The term “accountant” is unregulated in the province of Ontario. This means that anyone can call him or herself an accountant, even with little or no formal training and experience. To ensure your accountant is fully trained for the financial tasks and projects ahead, engage a professionally designated accountant.
Visit the following resources to learn more:
- Accounting and New Chiropractors: SRJ Chartered Accountants have created a New Graduate Checklist, specific to the chiropractic industry. Following this list will help ensure a smooth transition into your career by addressing some of the necessary steps required to properly establish your business and avoid costly errors.
Selecting an Accountant
The accountant you choose may become your most valuable resource. Begin by selecting an accountant with a professional designation such as a chartered accountant (CA), certified management accountant (CMA), or certified general accountant (CGA). Professionally designated accountants (CAs, CMAs, CGAs) will:
- Have formal education and training required to fulfill advanced business and financial functions.
- Adhere to a code of ethical principles
- Keep skills current through mandatory continuing professional development.
- Carry liability insurance and are subject to regular practice inspections
Before engaging the services of an accountant you should confirm that:
- Their services meet your needs. You may require planning and preparation of financial statements or tax returns, representation to the bank or Revenue Canada. Ultimately, before you select an accountant establish which services you require.
- You can reach them conveniently.
- They explain accounting in language you can understand. If your knowledge is limited, select someone who will be able to explain basic accounting concepts and terminology.
What to ask a prospective accountant:
- Do you have prior work experience with chiropractic offices?
- Can you provide references of clients who are chiropractors?
- What is your standard billing procedure and can you provide me with an estimate?
- Who will do the routine work, yourself or other staff?
- Are you open to seeking advice from outside experts on specialized practice affairs?
Ultimately, you should select an accountant with whom you can speak freely – someone whose comments and suggestions indicate an understanding of the profession. Most importantly you should select someone who both listens to and hears what you say.
Bookkeeping
The practice’s “books of account” is set up on a computer software package that can be integrated with any other special software packages used for practice management (billings, accounts receivable).
Data entry for your practice’s “books of account” may be done in several ways:
- Existing office staff
- Hiring a freelance bookkeeper
- With your accountant’s office staff
It is often efficient and cost-effective to work with a bookkeeper because:
- Unusual transactions can be identified by a bookkeeper and reported to the accountant, particularly when preparing records for year-end work.
- Freelancers are flexible about how, when and where they work, enabling a tailored relationship.
- Banking transactions performed by office staff can be verified.
All documents for the practice must be kept for at least a 7-year period. After year-end has passed, your accountant will request a list of records and documents from the bookkeeper so as to complete the engagement. These documents may include:
- Various reports generated from accounting software.
- Monthly accounts receivable reports (manual or computerized).
- Original invoices paid during the year.
- Insurance policies.
- Leases.
- Banking agreements.
Fees and Billing
For standard fees, consult the OCA Recommended Fee Schedule.
Taxes
HST does not apply to chiropractic services. If a chiropractor does more than $30,000 of ‘HSTable’ business he or she must register as a HST entity, charge HST on all applicable goods and services, and remit this minus the off-sets. Applicable services include most items a chiropractor would sell, and non-clinical services such as legal and other reports and rent collected from associates.
Learn more:
- ON Chiropractic – Tax Planning: Dividends and Salaries: How can you lower your personal income tax? What should you consider when deciding to pay yourself in salary or dividends?
- ON Chiropractic – HST in the Clinic: HST rules for health care products and services are complex. Get a refresher on the basics.
- HST refund and avoid an HST audit
- Tax Tips for Established Chiropractic Practices