# Accountant for an ENK: how to choose the right help

Find an accountant for a sole proprietorship in Norway. Check approval and responsibility, compare prices, and agree clearly on tasks and permissions.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/finne-regnskapsforer-enk-norge
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-13T21:42:27.053+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-13T21:42:27.098133+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Check the firm and responsible person Use Finanstilsynet’s register and confirm who is the state-authorised accountant responsible for your engagement.
- Written engagement agreement Clarify tasks, deadlines, prices and what you must provide before work starts.
- Authorisation instead of sharing BankID Give only the access needed for agreed tasks and check authorisations when the engagement ends.

To find an accountant for your ENK, first identify what help you need and check their approval. Look up the firm with Finanstilsynet and ask who is responsible for your engagement. Agree on tasks, prices and permissions in writing before work starts.

## Decide what help your business needs

Choose help according to the tasks you need completed, rather than a general “accounting package”. You can get help with starting up, selected tasks or ongoing work.

**ENK** means enkeltpersonforetak, a sole proprietorship you run in your own name. Most ENKs have a bookkeeping obligation. This means that income and expenses must be documented and recorded systematically. It is different from the obligation to submit annual financial statements.

As of 13 October 2026, Altinn, the public portal for forms and information, explains that you can keep your own accounts. You can also use an accountant to help you get started or handle ongoing work. See [Altinn’s accounting routines and practical tips](https://info.altinn.no/starte-og-drive/regnskap-og-revisjon/regnskap/krav-til-regnskapet).

Write down what you already do yourself. SamfunnPrep has a separate guide to [registering a sole proprietorship](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/registrere-enkeltpersonforetak). This article helps you choose a service provider once you have identified your needs.

## How do you check an accountant?

Check both the accounting firm and the responsible person with Finanstilsynet. An organisation number alone does not prove approval to provide accounting services.

**Finanstilsynet** is Norway’s Financial Supervisory Authority. It approves and supervises accountants and accounting firms. Use [Finanstilsynet’s business register](https://www.finanstilsynet.no/virksomhetsregisteret/), which also includes Regnskapsførerregisteret, the register of accountants. Ask the candidate for the correct business name, organisation number and name of the person responsible for your engagement.

**Statsautorisert regnskapsfører** is the approved Norwegian professional title for a state-authorised accountant. The accounting firm must appoint a state-authorised person responsible for each engagement. The firm must also enter into a written engagement agreement. These requirements are described in [Finanstilsynet’s guidance on approval and engagement responsibility](https://www.finanstilsynet.no/tillatelser/regnskapsforer/hvem-ma-ha-godkjennelse-som-regnskapsforer/), checked as of 13 October 2026.

Several employees may work on your accounts under the firm’s responsibility. You therefore do not need to expect one person to do everything. However, you should know who has professional responsibility and who is your day-to-day contact.

If the register information is unclear, ask the firm to explain it and contact Finanstilsynet if needed. The register itself notes that errors are possible. Do not sign until you understand who you are entering into an agreement with.

## Find someone who knows your industry and language

Look for relevant experience with ENKs and your type of business. A shared language helps cooperation, but does not replace expertise and approval.

You can start with local searches, recommendations from other business owners or a list from your software provider. Treat these names as candidates. Check the register yourself and ask for a short conversation about your needs.

Explain what you sell, how customers pay and whether you have employees. Mention any sales to or purchases from abroad. Ask whether the firm has experience with similar businesses. You do not need to reach your own conclusions about tax rules before the conversation.

Ask which language you can use in meetings and written explanations. Also say which accounting software you use. Clarify whether the firm can work in that system or whether changing software is part of the quote.

## Request quotes for the same amount of work

Give potential firms the same description of the engagement when requesting prices. Otherwise, a cheaper package may include fewer services than a more expensive one.

State approximately how many invoices and receipts you have each month. These supporting documents are called **bilag** in Norwegian. Explain whether you will provide them already sorted and whether earlier periods need to be put in order before work starts.

| Part of the quote | What should be clear |
| --- | --- |
| Ongoing bookkeeping | How many supporting documents and which checks are included? |
| Reporting | Which returns or reports will the firm prepare and submit? |
| Year-end work | Are the tax return and necessary year-end tasks included? |
| Software | Who pays for the licence, and who has access? |
| Extras | What do advice, payroll or correcting old records cost? |

Ask whether prices include or exclude value added tax, often called mva in Norwegian. Ask how extra work is approved. A fixed monthly price is easier to understand when the package limits are set out in writing.

