What to Look For When Choosing an Accountant

Finding a good, skilled and reputable accountant can be a delicate process. While most accountants are honest, some of them are simply more experienced and knowledgeable than others. The job of an accountant is to make sure that records pertaining to their client’s money are accurate and in order. Accountants also help their client make the right decisions when it comes to their financial situation and give them advice in regard to taxes.

Many accountants are unlicensed and though they might be good at what they do, a potential client should look for a Certified Public Accountant, preferably one who has a masters degree in accounting. A CPA receives a license through their State Board of Accountancy and most states, but not all, require the CPA to have a college degree. The potential client might want to find out whether their own state requires their CPAs to be college graduates.

Whether the CPA is a college graduate or not, they would have had to have taken the Uniform CPA Examination. This four part exam is said to be grueling and takes two days to complete. The test, which is administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, is so difficult that only a quarter of the test-takers pass all four parts of it at the same time. To counter this, some states allow some CPA candidates to pass only two parts to get partial credit and give them more time to pass the rest of the test. In some states, the candidate has to already have experience as an accountant to take the test in the first place.

The client should also look for an accountant who is proficient in math and has a gift for quick financial analysis. They should have good communication skills and should be able to explain often complex financial matters in a way that a client of average intelligence can understand. They should be current on the latest accounting laws and should be computer literate in order to handle the latest accounting software. Their ethical standards, of course, should be of the highest caliber.

The best way to start looking for an accountant is through speaking with people who have used an accountant that they're satisfied with. A client can also look for accountants through the Better Business Bureau, the Yellow Pages or professional organizations like the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants at www.aicpa.org.