Accountants are like the gate-keeper to the underbelly of your business. They know almost everything that is happening (most especially those relating to money) about it. The reason for which is that it is their job to record everything up to the most minute detail. So, for you, as a business owner, to succeed need to find a good accountant for your business.
Things To Do When Getting An Accountant
To help you, out I’ve listed some tips on how to look for a great accountant and what to look for in an accountant:
Check Their Educational Background
An accountant’s educational background gives employers a very quick look at their abilities. Basing from the record of a school, you can assume the amount of training that their graduates had undergone. Avoid, however, giving to many points to an accountant’s Alma mater. Great accountants may graduate from any school around.
Look For A Certified Accountant
There are plenty of certifications that an accountant can get. The most popular ones include, but are not limited to, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Financial Analyst, (CFA), and Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Although each certification has a different meaning, one thing they have in common is that they are all hard to get.
You can also use these certifications to know if an accountant is specially trained for your industry. Here are the meanings of some of the most common accountant certifications in the US:
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA): these are accountants trained to create or audit financial statements of publicly traded companies.
- Certified Financial Analyst (CFA): CFA accreditation is an internationally recognized. These are accountants that are experts in the world of investment.
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA): CMAs are great for management or executive-level positions in companies.
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA): these are accountants that have trained in standard compliance and quality controls.
Ask Them About Their Previous Employment
If an accountant you are interviewing is not a fresh graduate, try to ask about their previous employment. These will give you an idea of what type of employee they are. You can also learn if there have been issues that led to them leaving their previous employer.
Some employers, however, prohibit their ex-employees from talking about them. So, do not be too persistent if the applicant expresses their unwillingness to talk about it. Also, do not take this as a red flag as privacy is not always a cause for alarm.
Take As Much Time As You Need
An accountant would be one of your partners in steering your company. They will affect most decisions that you will make. Hence, it is best if you take as much time as you need when filtering applicants. Otherwise, you might end up with someone that will drive your company to the ground.
Actually Call Their Character Reference
Some business owners are too busy to call the character references listed on the end of their applicant’s resume. However, this can be a terrible move. A third party giving feedback about an accountant can always provide information that you otherwise won’t gather through an interview.
Negotiate Their Salary Well
If you are a serious business owner, you should already understand the idea that “you get what you pay for.” The same thing goes with any employee, including accountants. No matter how good your accountant is, if you pay them too low, there is a chance that they will under-perform. So when negotiating their salary, make sure also to consider their desired rate.
Hiring an accountant for full-time has a lot of advantages. However, it can sometimes be costly for some people. Another alternative would be to get the services of independent accountants that you can pay per project instead.
AldarisCPA is one of the most respected and recognized accounting services providers in the Seattle area. They offer top-notch services such as tax preparation, business consulting, bookkeeping services, corporate structure planning, and more. You can request an appointment with us by simply clicking on this link.