Averett Warmus Durkee CPA's 2014 | Page 11

Important Questions to Ask a Prospective CPA Firm There are few relationships in business today that are more important than your relationship with a CPA firm. When interviewing firms for possible engagement, you should ask a series of questions that will help determine the firm that will be the best fit with your business and offer long-term service and advice with a high level of comfort and confidence. Q. Are the principals of the firm directly involved with daily client work and familiar with the details of each client? A. We value the professional relationships that our principals have with our clients. We have a strong client service philosophy, which means our principals are directly involved in all engagements and are accessible to our clients. Q. Does the firm have the resources I require yet provide personal service so I feel like an important client? A. Every client is important to our firm. Through our staff, technologies used, and research tools available to us, we have the resources that our clients deserve. Coupled with our client service philosophy, this ensures that our clients receive professional, responsive, and personal service. Q. What is the turnover rate of the firm? A. We pride ourselves on being an excellent employer and encouraging a healthy work/personal life balance. We believe this is one way we have been able to keep our turnover rate below industry standard levels. This historically low turnover rate enables us to build relationships with client personnel and use a consistent team to provide service. Q. this a firm that will be accepted by my banks Is and other financial statement users? A. We routinely work with lenders, surety companies, and attorneys to provide the best service to our mutual clients. Q. Is the firm enrolled in an AICPA-approved practice monitoring program and, thus, subject to the peer review requirements that such enrollment entails? A. Our firm is enrolled in the AICPA Private Companies Practice Section and has had eight peer reviews since our inception. In all cases, we have received the highest possible rating. In addition, we are members of the AICPA’s Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center, the Governmental Audit Quality Center, and the Center for Audit Quality. These Centers require CPA firms to meet additional educational and industry knowledge standards. Q. Is your firm dedicated to a continuous learning process? A. All of our professional staff meet or exceed the continuing education requirements set forth by licensure and regulatory organizations. Additionally, we provide leadership and other types of training as well as reading and other enrichment programs to promote a continuous learning culture. The answers to these questions should gi ?????????????)????????????????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????????????????)?????????????Q????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????? A????????????() ??????????????????????????????????((?((0