I’m a partner at a Las Vegas CPA firm. Choosing a CPA can be a very complicated decision, however, there are some common factors that you should look at that all CPAs should have. One of those factors is: they should excel at working with people. Being a CPA is a "people profession". It’s not just the numbers, you definitely have to be able to work with people; to be a good communicator and a good listener. A second thing a CPA firm should have is: they should be honest. They should be honest and have integrity well above and beyond what you expect. You should be able to be comfortable with the tax returns and financial statements that they’re presenting, and that integrity is crucial.
They should also have a great network of other Las Vegas professions. You might need an estate plan or a will done; or maybe you need some investments. There should be some people they can refer you to in order to get your entire financial profile in order. They should be able to do what they say they’re going to do. For instance: if they tell you they’re going to return your phone call within 24 hours, they should return your phone call within that specified period of time. You want them to return your tax return within the specified time. Your fees should be exactly what you think they’re going to be. Make sure they oblige by everything that they tell you. Those are some of the most important things that a Las Vegas CPA firm should have.
As accountants in Las Vegas, we’d like to share some thoughts that you might be having if you’re looking for an accountant, and what you should be looking for. In working with a lot of different business owners and having relationships with a lot of the clients that we have, I think that for a company, or an individual, who is searching for accountants in Las Vegas, they want to find someone who they can build a relationship with, that they trust.
It’s a lot like finding a doctor that you’re comfortable with. You want to find an accountant that you can be comfortable with, that understands you, that understands your business needs (if you have a business) and has experience with working with your tax situation or your business needs that you have. Those are some of the important characteristics that you want to look for as you’re searching for a CPA.
You want to find an accountant, as well, that has a good reputation in the community. Before making a final decision on an accountant, take the time to find out what they’ve done in the community. You can find this information online, or by asking around. Good accountants carry a good reputation. Those are some of the key points that I would identify that you would want to find in accountants in Las Vegas.
As a CPA in Las Vegas I want to take just a minute to talk about the service you should expect from someone who is really interested in you, and that is your CPA. Most CPAs in Las Vegas have a perspective of history – they ask you for last year’s tax returns, they ask you for last year’s information for financial statements – but someone who is really worried about you needs to be looking towards the future; needs to be looking to see what the past has in its base of information that will help you reach your goals and objectives in the future.
I have often said that CPAs stand on this line, which is today, and look back, but they should be taking that perspective of seeing what’s in the past and looking forward towards the future; to help you meet your goals and objectives, your wishes and your dreams. That perspective will help you plan for the future and allow you to make the goals that you have for yourself. Most residents of Las Vegas feel like they’re making an educated decision when choosing a CPA, however, they might be looking for the wrong things. While experience and reputation are still very important, you should be focusing on that personal relationship. You want to avoid any CPA who treats you like everyone else, and find the CPA in Las Vegas that will really take a personal interest in you specifically.
