How to Hire an Accountant in Australia

A Startup Guide for Founders Seeking an Accountant

Hiring an accountant isn’t just about crunching numbers or filing taxes — it’s about making smarter business decisions, building long-term financial stability, and avoiding costly mistakes.

Most business owners wait too long. They DIY their finances until they’re overwhelmed, behind on tax, or missing opportunities to grow.

The truth?

A good accountant will keep you compliant.

A great accountant will grow your bottom line.

This guide walks you through exactly how to find, vet, and hire the right accountant for your business in Australia — with zero fluff, and full confidence.

A good accountant will keep you compliant. A great accountant will grow your bottom line.

What Is a Business Accountant and Why It Matters

An accountant for your business does more than handle tax time. They provide insight, strategy, and structure for every stage of your financial journey.

Here’s what a business accountant might help you with:

• Register your ABN, GST, PAYG, and business structure

• Set up your bookkeeping and accounting systems (e.g., Xero or MYOB)

• Lodge your BAS, income tax returns, and payroll compliance

• Help you forecast, budget, and manage cash flow

• Advise on asset protection, deductions, and tax strategy

In Australia, business accountants are often registered tax agents, CPAs, or Chartered Accountants. You can check their registration at tpb.gov.au

Why Hiring the Right Accountant Matters

• They keep you compliant — Avoid fines, missed deadlines, and ATO audits.

• They uncover hidden savings — Know what you can legally claim and structure smarter.

• They free up your time — Let you focus on growing the business, not tracking receipts.

• They guide key decisions — From hiring to pricing to expanding, they know the numbers.

Real Talk: A great accountant won’t just do your tax return. They’ll set up systems that build profit, spot leaks, and save you thousands.

Registered Tax Agent vs Accountant 

(What’s the Difference?)

A Registered Tax Agent (TPB) can legally advise on tax, prepare/lodge returns and BAS, and represent you to the ATO. An “accountant” may focus on management accounting, bookkeeping, and advisory — but without TPB registration, cannot provide fee-for-service tax agent services.

Dimension	Registered Tax Agent (TPB)	Business Accountant (may not be TPB)	When to Use
Authority	Can advise on tax, lodge returns/BAS, represent at ATO	If unregistered: no fee-for-service tax lodgements	Audits, payment plans, rulings, complex tax
Scope	Tax planning, returns, BAS/IAS, GST/PAYG/FBT, ATO	Bookkeeping, payroll/STP, reporting, VCFO, margins	Daily finance ops + growth analytics
BAS/GST	Yes (also BAS Agent)	Only if BAS Agent/Tax Agent	Frequent BAS, complex GST
Verification	TPB register (tpb.gov.au)	CPA/CA/IPA; ask TPB/BAS status	Hiring due diligence
Best Fit	Multi-entity groups, R&D, FBT, international	SMEs needing ops + advisory	Most SMEs use both

This is general overview and you should speak directly to individual experts to gain clarity on their expertise, to ensure a good fit.

What You Need Before You Hire

• Your business structure (sole trader, company, trust)

• Basic understanding of your income streams and costs

• Any current accounting software or spreadsheets

• Key tax lodgements due (BAS, income tax, super)

Mentor Tip: Know your goals. Are you just trying to stay legal, or do you want strategic guidance to scale? Your answer will change who you hire.

How to Hire an Accountant in Australia:

Step-by-Step

Step 1: Decide What You Need Help With

• Compliance: Tax returns, BAS, payroll, FBT, ASIC docs

• Advisory: Cash flow, pricing, margins, forecasting, funding

• Both: Most growing SMEs need both

  
  

Outcome: Clear priorities to screen candidates.

Step 2: Choose the Right Type of Accountant

• Sole practitioner vs firm (capacity, depth, responsiveness)

• Generalist vs industry specialist (eCommerce, trades, SaaS, hospitality)

• Cloud-first vs in-person (Xero advisor certification, portals, bank feeds)

Outcome: A shortlist that matches your stage and sector.

Step 3: Check Registrations & Reviews

• Registered Tax Agent / BAS Agent (TPB)

• CPA, CA, or IPA membership

• Google reviews/LinkedIn; ask for references

Outcome: Confidence they’re qualified and trusted.

Accounting Pricing Models

Hourly vs Fixed rate vs Monthly Package - what’s included, pros/cons, and best fit

Model	What’s Included	Pros	Cons	Best For	Typical Signals
Hourly	Ad-hoc advice, one-off fixes, cleanup/projects	Flexible; pay-per-use	Uncertain total cost; reactive	Small projects, early scoping	Advisory $150–$350/hr; Bookkeeping $60–$100/hr
Fixed Fee	Defined deliverables (tax return, BAS, Xero setup)	Cost certainty; clear deadlines	Variations cost extra; minimal scope bias	Discrete jobs, migrations	Sole trader return $300–$600; Company annual $1k–$3k+
Monthly Package	Bookkeeping, payroll/STP, BAS, monthly reporting, advisory	Predictable; proactive cadence	Pay monthly; needs clear scope	Growing SMEs/startups, boards	$300–$1,500+/mo; VCFO tiers add-on

Pricing is indicative and varies by scope, complexity, and location. Clarify inclusions, response time, and change-request fees, in your engagement letter

Step 4: Ask the Right Questions

(How to Choose an Accountant — Checklist)

• Pricing model: hourly, fixed-fee, or monthly package? What’s included/excluded?

