4 Ways to Find a Good Accountant

A competent accountant regularly monitors changes in legislation, which allows competently perform their duties and ensures the stable operation of the enterprise. Therefore, here we will consider 4 ways to find a good accountant.

You can choose the best candidate for the position as follows:

1. Interview with a company specialist

If you select an accountant or assistant, let the chief accountant evaluate the professional qualities of the applicant for the position.

2. Invite an outside specialist

The chief accountant should be assessed by the head of the company and the chief accountant of another partner company with more developed competencies or an auditor. Only in this way you can choose the best of the best.

This method is reliable, but requires additional material costs if services are ordered on the side, and is time-limited since it is necessary to adapt to the "estimator".

3. Conduct profile testing

An accountant who is responsible for payroll should assign a payroll test. An accountant for the submission of financial statements should pass a test on the correct calculation of the financial and economic indicators of the enterprise and fill out the main reporting forms. The chief accountant needs an advanced level of tests on all topics with complex practical tasks to solve.

Each proposed method of finding a good accountant has its pros and cons. To achieve the desired result, you must:

- determine the role of the future specialist in the company's activities

- negotiate a decent, competitive salary

- choose a method of searching for a candidate for a vacant position

When looking for a good accountant, it is necessary to rely on the needs of the company, the desired professional and personal qualities of the applicant, and the specifics of the enterprise.

Method 1. Internet

Today, you can find an accountant in two clicks. In the public domain, there are a lot of Internet resources where anyone can post their CV. This method is the simplest for finding a candidate for a vacant position. It is enough to register on behalf of the employer on one or more job search portals and you can choose the best applicant among a million CVs. In this case, the person responsible for the search for a candidate will independently proofread each application, cut off unsuitable specialists, and conduct interviews with selected applicants.

A good accountant is hard to find, so the risk of making a mistake is quite high. The results of an incorrect choice of a specialist can only appear during an audit. In this case, the company's management is deprived of all chances to quickly correct the situation. All changes will be carried out only in parallel with the payment of fines.

Method 2. Acquaintances/friends/partners

To save time on interviews with dozens of applicants, you can turn to acquaintances, friends, or business partners. This method is considered proven and reliable but also has its drawbacks. After all, there is such an acquaintance who wishes to “attach” them to a good position. Therefore, do not blindly trust all the recommendations.

Method 3. Personnel organizations

When looking for a good specialist, you can contact a recruitment agency. The firm saves on interviews because personnel officers will provide only a few “chosen” candidates. But such a situation may occur that none of the applicants will please the manager and will not satisfy all the requirements of the chief accountant. And you still have to pay for the services of a recruitment agency. Accordingly, such hiring also has its advantages and disadvantages.

The company must entrust this specialist with all commercial secrets, therefore, the first impression of a person and the personal attitude of a manager or chief accountant should be taken extremely responsibly. The slightest doubt or rejection of superiors is the first reason for refusing employment.

Method 4. Employment center

You can also contact the district or city office of the employment center for help. The specialists of this service will provide detailed information on each applicant, and point out the most suitable ones. In this organization, you can also advertise a candidate for the position of accountant with specific requirements for professional and personal qualities.

How to find an accountant for an individual entrepreneur

Work experience is the first thing that the head of the company looks at when choosing a candidate for the position of accountant. However, it is necessary to determine the role of the accountant and the level of their participation in the financial affairs of the enterprise.

Statistics show that approximately 90% of small and medium-sized business owners entrust their accountant with the responsibility for planning financial and economic activities. And only 10% of businessmen understand that an accountant should not replace a financial analyst and financial director, and only standard job responsibilities are assigned to them.

If an enterprise needs a highly specialized specialist, for example, in payroll or the submission of financial statements and other documentation, then you should not expect them to actively participate in the tax and financial planning of the company's activities.

What else do employers look for when looking for a suitable accountant? Education, work experience in a similar position, recommendations from previous jobs, skills in specialized accounting programs, the ability to quickly and efficiently master new programs and applications, work in a team, and be a leader. The main qualities of a class accountant also include honesty, attention to detail, accuracy in actions, perseverance, competent planning of working time, and a penchant for routine work.