Cleaning up Xero before you change accountants
Changing accountants, bringing on a bookkeeper, or handing the books to someone new? The state you hand over in sets the tone — and the price. Here’s how to give them a Xero file they can trust from day one.
Why a clean handover pays off
A new firm inheriting a messy file has two options, and you pay for both: quote to fix it (often at a premium, because retrospective cleanup is the work most firms least want), or build on top of the existing errors and carry them forward. Handing over reconciled books avoids that — and a clean file usually earns a better ongoing quote, because you’re not asking them to price in risk.
What to sort before the switch
- Bank reconciliation — every account tied to the real bank, to the cent.
- Duplicate & phantom income — removed by name, so revenue isn’t overstated.
- Clearing accounts — cleared back to zero, not left as a mystery balance.
- An audit trail — every correction traceable, so the new firm can follow your working.
Do it on a copy
You don’t want to be mid-surgery on the live file during a handover. The safe approach is to clean up on a read-only copy and apply an agreed change-list when ready — which is exactly how Extrua Reconcile works, with the evidence behind every change for the incoming firm to check.
Handover coming up?
We’ll get the file reconciled and evidence-backed before it changes hands.
FAQ
Should I clean up Xero before switching accountants?
Ideally yes. A new firm that inherits a messy file will either quote to fix it (often at a premium) or build on top of the errors. Handing over clean, reconciled books gets you a better start and usually a better quote.
What does the new accountant want to see?
A file that reconciles to the bank, with no duplicate income, a clearing account that's actually clear, and an audit trail they can follow. That's what lets them trust the numbers from day one.
Can I do this without disrupting the handover?
Yes — the cleanup runs on a read-only copy, so your live file keeps working while it's sorted. You apply the agreed change-list when you're ready.