Accountant

What it means

An accountant is a professional who processes documents, keeps the books, prepares inputs for tax returns and reports and deals with the authorities. They may work as a company employee, as a self-employed sole trader or in an accounting firm serving several clients.

In Slovakia bookkeeping is not a regulated profession; a general trade licence is enough. Quality is therefore indicated by experience, references, education and certificates, such as the title of certified accountant, as well as professional indemnity insurance.

An accountant differs from a tax adviser, who belongs to a regulated profession with a chamber, exams and the right to represent clients fully before the tax authority. In practice accounting firms often work with tax advisers on more complex questions.

How it works in practice

With outsourced accounting, a clear contract is important, often a mandate contract, setting out the scope of services, deadlines for delivering documents, the price, liability for errors and the procedure for ending cooperation, including handover of records.

Responsibility towards the state for the accounts and taxes always lies with the company as the reporting entity and taxpayer, not with the accountant. If the accountant makes a mistake, the company pays the penalty and may claim damages from the accountant under the contract, which is why the accountant's insurance matters to the client.

Accounting work is increasingly moving to online accounting, where the client uploads documents to an app and the accountant processes them remotely. Automating routine tasks frees up time for advice, analysis and alerting the client to risks and opportunities.

What to watch out for

When choosing an accountant, it is worth checking their experience with similar companies, for example in the same sector or with the same legal form, their availability for consultations and how they communicate. The cheapest offer may mean a narrower scope of service or weaker quality control.

A company should keep an overview of its accounts even when bookkeeping is outsourced. Regular reports, access to the accounting system and reconciliation of key balances help catch errors early and ensure decisions rest on correct figures.