Switch Your Accountant —
Move the Work Without Losing Control
Changing accountant should preserve continuity: the new scope must be clear, relevant records need to transfer, professional enquiry must be handled properly and new agent authorities need to be established.
A Clear Route for Switch Your Accountant
Clients have the right to choose their accountant. The change should be handled through a professional process that protects continuity, confidentiality and the client’s statutory deadlines.
The communication between an incoming and existing accountant is often called “professional clearance,” but professional enquiry is the more accurate term. The outgoing accountant does not give or withhold permission for the incoming firm to act. The incoming accountant uses the enquiry and other acceptance procedures to decide whether it is appropriate to accept the appointment.
Britvex will normally need the client’s authority to communicate with the previous accountant. The outgoing adviser can then respond to relevant professional enquiries and provide information or records that should transfer under the applicable professional and ownership rules.
Records transfer and professional enquiry are related but not identical. Some records belong to the client; some working papers may belong to the previous accountant; and exceptional lien or fee issues can affect particular records. Britvex should therefore request what is reasonably needed rather than promise that every historical file will automatically be transferred.
After Britvex accepts the engagement, HMRC authorities and other service access must be set up for the taxes Britvex will actually handle. Client authorization can differ by tax service, so one old authority should not be assumed to cover every new service.
The Relationship in Practical Terms
Professional Enquiry
Britvex contacts the previous accountant with the client’s authority and requests relevant professional information.
Accounting Records
Prior accounts, trial balances, tax returns and relevant ledgers help establish continuity.
Tax Position
Open filings, payments, enquiries, elections or unresolved matters should be identified during the handover.
Companies House
Officer, ownership, confirmation-statement and filing responsibilities are checked against the new scope.
Software & Data
Bookkeeping platforms, payroll systems and document access need an orderly transfer or new setup.
Deadlines
Britvex identifies which future deadlines it has actually accepted responsibility for after onboarding.
A Defined Four-Step Process
Agree the new scope
Confirm which accounting, tax, payroll or company services Britvex is taking over.
Authorize professional enquiry
The client permits communication with the outgoing accountant.
Transfer records and clarify open items
Britvex gathers the information reasonably needed to continue the work.
Set new authority and workflow
HMRC authorization, software, records and portal processes are updated for the accepted services.
What Needs to Stay Clear
Do not assume old deadlines transfer instantly
Britvex must first accept responsibility for the relevant work.
Outstanding work must be identified
Both firms and the client need clarity on which accountant is completing which period or filing.
Client consent matters
The previous accountant generally needs appropriate client authority before disclosing confidential information.
Fee disputes are separate
Outstanding fees do not necessarily justify refusing professional enquiry, although rights over particular records can require separate analysis.
A Switch Is a Controlled Handover — Not Just a New Login
The aim is continuity: Britvex should understand the latest filed position, open work, records, authorities and next deadlines before representing that the accounting relationship has fully transferred.
From First Contact to Working Arrangement
Review the requested services, risk and information available.
Contact the predecessor with client authority and request relevant matters/records.
Complete Britvex engagement, AML/KYC and service-specific authority.
Confirm which deadlines and periods Britvex will handle going forward.
Switch Your Accountant — Common Questions
Does my old accountant have to give Britvex permission to act?
No. The more accurate concept is professional enquiry. Britvex considers the response and other acceptance information when deciding whether to act.
Can my previous accountant refuse to respond because I owe fees?
Professional guidance generally treats outstanding fees as separate from the duty to respond to professional enquiry, though rights over specific records can be more nuanced.
Will all my files automatically be transferred?
Not necessarily. Record ownership, working papers, client-held copies and any legitimate lien issues can affect what is transferred.
Do I need to authorize Britvex with HMRC again?
Britvex needs appropriate authority for the tax services it will handle. The required process depends on the service.
Britvex Relationships. Wider Group Heritage.
Britvex is part of The Syed Group, established in 2009. The group contributes more than 15 years of wider business history, while BRITVEX ADVISORY LTD remains a distinct UK company incorporated in 2024 and responsible for its own engagements, compliance obligations and client relationships.
Changing Accountant? Protect the Handover First.
Use the correct Work With Us route so Britvex can request the right information and explain the next step without duplicating the Contact Us page.