• Experience: Do you work with businesses like mine? Any case studies?

• Team: Will I work with you directly or with juniors? Who signs off?

• Cadence: Monthly or quarterly check-ins? Response time SLAs?

• Software: Xero-certified? Bank feeds, STP, receipt capture (Dext/Hubdoc)?

• ATO access: Can you be linked as our Tax Agent/BAS Agent?

• Data: Secure portals, encryption, MFA?

• Growth: How do you help clients increase profit and cash runway?

Outcome: Fit, clarity, and measurable expectations.

Step 5: Hire & Onboard (Switching Support Included)

• Engagement letter: Scope, fees, SLAs, inclusions/exclusions

• Professional clearance: If switching, your new accountant requests records from the old one

• ATO linking: Add tax/BAS agent via Online Services for Business (myGovID + RAM)

• Access: Xero/MYOB advisor access, bank feeds, payroll/STP, document portal

• Cadence: Book monthly/quarterly finance meetings and reporting rhythm

Outcome: You’ve got a proactive partner, not a once-a-year tax lodger.

Cost of Hiring a Business Accountant in Australia

Service	Cost Range
Sole trader annual tax return	$300 – $600
BAS + income tax (company)	$1,000 – $3,000+ annually
Strategic advisory	$150 – $350/hr or packaged
Bookkeeping support	$60 – $100/hr

Pricing is indicative and varies by scope, complexity, and location. Clarify inclusions, response time, and change-request fees, in your engagement letter.

Money-Saving Tip: Bundle services (tax, BAS, advice) for a flat monthly rate. It’s often cheaper and more consistent.

Accountant for GST & BAS:

(What to Expect)

• GST setup: Correct codes, tax rates, cash vs accrual basis

• BAS cadence: Monthly or quarterly, with workpaper support

• Reconciliations: Bank feeds, payroll/STP, super, ATO portal checks

• Adjustments: Bad debts, accruals/prepayments, fuel tax credit (if eligible)

• Review meeting: Cash flow, margins, next-quarter tax plan

Software Alignment & ATO Access

(Setup Essentials)

• Xero/MYOB: Advisor access, bank feeds, STP, chart-of-accounts cleanup

• Receipt capture: Dext/Hubdoc + expense policies; auto-publish rules

• Payroll/STP: Pay cycles, super funds, leave categories, award considerations

• ATO linkage: Link tax/BAS agent via myGovID + RAM; confirm activity statements and roles

• Security: MFA on portals, encrypted document sharing, user permissions

Common Mistakes Business Owners Make

Waiting too long to hire

You pay more cleaning up mistakes than preventing them.

Picking the cheapest option

Low fees = low value. Pay for insight, not just form-filling.

Not asking about strategy

If they’re not asking about your goals, they’re not thinking long term.

Doing it all yourself

DIY bookkeeping sounds cheap — until you miss a tax deadline or overpay.

Hiring without clarity

If you don’t know what you need, you can’t judge the fit.

What to Do Right Now

✅ Download the full Comparison Table: Registered Tax Agent vs Accountant via Prodesk.com

✅ Book a Consult with Noize. We can refer you to some talented experts to find the right accountant for your business. [Noize.com.au]

✅ Get the Full StartUp Deck so you can build out your business with a strong foundation. Over 200 cards with hints, tips and tricks that will save you hours of time, pain and fast track your success - theStartUpDeck.com

The Bottom Line

Hiring a small business accountant isn’t a cost — it’s leverage. The right partner keeps you ATO-compliant (ABN/GST/BAS, payroll/STP) and helps you grow with clean numbers, better pricing, and sharper cash flow. Don’t wait for EOFY or an audit to get serious.

Choose a registered tax agent when you need tax advice, lodgements, or ATO representation; use an accountant for management reporting, systems, and advisory — and ideally, get both in your corner.

Make it simple: pick a cloud-first, Xero-certified firm, confirm fixed-fee or package scope in writing, link them in ATO Online (myGovID + RAM), and set a monthly or quarterly cadence. If your current setup is slow or reactive, switch — professional clearance makes it painless.

Search. Hire. Onboard, and let an expert turn your books into a growth engine.

FAQs

Do I need an accountant as a sole trader?

Yes — especially to claim correctly, lodge on time, and stay audit-safe.

How do I know if an accountant is legit?

Check the TPB register for tax/BAS agent status and confirm CPA/CA/IPA membership.

Can an accountant help me grow my business?

Absolutely — a growth-minded accountant improves pricing, margins, cash flow, and forecasting.

Should I use an accountant or a bookkeeper?

Use both. Bookkeepers track data; accountants interpret it and drive strategy.

How do I switch accountants?

Sign with the new provider, they request professional clearance and files, you link them at the ATO, and grant software access.

Do I need a registered tax agent or just an accountant?

If you need tax advice/lodgements/ATO representation, you need a Registered Tax Agent (TPB). For ops/advisory/reporting, a non-TPB accountant may be fine.

How do I link a tax/BAS agent to my ATO account?

Via Online Services for Business using myGovID + RAM. Your agent will provide their details; approve the relationship and roles.

What’s included in fixed-fee packages?

Typically BAS lodgements, annual tax return, ASIC annual review support, and monthly/quarterly reporting. Confirm inclusions and response times in the engagement letter.