What Makes a Good Accountant
When I think of an accountant Madison, WI I think of Scrooge sitting behind his desk with is pile of coins and his books of numbers. He was the best as what he did, saving money and noting when each cent was gained or spent. But given todays standards would Scrooge be considered a good accountant madison? What really makes an accountant 'good' and not just a bookkeeper?
An CPA Madison, WI by definition is one that keeps, audits, and inspects the financial records of individuals or business concerns and prepares financial and tax reports. That is a good start but that's just your basics, to be good you need more. Ask your friends, clients and associates and you will get a mass amount of answers. It comes down to a combination of skill, knowledge, and personality.
All accounting Madison have the skill, its what they went to school for. They learn analytical abilities, calculations, technical software, bookkeeping and more. They learn how to take your financial information and produce a detailed financial record. They also learn the knowledge of taxation and commerce. Learning all this just makes them an accountant but not automatically a 'good' one.
To actually go beyond the textbook and provide advice, goals, and plans is a start to being 'good'. They need to be proactive in their duties, not just someone you hand over your paperwork to and ask to file your taxes. If that is all you want out of an accountant then save some money and get turbo-tax. A good accountant will meet with you 2-3 times before the tax season. They will help you plan and position your finances in the best possible format to meet your goals, provide strategies to maximize the money you bring in while limiting your tax hit. There are many different strategies for many different situations. We don't know them all but a good accountant will.
So how do you find a good accountant? First as around and get references. Then do some research on them before you interview them. Are they certified ( CPA)? Are they insured? How long have they been in business? Pick 3-5 accountants and then personally meet with them. The relationship is just as important as the knowledge. Its your personal information that your giving, trust is key. Honesty, ethical, confident, dependable, detailed and organized are just a few of the personality traits to look for. How they govern themselves is how they will also govern their work. Communication skills is also important, being able to understand them. While textbook jargon makes them sound smart it doesn't help you to know and understand what is being said or done with your finances.
Having your accountant take the time to know you as a client, a person, and not just some form to fill out and filed away can make all the difference. To Scrooge you must be worth your weight in gold, and just like Scrooge's ghosts, not just be able to take you where your finances have been but also where they can go, past, present, and future. Keep those ideas in mind when looking for your next 'Good Accountant'.