Guide To Hiring A Professional For Tax And Bookkeeping Services

By Carmella Watts


People starting their own business usually handle all of the matters it entails themselves including the accounting. As a company continues to grow, it will eventually be necessary to hire a professional to manage the financial aspects. An accountant or accounting firm offers expertise in tax and bookkeeping services that will keep a company's finances in good order.

At first most businesses will have not as many financial transactions which makes this an ideal time to start off on the right foot and let an accounting professional keep track of these items. It will make tax season much easier if these have been processed beforehand, and will cut down on paperwork. As the business owner becomes busier with more duties, he or she will have less time available to commit to financial matters.

Accounting firms typically handle such functions as preparation of tax returns and financial statements, they also supply business owners with helpful advice which will end up saving them money. These firms will normally bill the business by the hour, and this rate may be determined by the particular services performed and which accountant is doing the work.

Hiring an "in-house" accountant may be necessary once a business finds itself in full-swing with an increasing amount of transactions. Such a professional's duties can include keeping ledgers and financial statements, payroll, maintaining records of daily transactions, variance analysis, and treasury. This person is usually employed by the company and paid a salary.

It is important to first figure out what the specific accounting needs of the company are before hiring an in-house accountant or firm, as some providers specialize in certain areas and it can also dictate which qualifications the professional needs to have. Simple tasks like basic bookkeeping and preparing financial statements can sometimes by maintained by a non-certified accountant, but more complex matters such as tax advice can only be provided by more experienced, licensed, certified accounting professionals.

A standard certification for an accountant is a CPA. These individuals have an undergraduate degree and have passed the exam required by the local licensing board. A CMA, or certified management accountant is also trained to work in a management capacity as well. It can also be beneficial to choose a firm which is experienced in working with accounts in the same industry, as they will possess a level of familiarity with the specific issues associated with it.

Accounting needs can be delivered by a lone professional or a large firm with national recognition. Sometimes really big firms delegate their accounts to other smaller firms who are working under them, so it's a good idea to ask who will in fact be doing the work. The advantage of working with an individual is the higher degree of personal attention that can ultimately be paid to one's business.

In order to choose the best candidate, it is important to carefully interview each prospective firm or individual. It is best if the accountant has worked with other companies of a similar size in the past, there must be clear communication, and there needs to be references the business owner can check. If they choose reliable and efficient tax and bookkeeping services, a company will be putting itself in a position for future growth.




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