Picking the right accountant for your taxes or small business can mean the difference between success and failure. You trust your accountant with private financial information, and rely upon his or her advice to trim your tax liability, keep you out of trouble with the IRS, keep your books in check, and keep your finances flowing smoothly.
- tax accountant: if you need a tax accountant, try looking for one experienced not only in completing returns, but in representing taxpayers in audits and tax planning. Former IRS experience can be a plus. Also, if you use personal finance software like Quicken, make sure your accountant can import the data.
- small business accountant: a small business accountant does much more than record transactions. They prepare the financial statements that management must vouch for, interface with auditors, plan for tax and capital efficiency, and often serve as a referral source.
- bookkeepers: they perform the tedious tasks of recording financial information and putting it into the necessary formats, like P&L statements and tax forms. Look for someone who is tech savvy and trustworthy. Do not skimp on background investigation, especially if your bookkeeper has check signing authority. |
