Top Five Things To Look For When Hiring An Accounting Professional
An expert accounting professional is an invaluable asset to your business. These professionals specialize in assessing your company’s finances, activities, and business environment to determine its performance. Accounting professionals help companies save money and use these resources to obtain maximum benefit.
Regardless of how big or small your business is, hiring a financial expert to guide you is in your best interests. While looking for an accounting professional, it is vital to take your time to review a few candidates before choosing one. You need to list down the different areas of business you need help with and the kind of skill and expertise that will suit your requirements.
Here are the top five things to look for when hiring an accounting professional.
1. Experience
When it comes to hiring an accounting professional, significant experience in the financial domain is a critical factor. However, to think that accountants with more experience are the most ideal would at best be old-school thinking and doesn’t guarantee high value. When hiring, you should evaluate an accounting professional with their level of expertise and capability in managing long-term financial markets and investment allocations. Verifying their working experience with their other clients can also help you decide.
2. Up-to-date knowledge
Regardless of the challenges thrown at him, an experienced accounting professional should exude confidence in all situations. A confident approach owing to sufficient general industry exposure and up-to-date knowledge will help establish consistency. Look for an honest accounting professional who can proactively help make financial decisions in your best interests during volatile market conditions.
3. Reviews and ratings
Reviews and ratings of an accounting professional give you a peek into the experience you stand to get working with them. Please ensure the accounting individual or firm you’re thinking of hiring has a solid reputation. Scour through online platforms and social media for reviews and ratings, in addition to speaking with their existing clients.
4. Turnaround time
Unless you’ve agreed on a quick turnaround because you need the accounting paperwork for a reference, loan, or some other purpose, your accountant will most likely go as per the due date for the accounts you have submitted to them. Most accounting professionals will, or should, have a system for registering when accounts arrive. Generally, one would expect the accounting professional to process the accounts they receive in chronological order. However, since they have many other deadlines that can prioritize the order in which they process accounts.
5. Cost
An accounting professional is at a higher level than a bookkeeper, and generally, a bookkeeper reports to the accountant in an organization. However, if you own a small business and want to hire an accountant occasionally, you should remember that their rates reflect the education and experience of the accountant. The cost also varies depending on where you live.
If you are looking for an expert accounting professional, contact Phoenix Accounting – Bookkeeper & Accounting Technician in Lethbridge, AB.
Christine Baxter has been in the business of bookkeeping since 2000 and has always kept her knowledge and education up to date over the years. She started doing taxes in 2008 and was trained under a CPA for three years. As a QuickBooks Pro Advisor member since 2010, QuickBooks is her preferred software.
She has used Simply Accounting (Sage 50) and some of the online and app-based bookkeeping software available, however, QuickBooks remains her favorite.
C.Baxter Taxes and Books was launched in July of 2010 after her 4th child was born and was in need of a more flexible schedule to accommodate her family and their ever-growing needs. In January 2020, we underwent a re-brand and became Phoenix Accounting.
Our services include Personal Taxes, Small Business Taxes, Farm Taxes, Rental Income Taxes, US Tax Returns, Corporate Taxes, Full-Service Bookkeeping Services, and more.
We serve clients across Lethbridge, Raymond, Magrath, Taber, Macleod, Claresholm, Stavely, Picture Butte, and the surrounding areas.
To learn more about the accounting services that we provide, please click here. If you have any questions about your accounting and bookkeeping requirements, feel free to get in touch by clicking here.
BOOKKEEPER / TAX PREPARER IN LETHBRIDGE, AB
Our Services include: Personal Taxes, Small Business Taxes, Farm Taxes, Rental Income Taxes, US Tax Returns, Corporate Taxes, Full-Service Bookkeeping Services, and more. Serving clients across Lethbridge, Raymond, Magrath, Taber, Fort Macleod, Claresholm, Stavely, Picture Butte, and the surrounding areas. Contact Phoenix Accounting – QuickBooks ProAdvisor in Lethbridge, AB