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	Selecting An Accountant
	By Linda Berggren

Feel free to use this tip sheet / checklist as you tackle your own ""do-it-yourself"" organizing projects. If you would like to REPRINT or DISTRIBUTE this information, please click here for reprinting instructions.

• bookkeeping and work simplification
• tax services
• preparing financial statements
• management advisory services
• data processing

• What is your area of expertise?
• How many other clients do you handle yourself?
• Who else in the firm would be working on my account?
• Are their hourly rates the same or different than yours?
• How long have you been working as a CPA?
• What is your work history?
• How accessible will you be if I have a question?
• How do you bill?
• If my firm grows, can you grow with me?
• How much of your time is spent helping clients with planning?
• How much of your time is spent on compliance work?
• What are your professional affiliations?
• How do you stay up-to-date on accounting practice?
• How many of your clients have been audited?
• Why were they audited and what was the result?

• be accessible within reason
• submit reports in a timely fashion
• itemized your bills to show hours expended and services provided
• not be learning her job on your time and money
• be up-to-date on legal and legislative changes
• inform you of the status of your business and / or holdings
• involve you in all decisions
• expect to represent you in an IRS audit, should one occur
• refer you to other professionals if you step outside her expertise
• help you streamline your financial record-keeping tasks
• be able to advise you on your personal tax planning questions

 

Linda Berggren is a CPA with Gifford, Hillegass, and Ingwerson. For more information, go to the GH&I website at www.ghi-cpa.com.

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