Hudson business owners and private citizens alike can enjoy a significant benefit from hiring a certified public accountant, better known as a CPA. But if you’ve never hired a CPA before, you may be unfamiliar with what type of tasks an accountant can handle and you may need help determining what questions to ask when hiring a CPA.

Hudson CPAs – What is a CPA and how are They Certified?

A certified public accountant is licensed by the state. In order to become a CPA, an accountant must complete an accounting degree in some states, while in other regions, 150 or more college credits may be required in order to take the exam.

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy or NASBA oversees the certification process. NASBA administers an accountant exam, which is generally regarded as being fairly difficult. An individual’s certification is good for a specific period of time, after which the CPA must go through a renewal process. In most regions, a CPA is required to undergo continuing education in the form of professional enrichment courses, college courses or similar. This is a common requirement for certification renewal.

Once an accountant passes the exam to become a CPA, they will be qualified to tend to a number of different tasks. CPAs can also work in a variety of specialties. Some of these niches and specialties include:

  • General accounting;
  • Financial planning and investing;
  • Tax planning and tax-related accounting;
  • Financial consulting and advising;
  • Business finance, assurance and auditing;
  • IT accounting;
  • Forensic accounting;
  • Environmental accounting; and
  • International accounting.

A CPA may work independently, for an accounting firm, or they may work exclusively for a single client.

Each accountant may have their own unique specialty, so it’s important to enquire about this when hiring an accountant so you can be certain that the individual has the experience required to meet your needs.

Points to Consider When Hiring a CPA

Hudson natives should always begin by asking about an accountant’s area of specialty/expertise and their experience. You may want to enquire about the accountant’s billing practices and fee schedule as well. Some CPAs charge an hourly fee, while others may have flat rates for specific tasks.

CPAs are required to undergo a background check when getting their certification. A “good moral character” is amongst the requirements of becoming a CPA. That said, it’s always possible for a CPA to be convicted of a crime after they are originally certified. So for this reason, some may wish to run a background check so they have peace of mind knowing that they’ve hired a trustworthy individual to handle their finances.

*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Suncoast CPA Group*

 

 

Hudson CPA