When you are trying to find an accountant, then you might think about hiring the first accountant that you can find, but that would be a mistake. By doing a little research, you will be better informed and more likely to find someone more qualified for your specific needs. There are several things that you should keep in mind when you are making your decision:

Experience

It is good to find an accountant who has a lot of experience, especially if that experience is related to the accounting help that you need. For example, if you run a retail store, then look for an accountant who has experience working with other retail shop owners. Industry specific experience means that the accountant will understand the nuances of that particular type of business.

Education

Ask about the accountant’s professional education, so that you know their professional certification. When you are trying to find an accountant, keep in mind that an accountant is not legally required to have a license or certification. But, there are many benefits to hiring an accountant who has taken the time to be certified, because it usually means that their knowledge is up to date.

Skill Set

You will need to make sure that your accountant has the basic skills to manage your financial information. Ask them about their skill set regarding bank statement reconciliation, payroll management, accounts payable and receivable, and updating journal entries.

Organization is another skill that is beneficial, because the accountant needs to manage the financial information in a methodical way so that you can access the information at a later date if needed. Other things to consider are their problem-solving and communication skills.

Hourly Rate

As you are considering their hourly rate, remember that their experience will impact their productivity during their billable hours. So, it isn’t necessarily cheaper to hire the accountant with the lowest hourly rate, because some of the higher paid accountants can provide faster work with a higher level of accuracy.

Accountability

During the interview process, ask these questions to get a feel for the accountant’s accountability on the projects that they work on. You want to avoid hiring someone who is going to create a mess of your books and then leave. Use value-focused questions during the interview to find someone that you can trust.

As you can see, there are different elements that need to be considering when before you hire an accountant. Here at GoodAccountants.com, our goal is to help you find a qualified accountant in your local area.