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Where You Find A Good Accountant
By: Roger Gonzales
The most obvious place to start looking for accounting help is in your local
Yellow Pages. Most areas will have a wide variety of accountants listed in their
phone book, and some will even divide the listings by specialty, making it
easier to tell a financial advisor from a forensic accounting specialist. The
problem with this method is that there is no way of determining the quality of
the listings from the phone book alone.
Searching for Accountants Online
Finding accountants online has advantages over the phone book because there is
more information available. You can search for accounting specialists in your
specific area of interest, and you can browse their websites to find out what
they have to say about their services. This information tends to be one-sided,
however. Of course a CPA firm will put forth the best possible face in their
online advertising. Each accountant will highlight his or her strengths and
gloss over or ignore their weaknesses.
Contacting Certified Public Accountant Associations
Professional accounting associations should be able to give you a list of CPA
firms and individuals working in your area. They should be able to tell you what
firms you can contact for your needs, whether you are looking for someone to
help with your payroll taxes or as your financial advisor. Furthermore,
associations can ensure that the candidate has passed the CPA exam and is
current with continuing education and ethics.
Asking Accounting and CPA Firms about Specialists
Another way to formulate a list of accountants to interview is to call a number
of CPA firms and ask them which accountants in the area specialize in your kind
of situation.
These companies should be able to refer you to the kind of professional that you
need, either within their own firm or with another company with a good
reputation.
Getting Accounting Referrals from Your Business Associates
An excellent way to find the best accountants in your area is to ask your
business associates for recommendations. Professionals, such as your lawyer or
your banker, are probably very familiar with the accounting industry. They can
make referrals based on the types of services you need.
Furthermore, these business associates are likely to have other clients in your
situation who have shared their accounting experiences, good and bad. This puts
them in position to know which CPA firms have the best reputation.
Getting Recommendations from People in Your Situation
Asking around to see if any of your friends, coworkers, or acquaintances has
been in your situation is another way to get good feedback about the best tax
accountant or bookkeeper for you.
If you are looking for a business accountant, try calling businesses that are
about the same size and category as your company is. Ask them who they use as
their accountant, and whether they are happy with their services.
A fool may well be his own lawyer, but you must either not care about paying
taxes or live in a world all your own to attempt to file your own IRS return.
Accountants keep individuals afloat in the financial seas, too.
From the notepads and generic checks used in the '50's, accounting has evolved
into such a fast paced environment that only computers, and the accountants who
tend them, can keep up. For the savvy, accounting is becoming ever more
high-tech and high pay.
About the Author:
Copyright © Roger Gonzales. Roger Gonzales is the owner of this article. To
learn more visit Where You Find a Good Accountant http://www.rogerbetagold.com/acc/
Free Accounting report on services acc@listwonder.com
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