Changing an accountant or accounting service provider often seems a complicated process for a company, but with a clear plan it can be done without interruptions to the accounting or the risk of missing tax deadlines.
1. Choose the most suitable time for the change.
The most convenient time is usually after the end of a reporting period or the year-end close: the new accountant then has a clear starting point and there is less risk that a transaction goes unrecorded.
2. Prepare a list of documents and access rights.
Accounting records, returns for previous periods, contracts, bank access and employee data: everything must be gathered and ready to hand over, to avoid a lack of information.
3. Agree on a transition period.
Ideally, the previous and the new service provider work in parallel for a short time, or at least reconcile balances, to make sure the data match and nothing gets lost.
4. Check the opening balances.
Before continuing the accounting, the new accountant must make sure that the balance sheet and profit and loss balances match the previous reports. This is the basis for accurate accounting going forward.
5. Inform the SRS and business partners, if necessary.
Depending on the form of cooperation, it may be necessary to renew powers of attorney or access rights so that the new service provider can represent the company in tax administration.
The SolConto team regularly helps companies to take over accounting safely from a previous accountant: we assess the initial situation, check the data and make sure the transition takes place without interruptions.
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