{"id":249037,"date":"2022-04-20T10:53:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T08:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/9-criteria-for-selecting-a-good-chartered-accountant\/"},"modified":"2023-12-14T12:31:54","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T11:31:54","slug":"9-criteria-for-selecting-a-good-chartered-accountant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/9-criteria-for-selecting-a-good-chartered-accountant\/","title":{"rendered":"9 criteria for selecting a good chartered accountant!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<p>The chartered accountant is one of the most important partners of any company founder or manager, and a key figure in a company&#8217;s development.<\/p>\n\n<p>Not sure how to choose your accounting firm?<\/p>\n\n<p>You want to hire a chartered accountant but don&#8217;t know what the selection criteria are?<\/p>\n\n<p>Step by step, we present the details that make all the difference.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1 &#8211; Know your needs<\/h2>\n\n<p>Before you even start looking for a chartered accountant, you need to ask yourself what you want from them:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Save time on administrative formalities?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fulfilling legal obligations?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Need advice in a specific area?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Securing your company&#8217;s future?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>This not only helps you determine the profile of the firm you will be working with, but also optimizes the engagement letter and protects you from unpleasant surprises.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Besoins-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"selection\" class=\"wp-image-247984\"\/><\/figure>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2 &#8211; Ensuring the legality of the consultancy firm<\/h2>\n\n<p>This should be just a formality, but it&#8217;s essential.<\/p>\n\n<p>A chartered accountant must be registered with the Order of Chartered Accountants, and operate as a firm of chartered accountants. This can easily be verified on the <a href=\"https:\/\/annuaire.experts-comptables.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ordre des Experts Comptables website<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n<p><em>\n  <strong>Good to know:<\/strong>\n<\/em> A management consulting firm is not a public accounting firm.<\/p>\n\n<p>Only holders of the DEC (Dipl\u00f4me d&#8217;expertise comptable) are eligible to work as chartered accountants.  <\/p>\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc46 For more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/accounting-expertise\/becoming-a-chartered-accountant-or-statutory-auditor\/\">information about the profession of chartered accountant<\/a>, click here!<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3 &#8211; Studying the skills and background of the chartered accountant<\/h2>\n\n<p>A chartered accountant is a multi-skilled professional, with skills ranging from accounting, financial and social issues to legal and asset management.<\/p>\n\n<p>It goes without saying that each chartered accountant has built up a different profile, based on his or her experience and affinities:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some choose to remain generalists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Others prefer to become specialists in a particular field<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some specialize in a particular sector or type of company<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some work exclusively with VSEs, others with SMEs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>It&#8217;s also worth taking a look at a chartered accountant&#8217;s past experience. Experience in a large firm, for example, attests to a solid technical background and a high level of rigor. Experience in a small practice can demonstrate a certain flexibility!<\/p>\n\n<p>Depending on your current and future situation, there are certain skills that can make a big difference to your business.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Photos-article-2100-&#xD7;-1400-px-1050-&#xD7;-700-px-4-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-249158\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.499267935578331;width:424px;height:auto\"><\/figure>\n<p>  \ud83d\ude09 <strong>Tip: <\/strong> Don&#8217;t hesitate to consult <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Linkedin<\/a> to find out more about your contacts.  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4 &#8211; Make sure your contact is available<\/h2>\n\n<p>You want a chartered accountant who&#8217;s there when you need him? Are you looking for clear answers to your questions and a quick response?<\/p>\n\n<p>For a long time, companies preferred accounting firms that were geographically close to them to guarantee this availability.<\/p>\n\n<p>Today, although human contact is still essential, new technologies have changed all that. Online accounting has become the rule &#8211; not the exception &#8211; while videoconferencing has replaced meetings.<\/p>\n\n<p>The implementation of collaborative tools should therefore make it possible to work from anywhere with any chartered accountant.  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5 &#8211; Check the compatibility of IT tools<\/h2>\n\n<p>In the age of digitalization and digital transition, paper-based accounting is disappearing. Everything is computerized, and files are transmitted quickly and smoothly, without getting lost along the way.  <\/p>\n\n<p>To take advantage of these advances, however, there is one point to check: the compatibility of your computer system with the tools used by the chartered accountant. Files must be able to be read, exported and imported without any loss of information!<\/p>\n\n<p>If you want real-time accounting, it&#8217;s essential that your accountant is able to connect to your management tool. Don&#8217;t hesitate to ask as many questions as you can.  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6 &#8211; Discuss services and fees<\/h2>\n\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve found a consulting firm that seems to meet your needs, it&#8217;s time to get down to business and talk about the <strong>engagement letter<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p>This document is the contract you sign with your accountant, and details :<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Services provided by the firm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The rates applied<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mission duration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>This allows you to compare different quotes objectively, and make the best decision for your business.<\/p>\n\n<p>\u26a0\ufe0f price is important, but so is your time. Choosing a chartered accountant you can trust, and to whom you can delegate as many tasks as possible, will help you save time and concentrate on your business.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/bEu3CsR2RXdu5rBssw\/giphy.gif\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:424px;height:424px\"><\/figure>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7 &#8211; Feeling and communication<\/h2>\n\n<p>We can use whatever term we like, but the fact remains: we get on better with some people than with others.<\/p>\n\n<p>We strongly recommend that you choose a chartered accountant you can trust, with whom you can talk openly and sincerely. This will facilitate communication for years to come.<\/p>\n\n<p>\ud83e\udd1dTip<strong>: <\/strong>Be careful not to let the personal aspect get in the way: this is first and foremost a professional relationship!<\/p>\n\n<p>This criterion for selecting a chartered accountant comes at the end of the process, to help you decide between two firms that meet your needs and charge similar rates.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8 &#8211; Taking references<\/h2>\n\n<p>Last but not least: before committing yourself to a CPA, don&#8217;t hesitate to ask for recommendations.<\/p>\n\n<p>These may come from other appraisal firms or, more often, from companies already working with the professional you are considering signing with.<\/p>\n\n<p>At this stage, it&#8217;s rare to discover a sticking point, but it&#8217;s reassuring to hear other executives praise the merits of the person who will soon be doing your bookkeeping.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9 &#8211; Right to error<\/h2>\n\n<p>Despite all these precautions, you&#8217;re not satisfied with your accountant&#8217;s services?<\/p>\n\n<p>Have your needs changed and the firm you work with can no longer cope?<\/p>\n\n<p>Are the rates you charge too high for your finances? You should know that your collaboration is never definitive, and that it&#8217;s much easier to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/accounting-expertise\/guide-to-changing-accountants\/\">change chartered accountants<\/a> than you might think. This can be done at the end of the year as well as during the year.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do you still have questions?  <\/h2>\n\n<p>\ud83d\ude80 Find out how Alterm\u00e8s helps <a href=\"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/accounting-expertise-2\/\">entrepreneurs<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/accounting-expertise\/why-outsource-your-accounting\/\">small businesses <\/a>grow their business!<\/p>\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd0e If you&#8217;d like to find out more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/accounting-expertise-2\/\">our accountancy<\/a> services, and more specifically about our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/digitalized-accountancy\/\">digital accountancy services for VSEs and start-ups<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc46 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/contact\/\">Contact<\/a> us <a href=\"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/contact\/\">to discuss your project<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/6rWz9TRE913jSFQLmj\/giphy.gif\" alt=\"\"><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It is one of the most important partners for any company founder or manager.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":247985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[73],"class_list":["post-249037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-accounting-expertise","tag-certified-accountant"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249037"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":249720,"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249037\/revisions\/249720"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/247985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altermes.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}