Instead of letting a full-time CFO or accountant eat a huge chunk out of your wage budget every month, you can get the same support and advice from an online accountant with exactly the same level of experience.
Best of all, a web-based accountant will be able to work more flexibly and affordably than an in-house employee; you can employ them on an as-needed basis, meaning your company’s financial needs are met in the most cost-efficient way possible.
The tricky part is finding an account who is the right fit for your organization.
It goes without saying that your accountant must have the skills to deliver precisely what you need, when you need it. The person you choose to handle your financial affairs has to have an intricate knowledge of tax laws, regulations and accounting best practices if they are to provide the level of support you need to grow and thrive—and help you avoid common pitfalls that could cut into your profits.
But their values, their ethics and their personality will affect the way they deliver these vital services. If you want to enjoy a positive, long-lasting relationship with your CFO or accountant, you need to track down a professional that works in a way that resonates with you on every level.
You should be able to rely on your CFO or accountant to give you advice that’s not only accurate, but also in line with ethical tax and accounting practices.
Here are the 5 things we believe you should be looking for in your new accountant—and why they are key to a successful partnership.
You’re coming to an accountant for advice. Even though you may have your own understanding of what needs to be done and when, you are ultimately paying for their professional expertise—so you need to seek out someone who won’t be afraid to speak their mind when they know what’s best for your business.
You don’t want to work with a ‘yes’ man or woman. You need someone who’s going to tell you what you need to know, not what you want to know (in a friendly and diplomatic way, of course).
You should be able to rely on your CFO or accountant to give you advice that’s not only accurate, but also in line with ethical tax and accounting practices.
Your chosen accountant needs to handle your data sensitively; make sure that your affairs are kept confidential; and deliver recommendations and solutions that are in line with the latest policies and regulations.
After all, cutting corners could not only trigger a CRA audit (with resulting fines and penalties)—it could seriously damage the credibility of your business.
Leaving major decisions to the last minute benefits no one. Instead of checking in with you once a year to make sure your finances are on track, your accountant needs to be in contact with you on a regular basis to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
He or she always needs to be looking at your books from a growth viewpoint, and proactively suggesting ways to optimize your business for success.
Your chosen accountant needs to handle your data sensitively; make sure that your affairs are kept confidential; and deliver recommendations and solutions that are in line with the latest policies and regulations.
What makes financial sense for one company could spell disaster for another. That’s why it’s so important that your chosen accountant gains an in-depth understanding of your business before making any recommendations.
Don’t opt for an accountant who takes a one-size-fits-all approach. Pick someone who is willing to extensively review your company and tailor their services to your exact requirements.
There’s nothing worse than signing up with someone for a certain price, then learning that there are additional costs further down the line.
Regardless of whether your accountant works on an hourly basis or prefers to charge a flat fee, you should expect them to be 100% transparent when it comes to their pricing.
At Numerity, maintaining great relationships and strong communication with our clients is extremely important to us.
Work with our team, and you can expect ethical, logical, well-considered recommendations from a forward-thinking, forthright collective who value your business enough to challenge your thinking from time to time, and who will always be on hand to help you drive your venture forward.
For more information, please get in touch with Numerity
Talk to us about how we can help your business achieve more. Simply fill in our contact form and we'll aim to get back to you in 24 hours.
