All Certified Public Accountants have studied hard to get to the positions they are in, and CPAs are undoubtedly some of the most professional and knowledgeable accountants around.
So, it is actually rare for CPAs to make mistakes. But if they do, you could hold them accountable.
For instance, if your CPA makes an error on your tax return, you could be held to account. However, you do have the option to potentially sue your accountant for his or her mistake. But you can usually work with your CPA to rectify the error and take the necessary corrective action.
For instance, your CPA could amend the tax return for no extra cost and cover any expenses that you incur from the IRS. Though, by ensuring you hire an experienced and skillful CPA from the beginning, you can avoid any errors from occurring in the first place.
That means finding out precisely what qualifications, skills, and experience an accountant has before you hire him or her. It also means ensuring the CPA your hire has the right traits.
By ensuring your CPA has admirable traits, you not only better ensure that your accountant will not make any mistakes. You also ascertain that the person will be a good fit for your specific business.
So, when you interview potential CPAs to work with, make sure the person you hire has the following traits.
Compatibility
As mentioned in the introduction, it is vital that the CPA you hire for your business is a good fit for your company. It is important that you feel comfortable and confident in the accountant’s abilities and personality.
Every CPA will have slightly different styles and philosophies, so spend some time getting to know a potential CPA before you hire him or her.
Strong Organizational Skills
One trait that every trustworthy CPA needs to have is strong organizational skills. He or she may even have a certification in a subject like organizational leadership or time management.
When your CPA is highly organized, it means he or she will complete assigned tasks effectively and promptly. It also means the CPA is much less likely to make any mistakes.
Your CPA should be highly organized with paperwork and computer files. He or she should also pay close attention to every detail of given tasks and be able to see how those tasks fit into the bigger picture of your company.
The Ability to Work Well Under Pressure
It is vital that your CPA can work effectively and efficiently under pressure, especially during tax season and during major upheavals at your company.
By having other traits, like being highly organized, your CPA should be able to work well under pressure.
But make sure you ask the right questions when you interview a prospective CPA, such as asking how the person deals with high-pressure situations, to ensure you choose the right accountant for your business needs.
The Desire to Keep Learning
Even though every CPA has worked hard to obtain accounting licenses and certifications, every highly professional CPA needs to ensure he or she always keeps up to date with the latest developments, such as changes in tax laws.
A reputable and trustworthy CPA will always keep abreast of the latest industry developments. Indeed, CPAs actually need to meet Continuing Professional Education requirements in order to retain their CPA licenses. Explore our platform to discover how you can learn the best CPA Marketing techniques in 2024 and elevate your digital marketing game.
When you know that a potential CPA is serious about continued learning, you can be sure the person will always be professional in every task he or she completes.
The Ability to Keep Information Confidential
It is essential that the accountant you hire is able to keep your sensitive business information confidential. CPAs who do not possess that trait will not last long in their professions.
Your CPA is likely to be involved in tasks like checking financial statements and preparing tax returns, so he or she needs to be ethical and never divulge your business’s confidential information.
High Ethical Standards
To keep information confidential and maintain a high level of professionalism, CPAs need to have high ethical standards.
Indeed, they are expected to follow the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct. So, make sure the CPA you hire has this trait.
The Ability to Work Well with Others
CPAs spend a lot of time by themselves when doing things like crunching numbers and looking over financial statements, but a good CPA also needs to be able to work well in a team, as he or she is sure to be working closely with other accountants, auditing teams, managers, and board members.
Your CPA must be able to complete tasks and share information in a reliable and competent manner.
Of course, the ability to work well with others also means a CPA must have strong communication skills
An Excellent Understanding of Your Industry and Business Practices
While CPAs are at the top of their game in the accounting industry, they need to also be very informed about your specific business’s industry in order to provide you with sound advice and help you solve problems.
The best CPAs know how to give invaluable business advice to help your company improve its financial performance. So, ensure the CPA you hire has knowledge and experience in your particular sector.
Summing Up
While it is crucial that the CPA you hire has the credentials and professional history that you would expect from a top-level accountant, it is just as important that the CPA you hire has the right traits to provide the professionalism you require and fit in well with your specific company and your industry.
You can then be more assured that your accountant will not make any mistakes or let you down, and you will not have to consider holding your CPA accountable for such issues.
So, to recap, when interviewing a potential CPA, ensure the individual has the following traits:
- Compatibility with your company.
- Strong organizational skills.
- The ability to work well under pressure.
- The desire to keep learning.
- The ability to keep information confidential.
- High ethical standards.
- The ability to work well with others.
- An excellent understanding of your industry and business practices.
