Accounting
How to choose an accounting firm in Switzerland
The right Swiss accounting firm is the one whose expertise, service scope and way of working fit your business. A firm described locally as a fiduciaire may handle bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, tax and advice—but these are not automatically included in one package. Define your needs, ask practical questions and compare the full engagement rather than the monthly price alone.
By Sarah Prieur · Swiss certified accountant
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Describe your business and what you want to delegate before requesting a quote.
- Identify who prepares the accounts, who reviews them and who answers your questions.
- Compare proposals covering the same services, volumes and reporting frequency.
- Agree on data access, responsibilities and the terms of a future handover from the outset.
Define what you want to delegate
In French-speaking Switzerland, fiduciaire commonly means a firm providing accounting, tax, payroll and related business services. For an English-speaking entrepreneur, it is usually more useful to ask about these services directly than to assume the firm acts as a trustee or wealth manager.
Describe your legal structure, sector, document volume, VAT status, employees, currencies and international transactions. Add the software you use, imminent deadlines and the state of the latest accounts.
Do you want to send documents and delegate the rest, enter transactions internally and obtain a review, receive monthly management figures or prepare a financing application? Each model involves different work. Explore Karpeo’s accounting services for Swiss companies to discuss the scope relevant to you.
Check qualifications relevant to your circumstances
Ask for the name and role of the person responsible. Relevant qualifications can include a Swiss federal diploma in finance and accounting, the Swiss certified accountant qualification and other specialist training. Sector experience and familiarity with your transactions matter as well.
Qualifications are not interchangeable. Routine bookkeeping and a complex consolidation require different expertise. A small company may principally need reliable, understandable ongoing support.
An accounting qualification and an audit licence are distinct. If a statutory audit is required, verify the appropriate individual and firm licences with the Federal Audit Oversight Authority (FAOA, ASR in French). Audit licensing should not be presented as a general requirement for every bookkeeping engagement.
Ask how work is supervised and how questions outside the team’s usual expertise are handled. A clear explanation of when a specialist is involved is more useful than a promise to know everything.
Questions to ask at the first meeting
| Question | A concrete answer should identify |
|---|---|
| Who manages my file? | Day-to-day contact, reviewer and cover during absence |
| How often are the accounts processed? | Work schedule and your document deadlines |
| Which reports will I receive? | Balance sheet, income statement, commentary and management reporting |
| Who tracks deadlines? | Responsibilities for VAT, tax, payroll and approvals |
| How are questions handled? | Communication channel, response arrangements and extra fees |
| How are issues raised? | Missing-document lists, discrepancies and decisions needed |
| How do I recover my data? | Exports, archives, handover timing and costs |
Present an actual scenario: “We buy services from overseas and invoice in CHF and EUR. How would you organise VAT and reconciliations?” The explanation tells you more than a general claim about digitalisation.
For an English-speaking business owner, also ask which reports and discussions can be provided in English, and how official correspondence in French or German will be explained. In Geneva, clarify dealings with the cantonal tax authority and employer institutions, as well as your preference for office meetings or remote working.
Compare quotes on an equal basis
Request a written proposal specifying volumes and included work. Check bookkeeping, annual accounts, tax returns, VAT returns, payroll and advisory exchanges individually.
| Cost area | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Recurring fee | Frequency, document volume and entities covered |
| Year-end close | Included or separate; adjustments and notes |
| Tax and VAT | Returns included and treatment of special enquiries |
| Software | Licences, users and ancillary charges |
| Initial handover | Imports, opening-balance checks and catch-up work |
| Additional work | Approval process and hourly or other charging basis |
Illustration: CHF 200 per month means CHF 2,400 a year before separately charged work. If closing and tax are excluded, it cannot be compared directly with an annual package including both. This is an example, not a statement of Karpeo’s prices.
Ask for a quote based on your actual file, including any initial catch-up needs.
Examine tools, access and data ownership
Ask how documents are submitted and how you can find an invoice months later. Can you view the accounts, download reports and retrieve supporting documents without depending on one employee?
Bank access deserves a separate discussion. Viewing transactions, preparing payments and approving payments are different permissions. Grant the rights needed for the agreed service and retain a suitable approval process.
If the firm supplies software, clarify licence and exit terms. If it works in your system, confirm the access needed. Swiss hosting alone does not answer every confidentiality question: ask about subcontractors, permissions, backups and the return of records.
Recognise signs of a weak working arrangement
Clarify an undefined package, the absence of a named contact or an inability to explain the next steps before signing. Be cautious about guaranteed tax savings offered without reviewing your circumstances.
Requests for supporting documents are not inherently a bad sign. They may show that transactions are being checked. Assess the clarity, frequency and usefulness of the requests.
Do not decide solely on physical proximity. Some businesses benefit from local meetings; others work well remotely. Test whether explanations are understandable and information remains easy to find.
Plan the first weeks of the engagement
Before starting, agree on documents, access and deadlines. Specify who prepares the next returns and who approves them. Ask how opening balances will be checked.
If you already use another firm, coordinate the end of the old engagement and the start of the new one. Our accounting-firm change service explains Karpeo’s support with a handover.
After the first weeks, check that documents have been received, the handover scope is clear and you know when the first reports will be available. Resolve organisational gaps early.
For a VAT-registered business, agree who will complete the annual VAT reconciliation and resolve any differences left by the handover.
Frequently asked questions
Does my accounting firm have to be in the same canton?
Not necessarily for routine bookkeeping. Check knowledge of the obligations applying to your business and how communication is organised. Local access can still be useful for meetings or particular matters.
How can I check an audit licence?
Consult the FAOA public register and verify both the individual and the firm. The licence level must match the audit required. Bookkeeping is a separate service.
Are customer reviews enough to choose a firm?
They describe individual experiences. Combine them with a meeting, a clear written proposal and checks of the expertise relevant to your business.
Does a monthly package cover everything?
Only if the engagement says so. Annual accounts, tax, licences or initial handover work may be charged separately. Obtain the inclusions and exclusions in writing.
Can I keep part of the bookkeeping in-house?
Yes, if the division of work is agreed. Specify review responsibilities and information exchanges to avoid duplicate work. The quote should reflect what you retain internally.
Sources and further reading
About the author
Sarah Prieur
Sarah is a Swiss certified accountant, partner and head of operations at Karpeo. She supports SMEs and self-employed clients with accounting, tax, VAT and payroll, and oversees the quality of client files and year-end accounts. Before Karpeo, she spent eight years in audit at PwC Switzerland, progressing to manager.
Find out whether Karpeo fits your business
Tell Karpeo, your accounting firm in Geneva, about your activities, current accounts and expectations. We can clarify the work to delegate, responsibilities, tools and next steps.
