How To Hire A CPA (Certified Public Accountant)? A Guide

Whether you run a business on a large scale or it is a small-scale enterprise, you will need a financial expert or CPA to maintain the accounts books, provide financial solutions and manage finances for the company.

CPA stands for Certified Public Accountant, and the person carries the license to work as an accountant. The CPAs get relevant education and training to solve complex financial issues and take up internal audits for the company.

They are also trained to handle tax filing tasks for companies and individuals. A reliable CPA can help people relax and concentrate on core business activities. CPAs provide services to estimate sales and profits for the coming quarters.

They also know compliance and regulatory compulsions that a company must follow. Thus, if you have not hired a CPA yet for your accounts and tax management tasks, you must hire one immediately to make the company financially strong.

Cpa Job Responsibilities And Duties

CPAs’ roles and responsibilities would differ for different companies, but you must know their essential duties.

Bookkeeping and maintenance of financial records

While some people hire CPAs only for bookkeeping, it is better to take their help to maintain financial records. They understand in-depth what documents, invoices, etc., are needed to promptly support the books of accounts.

Taking up internal audits

Internal audits would mean checking the bookkeeping and the company’s financial records to ensure that there is a supporting document for every penny that comes in and an expense voucher or bill for the money being paid.

Sometimes, there might be minor errors, too, which might pile up and create problems shortly. A CPA checks all these things and makes the process error-free.

Filing tax returns

Filing income tax returns for companies is a crucial task, and when the company has a CPA, this task becomes easy.

The qualified CPA also communicates with IRS when there are some tax-related issues, thus representing the company.

Making financial reports and projections

Every company should generate quarterly financial reports and annual reports for the leaders and shareholders of the company.

CPA takes up these tasks and provides a perfect financial records representation to clarify how the company is performing.

It is also a CPA’s duty to project estimated sales and profits for the coming quarters. All these things help to understand whether the company is financially doing well.

Staying updated on regulatory processes and compliance

With time there may be some changes in regulations. If these things relate to finances, then the CPA must stay updated and provide the relevant information to the company’s accounts department.

He should also stay updated about the compliances and related issues to safeguard the company’s financial interests.

With an understanding of the roles and duties of a CPA, it is clear that hiring one for the enterprise will be a safe and intelligent decision. Here’s how you must hire a CPA.

How To Hire A CPA?

Once it’s clear that you will need a CPA, here’s how you must take the relevant action.

Create a job description.

The first thing that a company must do is create a suitable job description for hiring a CPA. It will have details about what the company needs.

Most typical job descriptions for CPAs have a questionnaire on the candidate’s education, certifications, experience, expertise in a relevant field, etc. It will also have details about how to apply for the position and mention the expected CTC.

Post an advertisement for the same.

The next step is to post the advertisement or the job description in local newspapers, social media platforms, or any excellent job portal website. Once the company starts getting resumes, the recruitment process will begin.

Take interviews of the short-listed candidates.

This step will help the company to understand the candidates’ views in a better way. During an interview, the HR department or the company can ask the candidates about their experience with specific accounting software and the creation of business metrics.

The company must present its requirements list and see that the potential candidate’s resume matches the same.

Ask for past references.

Since it’s the question of financial matters of a company, a CPA should be a person of responsibility and integrity.

The company must ask for past references to conduct a background check and collect information about past jobs.

Make a formal offer.

The company should make a formal and final offer to the candidate. At this stage, there might be a few negotiations and then finalization.

Once the company has an expert and reliable CPA, the finances of the company will be streamlined, and there will be many benefits for the company.

Benefits Of Hiring An Expert CPA For Your Company

Having a good CPA will not only help in tax planning and bookkeeping but there are many more benefits to this. Read on, and you will get an idea.

Prompt advice on investments

CPAs have a good hand at capital investments, and hence they provide advice and solutions to the company that will enhance the financial stability of the company.

Make complex financial decisions.

The road toward financial stability will have many complexities. A CPA would be a leader and mentor for the company as he could make complex financial decisions that are good for the company.

Debt reduction

Outstanding debts would attract undue expenditure in the form of interest. The CPA might sort out debt-related issues by making financial projections and forecasts and advise the company to pay off high-interest debts first to enhance profitability.

Cost Reduction

A CPA also reviews the company’s costs and profitability time and again. During the process, if he feels that there is too much unnecessary spending, then he will provide a report on the same. Cost reduction can enhance profitability and stability for the company.

Provide an accurate picture of the company’s finances

A CPA provides a clear idea about the company’s finances, projected numbers for the coming quarters, and how the business needs to enhance efficacy, etc.

When the company works on these financial facts, it will surely enhance functionality and efficacy.

Provide tax-related understanding

CPAs have a thorough understanding of tax-relayed laws, so when the company faces any such issues, the CPA takes the initiative to solve the same. CPA updates the company about the tax and regulatory changes too.

Apart from bookkeeping, compliance, and sorting out tax-related issues, a CPA makes the company stay strong financially so that there will be an improvement in sales and production numbers.

A qualified CPA carries the license to work as a CPA. You must ensure this when you hire a CPA for your company. But there are a few more qualities that you must look out for.

Qualities Of An Expert CPA

Works as a team player.
Think of every financial transaction in detail.
Has good knowledge of accounting software and technology solutions.
Has good communication skills.
Has professional integrity.
Has reliability and trustworthiness.
Has expertise in financing, budgeting, and forecasting numbers.

Conclusion

An enterprise that does not have a CPA might not have clarity about the company’s finances. It is crucial to appoint one so that there is a further road to success for the company.

A company should stay updated with compliance and regulatory changes; for these things, a CPA provides the perfect guidance. The slightest financial error can create problems in the future. A CPA can become a strong backbone for the company combating these issues.

The ability to find exact numbers and create financial forecasts for the company provides a roadmap to reach great heights. A financially sound company can prove to be trustworthy for shareholders and investors.

A company needs to work on its projects, so appointing a CPA for financial work will be a good decision.