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Checklist · Staff
Staff Leaver Checklist for Accountants
Protect your firm’s security and knowledge base when a staff member moves on.
Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · 60-day free trial · Last updated 23 September 2026
Quick answer
Offboarding requires a focus on security (revoking access), knowledge transfer (handover notes), and legal compliance (final pay, P45). Start early to ensure a smooth transition of client relationships and tasks.
What is the priority for a leaver?
Security. You must revoke access to all systems, including email, client portals, and cloud software immediately after their last day.
Ensure they have returned all company property, including laptops, mobile phones, security passes, and any physical files.
How do you manage the handover?
Require a comprehensive handover document outlining the status of all their work-in-progress, pending client queries, and any urgent deadlines.
Have a handover meeting with the staff member and their replacement to walk through the files and ensure everything is clear.
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?
- Waiting until the last day to revoke access
- Assuming they have done the handover
- Not informing clients who their new point of contact is
- Failing to check for saved local files on their laptop
- Being unprofessional during the exit
“Companies House integration onboards clients in minutes; AML scoring keeps us compliant.”
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an exit interview?
It’s highly recommended. You can learn a lot about your firm’s culture and processes from someone who is leaving.
What if they have access to personal folders?
Ensure company policy forbids saving work to personal areas and perform a final check of their machine before they leave.
How do I handle clients they managed?
Send a professional email introducing the new point of contact, ensuring a seamless experience for the client.
What if they are leaving on bad terms?
Keep it strictly professional and involve HR or legal advice if necessary. Prioritise data security above all else.
Is a handover note mandatory?
It should be part of their contract and a requirement before final pay is processed.
How do I forward their emails?
Set up a server-side redirect to the new person responsible for those clients.
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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.”
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“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.”
