How to Choose a Good Accountant

by Devon McCollumn

When the time comes to choose a qualified accountant, you want to make sure you find the best one for the best rate. But finding the perfect accountant can be a challenge, especially if you are new to the community.

Referrals

Perhaps the best way to find a good accountant is to ask your friends and family who they recommend. The nature of business is referrals, and certainly if the people you know and trust can recommend a knowledgeable accountant, they will for the asking.

Phone Book

Your local telephone book is a great resource for finding an accountant who can handle your finances. Many versions of telephone books have accountants broken down into categories to help you narrow down your selection; you may find separate sections for estate accountants, general accountants, and other specialties.

While huge, full-color advertisements are commonplace in telephone books, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the accountant is better than one who has a single-line listing. They spend their marketing dollars differently. In fact, the accountants with the smaller listings could be sending viewers a message that they are thrifty - which is good in the world of accounting.

Chamber of Commerce

Accountants and other professionals usually belong to the Chamber of Commerce, which allows them to network with other professionals and to become a full-fledged business member of the community. Your Chamber of Commerce will be happy to refer you to one of their accountants who is in the list of members.

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, also known as AICPA, is a great resource for finding a professional accountant in your neighborhood. Accountants who join the AICPA must meet certain (higher) standards, and they pay annual dues to belong to this organization.

You can find the AICPA online at www.aicpa.org. There, you can also read all about the standards that accountants who belong to this group are held to. They have created a Code of Ethics especially for their members, and members are subject to disciplinary actions by the AICPA should they fail to meet - or purposely go against - the rules as set by a committee.

These people are serious. If you choose an accountant who is a member of the AICPA, you can rest easy at night knowing your finances are in good hands.

Interview your Accountant

Once you have compiled a list of accountants that you have found, you will want to interview them. Just because a certain accountant did wonders for your best friend’s taxes doesn’t mean that he or she will do your effectively. Every accountant should agree to offer you a free consultation so that you can meet with them to determine if you like them, and also so that they can determine if they can help you.

You will want to ask the accountant questions to determine if the partnership is a good idea. These questions should include:

  • How long have you been in business as a certified public accountant?
  • Where did you go to school? (Accountants are notorious for displaying their degrees proudly on the wall)
  • Do you participate in continuing education courses?
  • Have you ever worked for the Internal Revenue Service? (While this is a frightening idea to most of us, certified public accountants usually must work for the IRS in order to become certified.)
  • What happens if I should be audited? Will you assist me with the audit?
  • Do you use high-tech software programs to do taxes, and if so, do you keep back-up copies of my information. (They should, in case the computer crashes.)
  • What are your rates?
  • Do you have a partner or another accountant who assists you during the busy season?

The meeting with your accountant should go smooth, and you should feel confident in your decision.

While accountants are typically not vivacious, outgoing souls, you should feel respected while in their office. The accountant you choose should give you a good, confident feeling. You will be sharing confidential information with them, and therefore they should be someone you wouldn’t mind talking with on a regular basis and giving your data to. You should feel comfortable in asking them questions and discussing financial options with them.

Once you have found the perfect accountant for your needs, be ready to refer them to your friends and neighbors.

Related Sites

Find a Tax Preparer at www.cooperlistings.com.