Top Five Things To Look For When Hiring An Accountant

With a thorough knowledge of all laws and regulations pertaining to tax and accounting, an accountant can help business owners with all their accounting and tax related needs. By working with a professional you can rely on, you have the energy and resources you need to focus on growing your business.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of accountants out there who don’t live up to the expectations of their clients. Which is why, with so many different types of professionals to choose from, picking one who aids your business and helps you grow is vital.

To help you find the best possible professional, here’s a list of five aspects to look for in an accountant.

1. Accreditation.

Verifying an accountant’s accreditation is essential. Such certifications are a testimony to their quality of work and knowledge. Moreover, accreditation also shows that an accountant is continually learning, because CPAs are required to enroll in continuous education.

2. Knowledgeable and in touch with the latest technology and products.

The intricacies of one industry are different from those of another sector. Therefore, it is essential that an accountant knows how your industry works. They should have sufficient knowledge of their own field of accounting as well. Another critical aspect is the usage of technology. Ask if they use a cloud-based system for easy but safe sharing of data. This information will help you gauge if they are keeping up with changing times or not.

3. Check for relevant expertise.

An accountant must possess experience relevant to their clients’ needs. For example, a start-up’s accounting needs are very different from those of a large corporation. If you are a new business owner, you must ask an accountant if they can assist you to set up your business based on your needs or if they only work with established names.

4. Good communication.

Accounting is a highly specialized field with its own jargon and language. Therefore, it is vital for an accountant to communicate with their clients in a language they understand. Moreover, you should also ask an accountant if they are willing to teach you in case you want to learn. However, one of the most important aspects is that the accountant should be reachable at all times via phone call, email, etc., or get back to you at the earliest.

5. Should be equipped to deal with contingencies.

You must always check if an accounting firm has adequate staff to assist you in the event of an emergency or whether they have a contingency plan. If they don’t have a back-up for staff or hardware/software, it may become a significant problem for you, especially in filing tax returns, which is a time-bound requirement. An excellent accounting firm should always have a plan in case of an emergency.

If you’re looking for chartered professional accountants based in Kingston, Ontario and serving across Canada, reach out to M. Losee & Associates. We specialize in dealing with small businesses, as we provide them with accounting and tax services. We even help them with workshops so that they can learn to account themselves. We are also committed to providing timely and accurate financial information to our clients.

To learn more about the services we offer, please click here. To get in touch with us, please click here.