How to Find the Best CPA Firms near Me?

When you’ve reached the point of needing help in your business or organization finances, you opt to hire a CPA firm in your area.  Finding a nearby firm is not hard as there are a number of them in every city or town. They are all licensed to perform internal audits, handling taxes, financial consultations, and other accounting services. How will you choose the best one to handle your accounting needs perfectly and make your business or organizations successful?

Here are some points to help you find the best CPA firm near you:

1- Ask for referrals 

Referrals are the best way to find a firm that is close by. Inquire from close relatives and acquaintances who use the services of CPA firms.  You can also ask for recommendations from neighboring businesses or organizations especially the ones in a similar trade. This is an effect they have first-hand interaction with the accountant.

2- Use an online directory such as AICPA 

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is an established and reliable source of all top accounting firms. It has a list of public accounting firms, their location, and the services offered also their contact information and a direct link to their website. This gives you exactly what you need to narrow down your list of potential hires.

3- Training in Accounting

Make sure the CPA accounting firm is trained in accounting. The accountants should have a CPA certificate and undertaken a finance-related bachelor degree. The senior accountants in the firm must have additional postgraduate degrees. You can trust a firm that is educated since they know what is to be done and do it perfectly.

4- Their experience level

In addition to having the required training, hire an accounting firm that has worked other organizations or businesses for at least three to five years. This shows that they have gained the skills and expertise in consultation and handling accounts over time. Also, the longer they have worked the easier it is for them to solve problems and do a perfect job.

5- Specialization in your field

CPA firms are specialized in different industries to serve the different types of clients seeking their services. Only choose the firm that is familiar with your profession. This is beneficial since they know how your enterprise or organization runs and its needs unlike one who hasn’t specialized in your field.

6- Which services do they offer?

They should be able to fully serve all your accounting needs. CPA firms have a wide range of services from handling taxes, doing audits, bookkeeping and offering financial consultations. Look for one that meets your needs since not all firms offer a variety of services. This will save time, money and effort of hiring another firm when the need arises.

7- Their service fee should fit your budget

CPA firms are known to charge differently according to time, service or a fixed rate. Don’t hire a firm without confirming how much they charge for their service. Even if they look qualified and reliable, it’s important to make sure their fee fits in the planned budget.

How to get the best Non Profit Audit Services from Professional CPAs?

Auditing for non-profit organizations is quite different from that of profit organizations. The fact that they do not run the same purposes makes it clear that they will not go through the same processes with regular profit-making companies. This is reason enough for non-profit organizations to require professional audit services. Irrespective of how well the business has been handled, you would the help of a professional who would be able to point out a thing or two that would guide you. It might surprise you that what was seemed completely in place would fall apart under the scrutiny of an expert. The benefit of this examination is that, in the end, your organization has more information and instructions to thrive on
If you want to come out of the audit unscathed and with a great result, you might want to reach out to certified professional accountant to help you with the task. Certain accounting principles guide the auditing of non-profit organizations and the professional can use this knowledge in your father. How I can get the best, you’re probably asking now. Luckily for you, I have a couple of tricks and tips that would get you just what you want- the best!

1. Begin Your Search

You won’t get anywhere with wishful thinking. Therefore, you need to take action. If you have an audit committee, they would need to come in here. Ask your colleagues in your field questions. They might be able to point you to someone. The CPA directory would also be a great place to check as the directory also shows their expertise and qualification. Google can also be of great help to you. Get a list of companies that would probably meet your needs. Finally, it is necessary to make sure that the audit firm is licensed in your state. Don't forget to consider cost. Be sure to make choices based on what you can afford. This way, you won't run into a fix in the middle of the process.

2. Run an Investigation on your Choice

Ascertain the expertise of the audit firm that you have chosen. Can they handle non-profit auditing? Make use of their peer audit reports (a report of the audit carried out on the audit firm or professional). This way you’ll be sure of their ability to deliver. Ensure that there is no conflict of interest between the audit firm and your organization. The auditor must be independent and free from bias and negligence. The audit firm that is chosen for the job must not be the same firm that offers consulting services to the organization. This is the most important part of the process because your choice determines the outcome of your audit. Confirm the ability of the audit organization to train your staff on what they need to know before the audit process.

3. Make Contact

You’ve made your choice, now it's time for you to send in a request for a proposal to the audit firm of your choice. In the request, make sure that the objective and scope of the audit is clear. Ask for a meeting where they would provide a quote and their credentials. They should also provide references from tax-exempt non-profit organization clients.

Follow these steps and you’ll have one of the best non-profit audit firms at our service in no time.