Choosing An Accountant

Choosing a qualified accountant can be a difficult task without a solid set of guidelines to aid in the process of elimination. A good accountant will be able to meet a strict set of criteria, so it is important to consider the following when comparing prospective accountants.

Communication and Consideration

Having an accountant that is easy to contact and is considerate of your needs is extremely important. If you find it hard to voice your opinion with your accountant, then you may want to reconsider. Accountants that do a lot of talking and very little listening cannot effectively manage the funds of a business. Likewise, it is impossible to learn from or communicate with an accountant that does not speak clearly and address their concerns. Ideally, your accountant should communicate via the internet, as this will make them easier to reach. You should be able to ask your accountant questions at all times of the day without being charged for every conversation.

Friendly and Creative

Having an accountant that is not afraid to share ideas with you for free is always preferred. Many accountants will charge a fee for every conversation they hold with you, even the initial consultation. If the accountant does not care enough to give you a free consultation, then it is likely they will overcharge for all of their services. Having a friendly and creative accountant is a great way to save money on both your accountant fees and taxes, because you’ll have access to high quality tax ideas and advice at any time. A good accountant will charge a higher hourly rate, but they will work quickly, and they can afford to give free advice.

Confidentiality and Direction

It is very important to be able to share business ideas and plans with your accountant, as this can directly affect the success of your business. The accountant should be able to offer advice based on your particular business model, which means they’ll need to have a considerable amount of knowledge about various industries and their corresponding taxes. An accountant should be ready to take a plan and set realistic deadlines in order to bring the plan into fruition successfully. They should be able to setup an organized meeting that effectively addresses all of your financial issues at once.

Responsibility and Responsiveness

Accountants are an integral part of any successful business, so it is important to make sure your accountant assumes full responsibility over the authority they are given. If you place an inquiry about a financial concern or prospective project you should expect to receive a response from the accountant within 24 hours on a business day. A quick first response is a good indicator of the firm’s ability to react. It is important to find out if the firm is personalized, or if you will be communicating with many different people. It is easier to guide your business in the right direction if you’re working with a closed group of dedicated people. Thus, there is nothing wrong with having a single accountant working with you exclusively.