Client Onboarding Checklist for Accounting Practices: An Australian Guide

CLIENT ONBOARDING CHECKLIST FOR ACCOUNTING PRACTICES

Problems with a new client often start on day one: missing details, unclear responsibilities and records that arrive in the wrong format. A standard onboarding process prevents most of them.

WHAT TO COLLECT

• Business details, ABN and GST registration status

• Bank and credit card details for feed setup

• Payroll details, including super fund information for each employee

• Previous year's return and any open ATO correspondence

• Access permissions for accounting software

WHAT TO AGREE IN WRITING

• Scope of services and fees

• Who the client contacts for each task

• Document deadlines before each BAS and tax return date

• How client data is stored and shared

WHAT TO CHECK IN THE FIRST MONTH

• Bank feeds connected and reconciled

• Payroll set up and tested against the first pay run

• BAS calendar added to the client's reminders

NEXT STEP

Put this checklist into one template and use it for every new client from next month.

Sources to check:

• ato.gov.au (ABN, GST and record keeping)

• oaic.gov.au (privacy obligations for handling client information)