Running a healthcare business—whether you’re a GP, dentist, pharmacist, or consultant—is demanding. In addition to caring for your patients, you also have to manage finances, regulations, taxes, payroll, VAT, and keep up with changing legislation. Choosing the right accountant can make all the difference in helping your practice stay compliant, profitable, and stress-free.

At CTMP Accountants, we’ve supported healthcare professionals for over 40 years with specialist healthcare accounting services, and we want to share how you can choose the right accountant for your healthcare business.

If you’d rather speak directly, you can call us on 0208 776 0200 or email us at info@ctmp.co.uk.

Why Healthcare Accounting Services Need Specialist Expertise

Healthcare businesses operate under special rules. From NHS contracts and locum working to self-assessment for consultants, pension auto-enrolment, and regulated billing and VAT issues, generic accountants may miss key points. As our “Comprehensive healthcare accounting services” page shows, CTMP Accountants has extensive experience in tax compliance and planning, VAT returns, bookkeeping, payroll, and auditing for medical practices.

Having someone who understands these nuances helps avoid costly mistakes, such as incorrectly claiming VAT, misreporting taxable income, or missing deadlines that attract fines.

Key Criteria To Look For In An Accountant For Your Healthcare Business

Here are factors you should weigh when choosing an accountant:

1. Sector Experience And Specialism

Ensure your accountant has genuine experience with healthcare accounting services. Ask:

• Do they have clients who are doctors, dentists, pharmacists, etc?
• Have they worked with self-assessment, NHS contracts, and mixed income streams?
• Are they familiar with healthcare-specific VAT and regulation?

At CTMP Accountants, for instance, our healthcare sector offering demonstrates this specialism.

2. Qualifications, Accreditation And Ethical Standing

Look for chartered or certified accountants (e.g., ICAEW) who follow up-to-date guidance and best practices. This ensures authority and trustworthiness. CTMP Accountants is ICAEW-registered.

3. Range Of Services And Tailored Support

The best accountant offers not just annual accounts and tax returns, but services like:

• Proactive tax planning (not just compliance)
• VAT advice & filings
• Payroll & PAYE returns, including locum or irregular hours contracts
• Bookkeeping with health-checks & management information
• Funding or financial strategy, audit if applicable

Check out CTMP’s Accountants services page to see the breadth of what we do.

4. Transparent Pricing And Fixed Fees

Unclear or variable fees can lead to surprises. A good accountant provides a fee structure, ideally with fixed fees for recurring tasks, so your cash flow planning is reliable.

5. Communication, Responsiveness And Accessibility

You want someone who responds quickly, explains things clearly, doesn’t hide behind jargon, and is reachable—especially when deadlines loom or regulations change.

6. Technology & Reporting Tools

Good accountants use modern tools – including cloud accounting, dashboards, and management accounts – making your financial information accessible and useful. Being able to produce timely reports and KPIs helps you steer the business. Discover how CTMP Accountants provides management accounts and KPI tracking as part of our comprehensive bookkeeping & accounting services.

Questions To Ask Potential Accountants

Here are practical questions when interviewing or comparing accounting firms:

• What experience do you have in healthcare accounting services?
• Can you show examples of practices you’ve advised (without breaching confidentiality)?
• How do you manage locum work, multiple income streams, or a combination of NHS/private billing?
• What fixed fees do you offer? What’s included vs extra?
• How will we communicate (monthly, quarterly, by phone, or via email)?
• What reporting will you provide (management accounts, dashboards, benchmarks)?
• How do you stay current with changes in healthcare tax/regulation?

How CTMP Accountants Helps You Choose Wisely From Day One

At CTMP Accountants, we believe in putting you in control. Here’s how we support you from the moment you engage:

• We offer a complimentary initial consultation, allowing you to ask all the vital questions.
• We offer fixed fee proposals, so you know precisely what services cost.
• We assign you a dedicated contact who understands your healthcare business.
• We deliver regular management accounts, including KPI monitoring, so you see how your practice is performing.
• Our team stays current with all relevant healthcare regulations and tax law changes, ensuring you are always up to date.

Conclusion: Making The Right Choice

Choosing an accountant for your healthcare business isn’t just about finding someone to file your tax returns. It’s about finding a partner who understands your sector, takes proactive responsibility, brings clarity, and helps your business grow without surprises.

If you’re looking for healthcare accounting services that combine expertise, trust, responsiveness and tailored support, CTMP Accountants is here to help.

To discuss your needs, please call 0208 776 0200 or email info@ctmp.co.uk. Let us show you what partnership with a specialist accountant can really deliver.

Common FAQs About Choosing An Accountant In Healthcare

1. What doesn’t a regular accountant do that a healthcare specialist does?

A specialist is familiar with sector-specific rules (e.g., NHS contracts, locum income, VAT for medical supplies), thereby avoiding costly errors.

2. What can I expect to pay for specialist healthcare accounting services?

Costs vary by size and the services needed, but expect fixed fees for standard tasks, such as accounts or VAT, with extras only for unusual tasks. Transparency is key.

3. Is it better to outsource payroll vs doing it in-house for medical practices?

Often, yes — outsourcing provides access to expertise, reduces the risk of penalties, and frees staff time. CTMP Accountants offers both options and has helped many practices.

4. How do I know if an accountant stays updated with regulation changes?

Check their qualifications and memberships (e.g., ICAEW), ask about CPD (continuing professional development), and inquire whether they issue updates to clients, attend seminars, or are active in sector groups.