Importance of Accounting Firms for Corporations & Other Large Organizations
Accounting firms are an essential part of our economic system. An accounting firm provides professional accounting services to both small and large organizations. Their services range from simple bookkeeping to accounting, cash flow, budgeting, financial consulting, and internal control and compliance systems. The importance of accounting firms goes far beyond their services to large businesses. They form the backbone of any responsible company and play a key role in helping keep that company profitable.
With the evolution of the internet and the booming business of online business, the accounting firms have moved from providing simple accounting services to offering a wide range of advisory services from finance and banking to human resources management and procurement. Today, the accounting industry has evolved into a huge set of specialized service providers. These days, accounting firms offer not only accounting services but also web development and consulting services. The biggest industry of today is information technology and the second-largest industry in software development. Therefore, today it is accounting consultancies that are the biggest beneficiaries of the developments in the Information Technology industry.
How to find the best accounting firm? There are many ways to find the best accounting firm. Some of these are by way of referrals from clients, recommendations by business associates or other business professionals, browsing through classified ads in newspapers, surfing through the yellow pages, and doing a good research on the net. However, one of the most effective ways of finding the best accounting firms is by getting certified public accountants (CPA). Most accounting firms need a CPA to provide consultation services. Thus, getting a certified public accountant (CPA) is one of the best ways of finding the best accounting firm.
How to find the best accounting firm? Like any other professional service providers, accounting firms can be found in any area of specialization. Small accounting firms can be found in most regions of the country, whereas accounting firms with branches spread over the entire United States can be found in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. For best results, one can seek help from online directories that list accounting firms in alphabetical order.
The accounting firms of the big four accounting firms have websites. From these websites, interested parties can get access to their email addresses and contact numbers. They can either call or email these firms to inquire about their rates or their mode of operation. These firms also have customer assistance chat options wherein people can get answers to questions about their accounting needs.
Online tax preparation services are provided by most accounting firms. However, not all accounting firms offer these tax-preparation services. Before engaging the services of an accounting firm, it is important for individuals and businesses to check whether they are members of the Association of Certified Public Accountants (ACAP). This organization is affiliated with several professional associations such as the National Association of Certified Financial Accountants (NACFA) and the National Federation of Self-Employed (NFSE) and is dedicated to promoting professionalism among accountants nationwide. Apart from the above-mentioned organizations, it is important to ensure that the accounting firm is registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Accounting firms generally hire professionals such as accountants, auditors, tax attorneys, CPAs, and financial analysts who have a strong knowledge of standard practices applicable to state taxation laws. The basic responsibilities of these professionals include preparing and analyzing accounting records; reviewing and examining these records for accuracy and validity, and interpreting the financial statements of the client company for regulatory and/or self-regulatory purposes. Apart from the regular accounting jobs, these professionals are also involved in auditing. Auditors are required to examine records for compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Most accounting firms typically offer advisory services to corporations as well as other qualified organizations that need assistance in maintaining their books and records. They undertake comprehensive reviews of the accounts of client companies and perform specialized audits on a periodic basis. The scope of these audits is usually limited to detect and correct errors and inconsistencies in accounting transactions. They also conduct reviews for identifying practices and procedures that may be contrary to the interests of the stakeholders. While providing advisory services to clients, they also assist them in drafting plans to successfully manage business concerns.
