Choosing an accountant
How do I find a good accountant near me?
By Pick My Accountant Editorial · Updated 8 July 2026
Where to actually look
Four sources beat a generic web search: comparison directories that show fees and credentials side by side, the professional bodies' own find-a-member tools (ICAEW, ACCA, AAT), recommendations from business owners in your sector (ask what they pay and what's included, not just 'are they nice'), and your local business networks. Cross-reference — a firm that appears in a register, has consistent reviews, and gets named by peers is a safe shortlist entry.
Filtering the shortlist
Reject anyone not verifiable on a professional register. Then filter for sector fit: a firm full of contractors will handle IR35 conversations a generalist fumbles; a practice serving restaurants knows tronc schemes and margins. Finally filter for size fit — a ten-partner firm may treat a micro business as an afterthought, while a two-person practice may lack capacity in January.
Comparing quotes properly
Send each firm the same one-paragraph brief: structure, turnover, VAT status, employees, software, and what you want handled. Ask for a fixed monthly fee with inclusions and exclusions listed. Quotes then become comparable, and differences expose scope gaps — the £30/month gap between two quotes is usually bookkeeping or payroll hiding in the small print.
People also ask
Does my accountant need to be local at all?
For most compliance work, no — cloud software has made location irrelevant. Local still helps for businesses that value in-person meetings, cash-heavy trades, or sector niches with regional character.
Are directories' star ratings reliable?
Treat any single rating source as one signal, not a verdict. On Pick My Accountant, ratings carry a review count and source, and firms cannot pay to change a score — but we still recommend confirming fit in a real conversation.
When is the best time of year to look?
Spring and summer — after the January self assessment rush and before autumn onboarding. Firms have more capacity to take care over setup, and you avoid rushed decisions near deadlines.
This article is general information for UK businesses, not tax, legal, or financial advice, and thresholds change — confirm current rules on GOV.UK or with a qualified accountant before acting. Fee figures are indicative benchmarks from ourmethodology.