You receive responses to your enquiries after more than 24 hours
- There is no specific specialist responsible for your account
- The firm does not have a website or a clear online presence
- The firm claims that “everything is included”, but does not provide a written list of services
- The offered prices are two or three times lower than typical market rates
An excessively low price often means that a single specialist is responsible for too many clients, resulting in slow communication, a lack of individual attention, and a higher risk of errors.
What does “Eksperta” recommend?
Before choosing an accounting firm:
- Arrange an initial consultation
- Ask specific questions about the firm’s working processes
- Request a written quotation with a detailed description of the services
- Check the response time and quality of communication
- Clarify who your main specialist will be
- Do not make your decision solely on the basis of the lowest price
Choose an accounting partner, not just a service provider
The right accounting firm does more than simply process your documents. It monitors deadlines, warns you about risks, and helps you make informed financial decisions.
“Eksperta” provides proactive and personalised accounting services, clear communication, digital processes, and transparent pricing.
Contact us for more information or book a consultation.