Find bookkeepers and accountants near you

A ProAdvisor is an accountant or bookkeeping professional with an advanced QuickBooks skillset. They offer a range of specialised accounting services, from bookkeeping to business advice, QuickBooks set-up, and tax-related help.

ProAdvisors can help businesses to save on costs, improve inventory management and grow.

This will depend on your needs, but generally speaking:

• Bookkeeper: Best for day-to-day financial record-keeping like data entry, payroll, and managing accounts payable/receivable.
• Accountant: Best for higher-level services like financial strategy, tax planning, business structure advice, and complex financial analysis.

Before engaging anyone, it’s important you ensure the advisor has taken advanced finance education, ethical training, and practical skills development. In particular:

1. Look for relevant degrees, certifications (like CPA in Australia or Chartered Accountants in New Zealand, or a bookkeeping certificate), and membership in professional organizations.
2. Verify their registration with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB), especially if they are a BAS agent (search the TPB database online).

You can ask an adviser about their qualifications and experience. Many of them will be open about their training and will provide references or case studies if you ask for them.

1. Ask about their experience with businesses similar to yours, as this can reveal industry-specific knowledge. You should ensure they can provide the services you need for eg tax preparation, BAS lodgement and business advisory services.
2. Check what cloud accounting software they are familiar with. All QuickBooks ProAdvisors are trained in getting the most out of QuickBooks.
3. Ask them to explain basic financial concepts, like the difference between a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement to see if they can communicate with you clearly and effectively.
4. Verify they are reliable, punctual, organized, and detail-oriented.
5. Discuss how you will submit paperwork and how often you will meet
6. Ask about fees. It’s important that you understand their fee structure—how much they charge and how often.
7. Look for Public Liability Insurance: Qualified accountants typically carry insurance to protect their clients, which is a good sign of legitimacy and professionalism.