Most small companies hire an accountant either when their internal accounting needs developing to be too large to manage without expert assistance, or when their external financial problems develop to be overwhelming. But not every small business makes use of the services of an accountant as regularly as their larger counterparts do. Why is this? There are probably a number of reasons. Here are some of the more common ones:
The Accountant may not have the requisite experience required Unless the business has a long history, an Accountant without any industry experience will not be able to manage it. So unless you’re willing to recruit a new CPA, then you need to get a CPA that’s been with an accounting firm for some years. This ensures that he’ll be familiar with the latest market-related accounting software and can make sure the company doesn’t neglect the most important aspect of accounting: cash flow.
The Accountant may not have the necessary accreditation It’s important to make sure that the accountant you’re hiring is certified by the accounting firm he’s working for. This certification will ensure that the Accountant is competent to provide accounting services for your business. It will also mean that he has met certain educational criteria set by the accounting firm. It’s worth it to hire an accountant who’s got the certification. This is because it shows that the Accountant is highly qualified and competent in providing accounting services and is likely to perform better than someone with only a CPA designation.
The Accountant isn’t well-versed with your company’s accounting needs Small business accounting needs differ from those of larger firms. As a smaller firm, you may not be required to implement complex accounting strategies. Accountants who don’t have a lot of experience handling the many small but essential details associated with accounting will not be as competent as someone who has done it many times. Therefore, it is critical that you choose an Accountant who is familiar with your company’s specific accounting needs.
The Accountant isn’t experienced in your industry The fact that many accountants offer a wide range of services doesn’t necessarily mean that they are experienced at every task related to accounting. There are several firms that hire accountants with no specialized knowledge of accounting practices in their industry. While this can be convenient for such firms, as the Accountant will usually know everything about every business, the result can be disastrous. Instead of hiring an Accountant who isn’t knowledgeable about your field, always opt for those Accountants who have expertise only in the industry they’re handling.
The above points clearly show that it’s important to take a little bit of time when hiring an Accountant for your company. This is because it can sometimes make a huge difference between hiring the right people and hiring the wrong ones. Remember that you can spend thousands on accounting fees. Hiring an Accountant who has limited experience can cost you much less. While you shouldn’t solely focus on accountancy fees when hiring an Accountant, it is essential to find an Accountant who has exceptional knowledge of the firm’s accounting procedures and solutions.