Instructions

1. Questions to Ask When Interviewing an Accountant

o 1

Ask the candidate how long he has been in accounting . You want an accountant with experience navigating the financial world, not on that has recently entered the world of finance.

o 2

Ask the potential candidate how many accountants are in his firm. You want an accountant that is part of a team; they share information and are more informed about changes in the financial world than those that work alone.

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o 3

Ask her if she knows the local IRS auditors. When you are audited, your CPA plays a large role. She works with the IRS and can save you money by taking care of the audit process fast. If she does not have experience dealing with the IRS, it can be a long and expensive process.

o 4

Ask the potential CPA how he calculates his fees. Some CPAs charge a set fee, others percentages. Know how much each candidate is going to cost you.

o 5

Ask who the candidate's target client is. If you are looking for a CPA for your business and your candidate prefers to work mainly with individuals and personal finance, she is probably not the right CPA for you.

o 6

Ask if he has any questions that you should have asked but didn't. This gives the candidate an opening to speak freely and gives you additional information about the services he offers and his past experience in accounting.

50 Questions to Ask while Interviewing an Accountant

1. What licenses do you have?

2. How long have you been in accounting?

3. How long have you run your own accounting business?

4. Who are your other clients?

5. How do you calculate your fees?

6. Do you have any specialties?

7. Do you have experience with freelance independent contractors?

8. How many accountants are in the firm?

9. Have you ever been convicted of a crime?

10. Can I see the results of your accounting firm’s peer review report? (normally

done every three years)

11. Do you consider yourself to be tech-savvy?

12. Are you active in the local business community?

13. Do you outsource any of your work? Do you perform the work personally? If

not, what is the review process?

14. Will the person I deal with change? Will I get a regular person to discuss my

finances with?

15. Are your services standardized (packages) or do you offer customized

services based upon my business needs?

16. Can you help me with 1099s & dealing with subcontractors?

17. Can you help me set up a good balance sheet and income statement?

18. How do you feel about teaching your clients about finance?

19. What was the last accounting workshop you attended about? How often do

you attend continuing education?

20. Can I write off my new iphone? (probably) How about my business suit? (only

if it qualifies as a uniform – has to have branding etc…)

21. How long from when I call can I usually get an appointment to see you in

person?

22. Can I call you when I have a question? Do you answer questions by email?

23. Do you have the knowledge and experience to handle my tax situation?

24. Have you ever worked with a home-based business?

25. What new changes in the tax laws will affect me this year?

26. What type of retirement accounts are available to me? How would you

recommend I use them to my advantage?

27. How will you help me maximize my tax savings? How do you double-check

that?

28. How long, approximately, will it take to finish my taxes?

29. Who is your target client?

30. What do you love most about what you do?

31. What’s your privacy policy? Will you share my information with any third-

parties?

32. Based on your experience, what form of business structure should I have?

33. What do you think of turbo tax?

34. What makes a good accountant in your opinion?

35. Do you know how to use ________ (your preferred accounting software)? In

your opinion, is this the right software for my business? Why?

36. What happens if I get audited?

37. Have you ever been the accountant to someone being audited?

38. Do you personally know the local IRS auditors?

39. What are some of the common problems you’ve worked through with other

companies in my business industry?

40. What specific deductions apply to me (childcare tax credits, educational

credits…)?

41. Have you ever worked directly with a client’s financial planner? What issues

did that cause, if any?

42. What are some of the things I need to be aware of as my business grows?

43. How does your firm handle setting up and guiding me through estimated tax

payment?

44. What is the difference between a good accountant and a bad accountant?

45. Do you do your own accounting?

46. Without giving specific personal details, what is one of the biggest messes

you have encountered and how were you able to help?

47. Do you provide bookkeeping? Payroll? What other services do you offer?

48. What records should I keep and how do you recommend I organize them?

49. Why should I use you?

50. Is there a question I should have asked that I didn’t?

So there you go. What other questions have you asked? What do you like best about

your accountant? What should we avoid?