HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an auditor in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An auditor in Ireland costs €1,500–€12,000 per audit, typically around €4,000. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an auditor in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers auditor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — operational Audits — operational audits focus on the efficiency and effectiveness of a company's operations.
- How does complexity of the business change the price?The more pieces involved, the more there is to go wrong. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does size of the financial statements change the price?A compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does auditor's experience change the price?Training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Internal Control Evaluations — auditors analyze a company's internal controls to identify weaknesses and recommend improvements — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a auditor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
THE TERM 'ACCOUNTANT' IS NOT PROTECTED — anyone may use it, which surprises most people. What is checkable is membership of a professional body (Chartered Accountants Ireland, ACCA, CPA Ireland), each of which maintains a searchable member list, requires professional indemnity insurance and gives you a complaints route. An agent filing on your behalf also needs an agent registration with the tax authority.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Which professional body, and their member number — then check it on that body's own register; Professional indemnity insurance and its limit; Their agent registration, if they will file for you; Who does the work and who reviews it; The fee basis: fixed, hourly, or per return, and what is outside it; What you are responsible for providing, and by when.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect professional indemnity insurance, which the professional bodies require. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers auditor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — operational Audits — operational audits focus on the efficiency and effectiveness of a company's operations.
A good answer: The more pieces involved, the more there is to go wrong. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Internal Control Evaluations — auditors analyze a company's internal controls to identify weaknesses and recommend improvements — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a auditor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect professional indemnity insurance, which the professional bodies require — compliance Audits — these audits assess whether a company adheres to regulatory requirements.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the auditor starts, and an itemised invoice after — forensic Audit — an investigation into financial discrepancies and fraud, providing evidence for legal proceedings if necessary.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the business — the more pieces involved, the more there is to go wrong.
- Size of the financial statements — a compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can.
- Auditor's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the business — the more pieces involved, the more there is to go wrong
- They will not talk about it: size of the financial statements — a compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can
- They will not talk about it: auditor's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it
- A price for the auditor before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the auditor has begun
What an auditor costs: €1,500–€12,000 per audit
The figures are for the job, per audit, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Financial audit and Internal audit each carry their own band. Auditor price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Auditors near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of the business — the more pieces involved, the more there is to go wrong — that is what the auditor is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneSize of the financial statements — a compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAuditor's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherAudits can take several days or weeks, depending on the complexity and size of the business — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the auditor is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, be prepared for a thorough examination, which may uncover areas needing immediate attention.
- Compliance Audits
- These audits assess whether a company adheres to regulatory requirements.
- Internal Control Evaluations
- Auditors analyze a company's internal controls to identify weaknesses and recommend improvements.
- Operational Audits
- Operational audits focus on the efficiency and effectiveness of a company's operations.
- Internal Audit
- A systematic review of an organisation's internal controls and processes to improve efficiency and compliance.
- Compliance Audit
- An evaluation of adherence to regulatory standards, policies, and procedures within an organisation.
- Operational Audit
- A review of operational processes to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an auditor: questions people ask
The cost of an audit can vary based on the complexity of the business, the size of the financial statements, and the specific services required. For instance, a small business may incur lower costs than a large corporation with intricate financial structures.
The duration of an audit can vary widely, typically ranging from a few days to several weeks. Factors such as the size of the company and the scope of the audit will influence the timeline.
Some auditors may offer emergency or same-day audit services, but this is generally less common and may incur higher fees. It's best to inquire directly with the auditor about their availability for urgent requests.
Yes, many auditors offer bundled services for clients who require multiple audits, which can often lead to cost savings. Discuss your needs with the auditor to explore options.
Auditors usually do not provide assurance on future financial performance or operational effectiveness outside the scope of the financial statements. Additionally, personal financial matters or non-financial audits may be considered out of scope.
THE TERM 'ACCOUNTANT' IS NOT PROTECTED — anyone may use it, which surprises most people. What is checkable is membership of a professional body (Chartered Accountants Ireland, ACCA, CPA Ireland), each of which maintains a searchable member list, requires professional indemnity insurance and gives you a complaints route. An agent filing on your behalf also needs an agent registration with the tax authority.
MORE GUIDES