How to switch accounting firms in Singapore — painlessly
A practical guide from the receiving end of the handover.
By Getty Poon, Managing Director · DCC Corporate Services · 22 July 2026
Switching the firm that handles your books feels risky, so most business owners put it off for years — often paying for that hesitation the whole time. In practice it is far more routine than it feels. You own your records, the handover follows a clear procedure, and a good incoming firm carries most of the load. And remember: switching the firm that sends you an invoice is a different decision from changing your own staff. Often the whole point of switching is to free up budget that can go back to the people who run your books day to day.
One thing to sort out first: you may be dealing with two roles, not one. In Singapore, “your accounting firm” often covers two separate jobs — the firm that does your book-keeping and accounting, and your corporate secretary (the statutory role every company must keep filled). Sometimes one firm does both; sometimes they are two different providers. At DCC we can do both, but each switches by its own procedure, so we have split this guide in two. Check which one — or both — you are moving.
Before you begin either switch, it is worth knowing where you stand. Gather your last financial statements, a recent invoice from your current firm, and your General Ledger listing — and, if you like, run them through your own AI using our downloadable pricing file first, so you know what you would pay with us before you talk to anyone.
Part 1 · Switching your accounting (book-keeping) firm
This is the firm that records your transactions, prepares your financial statements and files your corporate tax. Once you have appointed your new firm, the handover follows three steps.
Step 1 — Notify the outgoing firm. You notify your current accounting firm that a new firm has been appointed, and authorise the release of your accounting records and information. That authorisation is what lets the two firms deal with each other directly.
Step 2 — Hand over the accounting records. Your outgoing firm provides all relevant accounting records and documents — the accounting records themselves, financial statements, tax records, supporting schedules, and anything else reasonably needed to continue your accounting without a break.
Step 3 — Transfer the accounting software, if applicable. Where your records are kept in accounting software, the outgoing firm transfers administrator access, or provides a backup or data export, so your new firm can carry on maintaining your books.
At DCC the takeover is a one-time S$1,000, and we guide you through these three steps so nothing falls through the gap between one firm and the next. From there you are on our standard pricing, published in full on our SG SME Initiative page and in our downloadable pricing file.
A note on timing. The cleanest moment to switch is at the start of a new financial year, or right after your current firm has closed and filed the prior year — that way one firm owns a complete financial year end to end, and no year is split down the middle. If your year-end (FYE) is a few months away, it is often worth letting your current firm finish that filing, then moving across with a clean opening balance.
Part 2 · Switching your corporate secretary
This is the statutory role every Singapore company must keep filled. Once you have appointed your new corporate secretarial firm, the handover follows three steps.
Step 1 — Notify the outgoing firm. You notify your current corporate secretarial firm that a new firm has been appointed, and authorise the release of your statutory records and information.
Step 2 — Hand over the statutory records. Your outgoing firm provides all relevant statutory records and documents — your statutory registers, minute books, resolutions, incorporation documents, ACRA filing records, share certificates (if held), and anything else reasonably needed to continue corporate secretarial services.
Step 3 — Transfer the administration, if applicable. Where the outgoing firm holds administrative control over your statutory records or filing systems, it transfers that access and the relevant records so your new firm can carry on.
At DCC our corporate secretary service covers your AGM, Annual Return filing and XBRL as a standard part of the price published on our SG SME Initiative page. We do not provide nominee director or virtual office services — if you use those today, keep them where they are, or ask and we will point you to the right provider.
The short version
You own your records, and both handovers run on the same simple spine: notify your outgoing firm and authorise release → they hand over the records → they transfer any software or administrative access. For book-keeping, time the move to the turn of your financial year for the cleanest result. Whether you are moving one role or both, a planned switch is quiet, orderly, and done once.
If you would like us to look at your position, let your own AI compare the numbers first — or simply send your latest invoice, financial report and General Ledger listing to info@dcc-gr.com, and I will come back to you personally within 48 hours.
Getty Poon · Managing Director · DCC Corporate Services. Prices referenced are current standard rates, valid until 30 September 2026, and confirmed in a formal engagement letter after review. This article is general information, not tax, legal or corporate-secretarial advice.