Author

Hélène Fontaine

Chartered accountant and management advisor

  • Lyon, France
  • 15+ years of experience

Hélène Fontaine holds the French chartered accountancy diploma (DEC) and spent fifteen years in practice, including eight as a portfolio manager for small and mid-sized businesses. She has supported hundreds of company formations, annual accounts and management advisory engagements, from sole traders to growing SMEs. After leading the digital transformation of a mid-sized firm, she now focuses on decoding accounting offerings, fees and tax obligations to help business owners choose the right support, far from marketing promises.

Comptabilité TPE et PMEFiscalité des entreprisesLiasse fiscale et bilanTVA et obligations déclarativesCréation et reprise d'entreprisePilotage de gestion et trésorerieChoix et relation avec un cabinet comptable

Key figures

  • 15+ Years of experience
  • 300+ Company formations supported
  • 1000+ Annual accounts supervised
  • 250+ SME owners advised

Career path

  1. 2020 to present

    Editorial consultant and management advisor

    Independent, media and specialized firms

    Decoding accounting offerings, fees and tax obligations for SME owners. Comparative analyses of firms and online platforms.

  2. 2012 to 2020

    SME portfolio manager

    Mid-sized chartered accountancy firm

    Managed a portfolio of sole traders, retailers and SMEs: annual accounts, tax returns, management advisory and the firm's digital transformation.

  3. 2008 to 2012

    Senior accountant

    Regional chartered accountancy firm

    Bookkeeping, review and preparation of annual accounts for SME clients, support for company formations and filing obligations.

Certifications

  • 2011
    DEC (French chartered accountancy diploma) French State
  • 2008
    DSCG (Higher diploma in accounting and management) French State
  • 2006
    DCG (Diploma in accounting and management) French State

Significant work

  • Public study

    SME Accounting Fees Barometer

    Analysis of fee ranges charged by firms and online platforms depending on company size and legal status.

  • Long-form report

    Guide to choosing a chartered accountant

    Selection methodology for SME owners, from criteria to the questions to ask a firm.

  • Benchmark

    Traditional firm versus online accountant comparison

    Comparison of accounting support models, from pricing to advisory depth, with a scoring grid.

Areas of expertise

  • Comptabilité TPE et PME
  • Fiscalité des entreprises
  • Liasse fiscale et bilan
  • TVA et obligations déclaratives
  • Création et reprise d'entreprise
  • Pilotage de gestion et trésorerie
  • Choix et relation avec un cabinet comptable

Languages

  • French (native)
  • English (professional)

Articles par Hélène Fontaine