My new bookkeeper told me to swith the accountaning firm to her accountant because she shouldn't work with another accountant. Is that true?

She is saying it is illegal or unethical for her to work with a different CPA? I would fire her. That is NOT true. Your bookkeeper is YOUR employee. She should have NO formal relation to your accountant. Its not wrong for your bookkeeper to be familiar with and even have worked with your accountant. Especially in a small area its likely. But if a bookkeeper is insisting you switch to a specific accountant especially if she refers to them as "her" accountant. I would not employ her.

I agree with Scott 100%

I'm curious how this will pan out. Let us know what happens when you fire her. I'm wondering how she thought she would get away with it. You might even want to report the accountant to the local CPA association.

I told her that I didn't want to change my accountant so I would find a different bookkeeper. She was fine with that. Maybe my business is too small for her? Her accountant refers her (the bookkeeper) to her (the accountant's) clients. Maybe she (the bookkeeper) is afraid of losing the referral? I don't know. I didn't ask.

I wouldn't report to the CPA association. That bookkeeper just wanted to work with her accountant.

Maybe we missed something here. Most bookkeepers are the employees of the firm. However, some (usually smaller) firms may use a free lancer to come in p/t to do the books. Such a free lancer might work for several clients. If that's the case, then its understandable that she might want to work with a CPA she's familiar with, but it would NOT be a requirement.

However, if the bookkeeper was hired full time as your employee, then they would work for you and even suggesting a switch might be ethically questionable. But to say they were required to work with a specific accountant smacks of collusion. You are well away from this person in either case.

Hi Scott,

The bookkeeper is self employed and has some other clients. She will take probably 4 -5 hours per month on my book. I'm a service provider with no inventory. Bookkeeping for my company must be very simple.

Glad to post my question here though. I didn't understand why I had to swtch my accountant. I like my accountant.

OK, That is more understandable. But there still should be NO requirement that she use her accountant. If she had merely suggested it, that's one thing. But to insist on it raises warning flags with me. From my viewpoint, it would broaden her chances of getting work if she worked with multiple accountants. And there wouldn't be the question of collusion.