Your accountant should be part of your business or financial team and so care needs to be taken to ensure you get “the right people on the bus”. Each person and business is different and so will be looking for different things from their accountant.

However, as a general rule you should ensure:

• Your accountant is a good communicator, which means he or she is easy to understand and you feel comfortable asking questions and clarifying points. Does the accountant clearly explain the rationale for their recommendations? Or do they make comments like “trust me” which in our opinion means you should go else where if they are not prepared to be scrutinised or challenged or are patronising. Make sure they “speak your language”.
• The accountant has adequate resources and back up. Chose a firm that has at least two or three qualified people always available to assist you and who know you and your business. The firm should be of sufficient size that it can invest in the systems, resources, training and expertise needed to provide proactive and intelligent advice and solutions on an ongoing basis. Avoid one man bands and kitchen table accountants. Beware also of larger firms where you may be “just a number” and not receive the personal service you deserve.
• The accountant is a chartered accountant with a public practice certificate. Anyone can call themselves “an accountant”. But a Chartered Accountant with a public practice certificate is a member of NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants, degree qualified, has at least 7-10 years of sufficiently high level hands on accounting and business advisory experience, is bound by the code of conduct and ethics of NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants, must do at least 40 hours of continuing professional development a year, and is subject to peer practice review every three years. Always ask about how long they have been in practice and their background and training.
• The accountant has experience in and knowledge of your industry so that they are able to add a lot of value to you and/or your business. They should also be business and/or investment savvy rather than just number crunchers.
• The accountant asks you lots of questions. Unless they show a real interest in you, your business, your objectives and dreams, chances are they are more concerned with churning out your income tax return and sending you an invoice than helping you become financially successful. Do they have a free phone call policy like StreetSMART, as this shows they encourage their clients to contact them regularly.

• The offices are clean, tidy, welcoming, well organized, convenient with easy parking and so on. The offices don’t have to be flashy or expensive looking, but a dirty or unorganized reception area or meeting room can indicate a lack of attention to detail and professionalism that could cost you money at some stage. No one deserves a sloppy accountant! (StreetSMART offices are right by a motor way off ramp which makes getting to us a breeze. We also have plenty of client parking.)
• Will clearly explain their charges and payment terms.
• They are able to fulfill all your service requirements to an adequate level, and are prepared to challenge your thinking and mindset. If they just do what you tell them to do they are probably not going to add much value. If we are serious about getting ahead and being successful we all need to surround ourselves with people who will help expand our current thinking and challenge us. It may not be particularly comfortable, but it’s certainly good for us!
• Is efficient and available – returns phone calls / emails and attends to your requirements within a reasonable time frame.
• Is passionate about what they do. Whether it be tax specialization, compliance or business improvement you want an accountant who does lots more than keep up to date and who really enjoys their line of work.
• Has a similar business approach and value system to you? No, you’re not marrying your accountant, but it is important that you share the same basic business philosophies so that you feel comfortable with their recommendations and ethics.
• And finally, make sure they are upbeat and that you personally like them! If you don’t like your accountant you won’t seek the advice that you need as regularly as you should. And life’s too short to do business with people you don’t particularly like.