The regular day–to–day operations of a small business require the expert input of certain professionals who work for that business. For instance, every small business needs an experienced and qualified accountant in order to help manage financial matters. Taxes, bookkeeping, and other accounting services need to be handled by the right person. Finding the right accountant for your business will take more than simply hiring the first firm you come across.

If you are searching for the right accountant to cater for your small business, here are a few tips to help you find just the person for the job.

Make Sure Their Experience Aligns With Your Industry

It is important to find the right accountant for your small business for many reasons, including the fact that the right person might be able to save your company a significant amount of money year on year. An accountant’s ability to do this, though, will depend on whether or not they have relevant experience pertaining to the industry in which you work.

Different industries have different guidelines and regulations when it comes to issues such as taxes and the like. You don’t want to miss out on certain deductions that are available to you because the accountant you hire is unaware of the specific ones offered to those in your industry. The CPA (certified public accountant) that you hire should be able to cater to your specific needs, starting with the particulars about how your financials should be handled in relation to the industry in which you operate.

Utilize Your Connections

When searching for the right accountant, it is a good idea to consult those within your professional network to inquire about recommendations. If someone with whom you have worked on a professional level has been happy with the services of a particular CPA or accounting firm, it is worth looking into whether or not that firm would also be a good fit for you.

The trouble with hiring an accountant without a recommendation is that you won’t be able to know ahead of time what you can expect in terms of quality of work and efficiency. Make sure that you ask detailed questions of your reference so that you can best gauge if a particular accounting firm would be a good fit for your business.

Use Other Reliable Sources

Aside from those within your professional network, there are other reliable sources out there that you can consult in order to find your ideal accountant. Organizations such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants are a great place to start. The AICPA is the largest organization of its kind and upholds the highest standards of practice, making it an ideal place to start your search.

It is also good to bear in mind that before hiring an accountant, it is important to meet with them in person. By having an in-person meeting before officially hiring a CPA, you can get a good sense of the type of work you can expect, and you also have an opportunity to ask any questions that you have.