4 Tips for Communicating with Your CPA

July 9th, 2013 by

If you’re a small business owner, especially if your business is new or you haven’t worked with a professional accountant, you may be wondering how to work well with them. After all, adding a new person to your team, especially one in a specialized role, may be a challenge. Managers need to be able to clearly communicate what they’re looking for in order to help the CPA perform well. If you’re thinking about hiring a public accountant or accounting firm to help you out, here are a few tips to help you smoothly communicate your needs:

Figure out your communication style

You likely already know if you’re a quick or lengthy communicator, or if you prefer emails or phone calls. When you’re adding a CPA to your team, it’s important to figure out how you’ll work best together. Laying out a few expectations from the start can be a great way to ensure that you’re both on the same page. For example, if you’d rather not receive tons of information constantly, you may ask for a weekly or monthly synopsis of their work. If you’d rather be more involved, make sure you let them know that, as well! Work with your accountant to figure out the hows and wheres of communication and you’ll be able to function well as a team.

Set goals and let your professional accountant know

What are you financial goals for your business? This doesn’t just have to mean revenue and bottom-line numbers. It could also be that you’re looking to become more organized, or have a better picture of where your money is going. No matter what your accounting goals are, make sure you communicate them to your accountant. That way, they can help you further your small business while meeting your needs.

Learn some of the terms of the trade

Although it’s not necessary for you to become a certified public accountant on your own, you’ll likely want to learn some of the more common accounting terms. For example, do you know the difference between accounts payable and accounts receivable? This can help you communicate your wants and needs in a more clear manner – when you’re both using the same words to mean the same thing, you’ll be able to get your point across.

Revisit your goals periodically

Just because you set goals last year, or even a few months ago, doesn’t mean they’re still relevant. When you’re working with a CPA, it’s important to revisit and revise your goals periodically to ensure that they’re still relevant. Working from outdated goals can lead to stagnancy – so make sure you check in as often as needed to take a look at your financial goals.

Communicating with your CPA is critical to gaining a clear understanding of your financial picture. In order to build a rich and rewarding business relationship, try following these tips for communicating with your accountant.