Define your need before comparing proposals

Describe what you cannot rely on today: customer balances, bank reconciliation or reports that arrive late. Then ask the provider to turn that description into a written scope stating inclusions and exclusions.

Business need What the proposal should clarify
Transactions are not recorded consistently Required documents, recording responsibility and periods covered
Bank and book balances differ Reconciliation coverage and how unresolved items are documented
Old balances are unclear Separation of balance diagnosis and cleanup from recurring work
Financial statements need preparing Statements covered, agreed delivery date and responsibility for reviewing drafts
The system does not produce understandable reports System-check scope before deciding whether to repair or replace it

These are comparison criteria, not services automatically included in every contract.

Check the licence relevant to the work

The Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants provides an accounting-services licence under the rules governing those services. Ask for the professional provider's licence details and verify that they suit the requested service, rather than relying on the words “accounting office” in an advertisement.

An advertisement offering to “certify financial statements” is not proof of an audit licence. SOCPA has explained that advertising which implies a right to practise without the necessary licence misleads the public. Ask which professional firm will perform and sign the work.

Make the handover assessable

For bookkeeping, ask the scope to explain how you will receive the agreed entries, reconciliations and statements, and how missing documents and unresolved differences will be presented. Establish who in your business reviews questions and approves information before it is used in reports.

Also discuss ownership of the business's software account, data exports and file handover when the engagement ends. A recording-only proposal is not equivalent to one covering statement preparation and historical cleanup.

Do not make new software the first decision

When it is unclear whether the issue is configuration, recording or opening balances, diagnosis helps define the request. Aleem's Accounting System Health Check identifies problems found within the agreed scope and provides a report. It does not include repairs or ongoing bookkeeping; subsequent work requires a separate proposal.

Your next step with Aleem

Request Bookkeeping and Financial Statements through Aleem's accredited partner offices. The partner firm performs and signs the professional work, and you contract with and pay it directly. Aleem follows through to delivery without a referral commission. If you do not yet know what needs attention, request an Accounting System Health Check first to define the problem before commissioning a solution.

By Aleem Consultations.

Sources

https://socpa.org.sa/Sites/E-Services/Cat/01.aspx?t=content — Accounting-services licence. https://socpa.org.sa/socpa/media-center/news/2026/5094.aspx — SOCPA notice on implying a right to practise without the necessary licence.