Here Are The 6 Questions Your Accountant Hopes You Never Ask.

Over the course of a long career in accountancy, I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of small business owners, sole traders, freelancers, and professionals across Essex and beyond. And one thing I have noticed, time and again, is that many people are not entirely sure what they should reasonably expect from their accountant or indeed what they are actually entitled to ask for.
This article is my attempt to address that. Not as a sales pitch, but as a straightforward reflection from someone who has spent more than fifty years in this profession and cares genuinely about the people within it.

Transparency about fees

Fee structures in accountancy vary considerably. Some firms charge by the hour; others, like Chelmer Company Services, work on agreed fixed fees. Neither model is inherently wrong. What matters is that you, as the client, understand exactly what you are paying for and when.
At our firm, we agree fees in advance. You will know the cost before any work begins, and there are no additional charges for telephone calls or straightforward queries. In our experience, this approach encourages the kind of open, ongoing dialogue that produces the best outcomes. Clients who feel comfortable picking up the phone tend to be better informed and better prepared.

The value of proactive advice

A good accountant does more than file returns on time. At its best, the accountant-client relationship is one where advice flows throughout the year, not just at year-end. Tax positions can often be improved through forward planning. Business decisions, from taking on staff to purchasing equipment, can have meaningful financial implications that are worth discussing in advance.

At Chelmer Company Services, we aim to ensure that clients are never caught off guard by their tax liabilities. We believe that knowing your likely position well in advance, rather than discovering it at the last moment, is simply part of providing a thoughtful, professional service.

"In fifty years, I have never found a substitute for a genuine conversation. Numbers on a page tell part of the story. The person behind the numbers tells the rest."

Direct contact and a human approach

At Chelmer Company Services, clients speak directly with a qualified, experienced accountant. There are no call handlers, no junior staff passing messages along, no ticketing systems to navigate. When something arises in your business, the person you speak with knows your situation and can give you a considered, informed response.

This is not a criticism of how other firms operate. Larger practices have different structures for understandable reasons. It is simply a description of what we offer and what many of our clients tell us they value.

The 6 questions worth asking your accountant

Whether you work with us or with another firm, there are six questions that every business owner is entitled to ask and have clearly answered:

• What are your fees, and what exactly do they cover?
• What is my likely tax liability for this year, based on current information?
• How and when will you communicate with me proactively?
• Who will I actually be speaking with when I call?
• Are there any planning opportunities I should be aware of at this stage?
• Do you understand my business goals for the next year or two?

These are reasonable, professional questions. Any qualified accountant should be able to answer them clearly and without hesitation. If the answers are vague or unsatisfying, it may simply be worth having a broader conversation about expectations on both sides.

A note on professional standards

As an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, I am bound by the Institute's Code of Ethics, covering integrity, objectivity, professional competence, confidentiality, and professional behaviour. These are not aspirational standards; they are mandatory requirements. When you engage an ICAEW member, you engage someone who is accountable to a professional body with robust regulatory oversight.

Chelmer Company Services holds a practising certificate and maintains Professional Indemnity Insurance in accordance with ICAEW requirements. We are committed to providing services that are honest, competent, and conducted with the dignity the profession deserves.