How to Choose an Accountant in Portland, Part 1

BAS PDX Pro_How to Choose an Accountant in Portland Part 1_01

Finding the right accountant for your Portland business is an important process, and one that should be done with much consideration. You’ll want an experienced and capable accountant to help your Portland business develop and grow. The right accountant will save you both time and money and be a remarkable asset in helping your business achieve greater successes. Here are a few things to consider when looking for an accountant in Portland.

 

IS LOCATION IMPORTANT? What suits your company best? If you’d rather have your accountant with you in person to conduct business and go to meetings, you’ll have to pull from local resources. However, your accountant doesn’t necessarily have to be from the local area. With outsourced CFO or accounting services, your accountant can operate from anywhere in the world and still offer you real-time data.

 

MAKE SURE YOUR ACCOUNTANT IS CERTIFIED. Qualifications differ from country to country for certified or chartered accountants. Depending on the country you’re in, professional accountants may be called Certified Public Accountants or Chartered Accountants. Chartered Accountants (CAs) are highly qualified professionals who have completed degree-level study along with workplace experience and a professional competence program. A certified or chartered accountant will have greater knowledge and experience to bring to your business.

 

LOOK FOR AN ACCOUNTANT WITH RELEVANT EXPERTISE. Look for an accountant with experience preparing tax returns and financial documents for companies of a similar size and revenue to yours. If your company uses cloud-based software for much of its business, you'll probably want someone who’s savvy with cloud computing. Better still, if your accountant has worked with companies in similar market sectors to yours or have larger clients, the knowledge and experience will show.

 

TALK TO GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS. Governments like to encourage the growth of small businesses because they contribute so greatly to the economy. You may be able to find voluntary organizations and local chambers of commerce willing to advise you. Make use of these resources, as they are there to help you and advice is usually free. Join a local business organization and start networking with other business owners. You may end up forming a mutually beneficial partnerships and perhaps even have an accountant recommended to you.

 

TAP INTO SOCIAL NETWORKS. Ask friends and family who own small businesses if they would recommend their accountant. You may find the accountant you need right under your nose. Keep in mind, however, that the accountant that works for your friend’s business may not work for yours. Businesses may differ in their accounting methods and operations.

 

IS YOUR BUSINESS READY TO GRADUATE TO FULL SERVICE ACCOUNTING? Business & Accounting Solutions offers certified accounting services that can help drive increased profits and growth for your company. We offer a wide range of outsourced CFO services to Portland area businesses including bookkeeping, cash flow, finance consulting, forecasting, system design. Contact us or call us at (503) 710-6213. Know someone in need of CFO services? Consider our referral program.