Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Accountant (Ottawa CPA Guide)
Hiring an accountant? Ottawa CPA Majdi Ibrahim shares practical questions small business owners should ask before choosing the right fit.
By Majdi Ibrahim, CPA | Majdi Ibrahim, CPA Professional Corporation | Ottawa, Ontario
Choosing an accountant is one of those decisions that's easy to put off — and easy to get wrong if you're choosing based on price alone or a quick referral without really knowing what you're looking for.
Here are the questions I'd suggest asking, whether you're talking to us or anyone else.
"Are you a CPA, and what does that mean for my situation?"
In Canada, CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) is a regulated professional designation — CPAs are regulated professionals and accountable to a regulatory body, CPA Ontario in this province. Not everyone who does bookkeeping or tax preparation is a CPA, and that's not automatically a problem — bookkeepers play an important and different role. But it's worth knowing what level of advice and review you're getting, particularly for corporate tax returns and planning decisions.
"Who will actually be doing the work, and who reviews it?"
At some firms, the person you meet for an introductory call isn't necessarily the person who prepares your file day to day — and that's not automatically a problem either. Larger firms often have a team structure where different people handle preparation, review, and client communication.
The useful thing to know is simply how it works: who prepares your file, who reviews it before it's finalized, and who you'd actually be talking to if you had a question. There's no universally right answer here — but knowing the structure upfront avoids surprises later.
"What's included, and what isn't?"
This is one of the most useful questions for avoiding surprises later. "Accounting services" can mean very different things — does it include bookkeeping, or just the year-end tax return? Does it include GST/HST filings? Payroll? Ongoing questions throughout the year, or only at tax time?
A good answer is specific. A vague answer — "we'll take care of everything" — sounds reassuring but doesn't actually tell you what you're getting. Ask for the scope in plain terms, and ask what would cost extra.
"What happens if I receive a letter from CRA?"
CRA letters are more common than people expect — sometimes routine, sometimes requesting more information, occasionally the start of a review. What matters is what happens when, not if, one shows up.
Ask whether your accountant helps interpret the letter and respond to it, and whether that's included as part of the relationship or billed as a separate matter. This isn't about expecting problems — it's about knowing what year-round support actually looks like before you need it.
"How do you communicate, and how quickly can I expect a response?"
Some accounting relationships are essentially quiet for eleven months and then suddenly busy at tax time. Others involve regular check-ins throughout the year. Neither approach is universally right — it depends on what you need — but it's worth knowing which one you're signing up for.
If you've ever sent an email to a previous accountant and waited two weeks for a reply during a time-sensitive situation, you know why this question matters. Ask directly: if something comes up mid-year, what does getting an answer actually look like?
"Can you walk me through how you'd handle [a situation specific to me]?"
This is the most revealing question on the list — because the answer tells you not just what they'd do, but how they think about it. A good accountant should be able to talk through a real scenario relevant to your situation in plain language, explain the considerations, and be honest about what they'd need to know before giving a definitive answer.
If the answer to a specific question is immediately confident and definitive with no follow-up questions of their own — that's sometimes a sign they're not actually engaging with your specific situation. The best answers often start with "it depends, here's what I'd want to know first."
The Underlying Theme
Almost every question above is really asking the same thing in different ways: will this person actually pay attention to my situation, or am I one of many files moving through a system?
Price matters, and so does competence — but fit matters too, and it's hard to judge fit from a website or a single phone call. These questions are designed to surface it a little faster.
Happy to Answer These Ourselves
If you're in the process of looking for an accountant — whether that's us or someone else — these questions are worth asking anyone you're considering.
Majdi Ibrahim, CPA works with small business owners, self-employed individuals, and incorporated professionals across Ottawa.
👉Book a consultation at www.treehousecpa.com — and feel free to ask us any of the above.
This article is provided for general informational purposes only.
