If you are a business owner, you will know how important it is to have a reliable accountant. The right accountant can help you with everything from tax returns to ensuring that your business is compliant with the law. You can also expect them to provide advice on how to grow your business and stay competitive.
The best way to find the right chartered accountant is by asking around. If you know other entrepreneurs in your area, ask them who they use and if they have had a good experience with their CAs. You can also ask friends and family members who may have used an accountant in the past. Their recommendations should be enough for you to decide on one particular firm or individual.
There are many different kinds of CAs out there, so do not pick just anyone for this job! Make sure that they have at least five years’ experience working directly with businesses like yours (or similar ones). If they do not have much experience working with small businesses, then they may not be able to give you the best advice when it comes time for tax season or other important events during the year (such as buying/selling assets).
Accountants are highly trained professionals who help you with tax and financial planning, payroll and bookkeeping, auditing and more. The chartered accountant designation is the highest qualification available for accountant. With this designation, you can expect to receive top-notch service from a CPA firm that understands all aspects of business.
Transparency: Chartered accountants have an ethical code that governs their actions. They must be honest with their clients at all times and maintain confidentiality unless authorized by the client or required by law to disclose information.
Experience: Chartered accountants have at least seven years of experience in accounting and finance, as well as education and training requirements that exceed those of a standard practising accountant (CA). They also have extensive knowledge of company laws and regulations related to businesses.
Experience – Find out how long the accountant has been in practice, what type of experience they have with small businesses and what kind of education they have received.
Credibility – Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if there are any complaints against the person or firm you are considering hiring as well as other relevant information about them such as licensing requirements and disciplinary history.
Fees – Ask about fees and understand what is included in those fees. In addition to their hourly rate, you should consider whether they charge by project or by retainer (a set fee paid monthly). You may also want to ask about other charges such as travel expenses or e-filings that may not be part of their regular service offerings but can add up quickly over time.
