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Checklist · Staff
New Staff Onboarding Checklist for Accountants
Setting your new hires up for success from day one.
Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · 60-day free trial · Last updated 23 September 2026
Quick answer
Effective onboarding balances administration (IT access, contracts) with culture and training. Assign a mentor, provide a clear roadmap for their first 30 days, and ensure they understand your firm's standards for service and communication.
What admin tasks must be done before they start?
Ensure their workstation is ready, IT accounts (with appropriate access levels) are created, and employment documents are signed and stored.
Send a welcome email with their start time, location, and what to expect on day one. A 'welcome pack' with your firm's handbook is a nice touch.
How do you integrate them into the team?
Start with a firm introduction—let them meet the team and understand how their role fits into the wider service delivery.
Pair them with an experienced 'buddy' who can answer the small questions that don’t warrant a formal management meeting.
Checklist preview
0/4 done · showing 4 of 8 itemsThe full 8-item checklist is in the download below. Enter your name and email to get it as a Word or PDF file.
This is a standard checklist. Each firm's requirements may vary, so please cross-check everything against current GOV.UK, Companies House and professional body guidance before relying on it.
See it working with your own clients
A 30-minute walkthrough using your services, deadlines and templates.
Turn this into a task and subtask template in Remindoo
Save each group as a task with subtasks, attach it to the right service and let recurring tasks create it for every client, every period. Each item gets an owner and a deadline, and nothing depends on someone remembering to print the list. See task and subtask templates.
What are the common mistakes?
- Having no computer ready on day one
- Too much paperwork on the first day
- Assuming they know your firm’s specific processes
- Ignoring the 'softer' side of integration
- Failing to introduce them to the firm’s values
“Automated reminders and task templates save countless hours each week.”
Frequently asked questions
Should I train them on software immediately?
Focus on the basics first—security, processes, and how to record their work—before diving into complex software training.
How long is the induction period?
The initial onboarding should be day one to week one, but integration is a continuous process over the first three months.
Do I need a formal handbook?
Yes, it’s essential to outline your expectations, firm culture, and procedures clearly.
How do I check they understand the rules?
Ask them to sign a document confirming they have read and understood the policies, and have regular check-ins to discuss them.
Is a 'buddy' system necessary?
It’s not strictly necessary, but it significantly reduces the pressure on management and speeds up the settling-in process.
What if they have remote work?
Schedule virtual meetings, clear communication expectations, and ensure IT support is readily available.
Ready to run a calmer practice?
See Remindoo with your own clients, or start free for 60 days with unlimited users.
Sources
Last updated 23 September 2026. General guidance, not regulatory advice.
Why knowing what each employee is working on matters
In a growing practice, the partner can no longer hold every job in their head. Clear ownership and visible workload are what stop deadlines slipping when someone is on leave, busy or new.
Clear ownership
Every client and task has a named person, so nothing sits unassigned and clients get consistent answers.
Balanced workload
Seeing tasks per person helps managers move work before one person is overloaded and another is waiting.
Cover for absence
When work, notes and history live in one system, a colleague can pick up a job without starting from scratch.
Controlled access
Roles and permissions keep sensitive client and AML data visible only to people who need it.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Group people into teams around services or client portfolios, and name a Team Lead for each.
- Review the employee task breakdown weekly, not only when a deadline is missed.
- Give new starters a limited role first, then widen access as they are trained.
- Use bulk reassignment when someone leaves or goes on holiday, rather than moving tasks one by one.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
Read all reviews on Trustpilot“With Remindoo, everything from the first enquiry to onboarding and ongoing client management is tracked in one place… It saves us hours and gives me, as a practice owner, complete visibility of where the firm stands.”
“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
