So, you have decided you need the assistance of Certified Public Accountants. How do you find a CPA? You can go through the yellow pages, of course, and look under the heading Certified Public Accountants. Alternatively, you can do an internet search for Certified Public Accountants. These methods, however simple they may sound, might not be effective in finding a qualified CPA.
Looking through your local Yellow Pages for Certified Public Accountants will give you hundreds of firms and individuals that are Certified Public Accountants in your area to choose from. How do you choose one of the CPA’s with no information other than the address and phone number?
Doing an internet search for Certified Public Accountants will give you thousands of results, many of which will not be local to your area. Many will be information about Certified Public Accountants rather than listings for the Certified Public Accountants themselves.
You can use a localized search engine such as Yahoo Local or Google Local to find Certified Public Accountants in your area. However, this too has its drawbacks. If you use Yahoo Local, you will only receive results that are like yellow page results: an address and phone number. There may or may not be reviews by consumers of the Certified Public Accountants as well, however, which could also help you to make a decision. Google Local, however, also provides you with website links for the Certified Public Accountants when they are available. This allows you to go to the websites of the Certified Public Accountants and gather information about the firm or individual to help you make a decision.
Once you have narrowed down your search for Certified Public Accountants to a smaller number of possibilities, you should go to your local Better Business Bureau website or call the Better Business Bureau directly to discover what the rating is for the Certified Public Accountants you found in your search. These ratings will tell you if the Certified Public Accountants have ever had complaints filed against them with the Better Business Bureau.
Another source for testing the credibility and ethics of Certified Public Accountants is to contact your local Board of Accountancy or similar agency. These agencies are charged with monitoring Certified Public Accountants. They also take complaints and follow up with disciplinary measures against Certified Public Accountants. The Board of Accountancy may also perform periodic audits of the work performed by Certified Public Accountants. This monitoring puts these agencies in the best position to help you make an informed decision when choosing Certified Public Accountants.
When in doubt, never work with Certified Public Accountants who have had complaints against them. Do not work with Certified Public Accountants who do not have proper licensing to practice in your locality. It would be best to avoid Certified Public Accountants who will not meet with you in person, sign contracts, or provide proof of education, licensing, and certification. If you still have trouble finding Certified Public Accountants, select a well-known firm of Certified Public Accountants to handle your affairs. While the fees associated with these Certified Public Accountants may be higher than smaller firms, you will have the peace of mind that you are in good hands with ethical, qualified Certified Public Accountants.