Hiring an accountant for your small business is no easy task.As hard as it is already to running a business, people outsourcing their bookkeeping/accounting are faced with some difficult questions like, “What do I know what to look for in an accountant?How do I know if I should pick accountant A over accountant B?” and many more questions.Below are the top 3 questions you should consider as a starting point with this assignment to help you.
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How much experience do you have as an accountant and in my industry?Experience is very important in any industry; however, you don’t always need someone who’s had a lifetime of experience to perform the job.It is a good idea for the person to have a general understanding of accounting to properly categorize your revenue and expenses in the proper periods and to properly organize your chart of accounts.As for experience in your industry, it is a good to have experience in your industry, but it’s not the end of the world if they don’t.Because there are countless industries, it will be extremely rare to find someone who’s ready for every industry.A good follow up question if they don’t have specific experience in your industry is, “How do you plan to gain the knowledge needed help me in my industry, and are you going to bill me to obtain that knowledge?”Some accountants charge a flat fee for monthly services, so if that is the answer you get, then that’s a positive sign.If they insist on charging per hour, that may be a negative option.
2. How available are you when I have questions?
Some small business accountants are full time.Hopefully they should be available to respond to your questions when needed.If they are part-time, ask how long it will usually take them to answer your questions and if that is part of their payment plan. If they have a quick turnaround with your questions, that’s another positive.The lines of communication should always be open between a business owner and their accountant.
3. Do you have references?
Just like in any relationship in life, trust should be most important factor.When you trust those working with you, you can sleep better at night knowing they are on your side and working for your best interest.Some business owners will ask, “How do I trust someone whom I’ve never met?”A good starting point is to ask for references.If the accountant doesn’t have anything to hide, he or she should be more than glad to provide you with references.
If you have any further questions or would like talk to us about this, call us or email us at info@triuneaccountinggroup.com so we can further assist you with your search for an accountant/bookkeeper to assist the growth of your business.