Do not choose based on a general promise of lower taxes. Ask for clearly defined tasks and understandable explanations. Consider price together with expertise, availability and the tasks you will still need to do yourself.

## Write down who does each task

The engagement agreement should show what the accounting firm does, what you do and the deadlines for working together. “We handle the accounts” is too vague as a practical description of the work.

Ask for a simple task schedule. For every return, report or other deliverable, it should state who prepares, checks and submits it. Distinguish submission from payment. An accountant submitting a return does not necessarily mean that the firm pays the amount due for you.

Clarify, among other things:

- where and when you provide supporting documents
- who sends invoices to customers
- who follows up missing documents
- who receives notifications from public agencies
- how you can view reports and submitted returns
- who responds when a deadline approaches

Also agree on what happens when your needs change. You may take on employees, enter new markets or have more documents. Tasks and prices then need to be reviewed. Ask for written confirmation of changes.

## Give the right permissions without sharing BankID

Give the accountant limited access to the agreed tasks. Use authorisations and keep your personal login to yourself.

**BankID** is a personal electronic ID for logging in and signing. Do not send passwords, codes or login approvals to the accountant. SamfunnPrep explains how to [give digital authorisation without sharing BankID](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/digital-fullmakt-uten-dele-bankid).

As of 13 October 2026, the new Altinn uses access packages and individual services. Choose access according to what the accounting firm needs to do. During the transition, some earlier authorisations may need to be granted again. Check [Altinn’s information about new authorisations](https://info.altinn.no/nyheter/ny-fullmaktsloesning/).

Ask the firm to specify which permissions it needs and why. Read what they cover before approving them. SamfunnPrep also has an update on [the transition from old Altinn roles in 2026](https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/altinn-roller-frist-desember-2026).

## Prepare for the start and first delivery

Agree on a start date and who is responsible for the period before that date. Provide documents through the firm’s secure system.

Gather the agreement, contact details, supporting documents and an overview of relevant deadlines. If you have used another accountant, clarify the transfer of figures and documentation. Ask who will follow up tasks already in progress.

Ask for a walkthrough of the first report. You should understand what the figures show, which documents are missing and what you need to do next. Altinn highlights good routines for supporting documents as a foundation for easier bookkeeping.

## How to follow up or change accountant

Follow up the agreement through regular contact and readable reports. When changing accountant, documents, deadlines and access must be transferred clearly.

Ask for a response if something is not delivered as agreed. Keep the agreement, invoices and messages. Finanstilsynet supervises accountants but does not resolve private disputes between you and your accountant, according to [its information about accountants](https://www.finanstilsynet.no/tilsyn/regnskapsforer/).

When ending the engagement, check who will submit the next return or report and which authorisations should be removed. Use SamfunnPrep’s [checklist for your first week in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy/forste-uke) if you also need an overview of digital services and practical contacts.

## FAQ

### Do I have to use an accountant for an ENK?

You can keep your own accounts, but must follow the rules. An accountant can help with starting up, selected tasks or ongoing work. Most ENKs only have a bookkeeping obligation.

### How do I check an accountant’s approval?

Ask for the business name, organisation number and name of the person responsible for your engagement. Check the accounting firm and responsible person in Finanstilsynet’s business register.

### What is an accountant responsible for an engagement?

The accounting firm must appoint a state-authorised accountant responsible for each engagement. Several employees may perform the work, but professional responsibility must be clear.

### What should a quote include?

The quote should show the workload, reporting, year-end work, software costs, extras and whether prices include or exclude VAT. Compare the same scope of work across several candidates.

### Can the accountant use my BankID?

No. Use limited authorisations and the necessary access in Altinn. Do not share BankID passwords, codes or login approvals. Read what the access covers before approving it.

## Sources

- [Hvem må ha godkjenning som statsautorisert regnskapsfører](https://www.finanstilsynet.no/tillatelser/regnskapsforer/hvem-ma-ha-godkjennelse-som-regnskapsforer/)
- [Virksomhetsregister](https://www.finanstilsynet.no/virksomhetsregisteret/)
- [Regnskapsfører: tilsyn og kontroll](https://www.finanstilsynet.no/tilsyn/regnskapsforer/)
- [Regnskapsrutiner og praktiske tips](https://info.altinn.no/starte-og-drive/regnskap-og-revisjon/regnskap/krav-til-regnskapet)
- [Slik kan du gi og få nye fullmakter](https://info.altinn.no/nyheter/ny-fullmaktsloesning/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Accountant for an ENK: how to choose the right help", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-13T21:42:27.053+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/finne-regnskapsforer-enk-norge