Find The Right CPA For You Or Your Business With These 15 Pro Tips

​Choosing a certified public accountant for your business or personal finances isn’t a decision that should be made lightly. This individual or firm is handling your sensitive financial data; it’s not only essential that they’re knowledgeable about their (and your) industry, but also that you can trust them to protect your information and put your best interests first.
Finding the perfect CPA requires extensive research and time to find the right match for your specific needs. To help you in your search, we asked the members of Forbes Finance Council how to find a financial professional who’s truly right for you. Follow their advice as you begin evaluating potential CPAs.

Members of Forbes Finance Council share tips for business leaders looking for the right CPA. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.

​1. Define your needs.
The first thing you should do is define your needs—you should be very clear as to what you need and expect from your CPA. Is timeliness important? Do you have challenging tax issues you’re dealing with? It’s hard to find a CPA who is everything to everyone. Know what you need, and then start talking to reputable firms in your area that meet the qualities you’re seeking. - Jamie Ellis, Katz, Sapper & Miller

2. Ask questions to gauge their understanding of your situation.
We just changed accounting firms. We were curious about how many similar firms they represent and how they would answer some esoteric questions specific to our situation. We questioned their expertise in financial services, and we asked if they truly understood our uniqueness. We also asked a difficult question that tested their familiarity without providing the situation. - Michael Seltzer, Vérité Group, LLC

​3. Ask about their competitive advantage.
Always ask the accounting firm what their competitive advantages are. Do they find an ROI in tax strategies, do they go the extra mile with one-on-one time with the owner, do they have an amazing virtual platform? If they cannot easily share a value proposition that resonates with your main goals, find someone else. - Jackie Meyer, Meyer Tax, The Concierge CPA Coach

4. Ensure they can focus on your operations.
Find a CPA who focuses on the operational aspects of your business and not just on creating financial statements. Accounting will be of the greatest value when it accommodates the operational aspects of a business to create efficiency in things like billing and generating performance metrics. - George Souri, LQD Business Finance

5. Tap into insights from your network.
When it comes to an important life decision, be it personal or professional, ask the people you trust. There are many websites out there designed to help you find a personal financial planner or CPA for your business needs. But just as the best way to find a new career path is to go through your personal network and look for a strong recommendation, the same holds true when looking for a CPA. - Stephen Bruce, The Family Office Group, a marcus evans Company

6. Conduct thorough interviews.
It is important to interview thoroughly and ask questions. This is especially paramount for a small business. When we were starting up, I wanted a CPA who understood our industry and our size and who could provide quotes and pricing prior to any work being done so we could make the best choice for our company. - Kathleen Craig, HT Mobile Apps

7. Get referrals from your existing professional advisory team.
I would recommend asking your accountant, your banker and/or your lawyer. In their professions, they sometimes come across financial advisors who must think smart, act quickly and work responsively in complex cases. You may find satisfaction if this is the sort of attitude you expect from a financial advisor. - Julien Machot, VERSO Capital

8. Ask questions about their team.
I look for referrals from business professionals I work with who I believe are excellent at their profession and business strategies. I ask many questions regarding the people they use so I get a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses. The next step is to interview the group and make sure they are a good fit for my organization. - Sarah Hanna, ECS North

9. Seek to understand their work philosophy.
Understanding the CPA or tax professional’s philosophy, making sure they are relatable and determining who they are as humans by having a conversation will save time, effort, heartache and money. Working with someone you feel comfortable communicating with will help facilitate a more cohesive and fluid financial situation. - Karla Dennis, Karla Dennis and Associates Inc.

10. Look for someone proactive.
Look for a proactive CPA who takes the time to meet with their business owner clients in July through October. You don’t want someone who just files reports and taxes. Ask other business owners—even call the CPA’s office and ask how they handle their clients who are business owners. You absolutely need a CPA who will help you plan ahead to minimize your tax bill. - Justin Goodbread, Heritage Investors

11. Explain your goals.
When looking for a CPA, you should interview potential candidates as if you were hiring an employee. Interview multiple people and ask a ton of questions. Explain your financial goals and figure out which CPA fits both your personality and your financial goals. - Jonathan Moisan, Advertise Purple

12. Talk to other business leaders in your industry.
The right CPA makes all the difference to your business. I would suggest talking with other business owners in your industry and company size to see who they are using. Interview each firm and try to find the top person for your industry in that firm. You need to make sure this person or firm will understand your needs, stay ahead of changes and be a true partner with you and your company. - Brian Hayes, NOW CFO

13. Make sure they’re smart, hungry and humble.
I like to structure an interview like this around the ideas presented in Patrick Lencioni’s book The Ideal Team Player. Lencioni strongly suggests you look for three things: Are they smart, are they hungry and are they humble? Lencioni also takes time to help identify interview questions that dig deep enough to truly determine whether or not the candidate fully has these qualities. - Mike Hardwick, Churchill Mortgage Corporation

14. Get at least three quotes.
Ask your trusted business partners and always get three quotes. Your CPA is essentially a vendor, and you wouldn’t want to pick the first one sent your way. Try reaching out to business partners who have similar business practices and who you trust. - Kelly Shores, GCubed, Inc.

15. Look for a firm that’s similar in size to your business.
If your business is smaller, a large accounting firm may not be for you. Match the firm size with the needs you have. Additionally, what are your goals? Ask questions: Do they have a strong advisory practice? Do they help with M&A?  - Thomas Gillespie, Access Receivables Management

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Source: Forbes