Entrusting your company’s most valuable asset—your finances – to someone else is certainly not something to be taken lightly. High expectations are good! Whether you are a new business just starting out and looking for help with the financial side of things or you’ve finally come to the conclusion that you can’t do it all and need an expert to oversee the finances, you’ll want to make an informed decision about which Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is best suited for your company and what they have to offer. While we cannot choose an accountant for you, Beck and Company’s Certified Public Accountants and Business Advisors can give you additional insight and guidance when it comes to the search for someone who is best for your business. Here are our general recommendations:
- Characteristics to Look for in a Potential Accountant
What, exactly, characterizes a good accountant? When looking for an accountant to manage the financial side of your organization, you’ll want to consider some important general CPA traits. These include finding someone with a basic understanding of your specific industry and a desire to always learn more about it. They must have a thorough understanding of the company’s big picture and a commitment to the overall business. You’ll need someone who is attentive to details, communicates well, is adept at using a computer, understands proper job costing, and is a person of follow through. To dive into these traits further, visit here.
In addition to these general characteristics, you’ll want to look for someone who has strong leadership or leadership potential. When someone is making decisions that impact the entire organization and relate to financial assets, they’ll need to be someone who considers the interest of all and is a team player. Finally, determine the specialized needs you have within the position and the reasons you will be hiring someone (tax prep, financial system overhaul, expert to answer questions and give guidance, etc.). This will make securing the right person easier and will make the interview process clear for both you as employers and for the potential employees themselves.
- Securing the Right Person
Once you have a good idea of what you are looking for in the person you want to hire for the position, you will need to go through the process of securing just that. If you are unsure where to begin, start by asking around within your network to find out who others use for their accounting service needs. It is recommended that any accountants you consider have at least 60% of their businesses coming from businesses similar to yours in order to know the laws and systems well. As another starting point, Beck and Company CPAs also offer many client accounting services that you can explore.
- Interview Tips
Next, you will need to schedule interviews and be prepared with questions that pertain directly to the specifics you are looking for. Be sure to include conversation about rates, their preferred accounting software program, and their hours of operation to confirm if the person is a good fit and if there is mutual compatibility. Also, find out if they are part of a corporation or work individually. Working with corporations could mean you’ll be getting answers from whoever answers the phone instead of always having direct access to one person with whom you’ve built a relationship and trust. Your preference will depend on the level of general help versus individualized attention you need.
Choosing the best accountant for your business has the power to transform your accounting processes and give you the guidance you need to remain successful. Beck and Company CPAs can offer more individualized guidance into the important process of deciding on the accountant that is suited to meet your business’ needs. Please contact us for more information.