What to look for in a CPA

By: James M. Tobin, Edited by: Joey Morris, Reviewed by: Colin Smith, CPA

Last updated: June 3, 2025

Key qualities to look for in a CPA

CPAs are skilled accounting experts with deep technical skills and advanced financial insights. To earn the CPA credential, professionals must undergo a rigorous and demanding licensure process.

Businesses hire CPAs for many reasons, as certified public accountants offer:

• Financial management and reporting expertise
• Advantageous knowledge of taxation
• Compliance with regulatory practices
• Strong financial planning skills

However, some CPAs are more proficient in these areas than others. Finding the right CPA for your needs can be especially challenging, given the stark shortage of qualified accountants in the domestic labor market.

To find a CPA that aligns with your needs, consider the following factors:

Qualifications and credentials

First, familiarize yourself with essential CPA qualifications and credentials. These extend to both education and licensure requirements.

Details vary by state, but all U.S. jurisdictions require that CPAs meet these educational requirements:

• Hold a bachelor's degree or higher
• Take concentrated accounting coursework
• Complete 120-150 total credit hours of higher education

Many CPAs hold a bachelor's degree in accounting, business, finance, or a related field. CPAs who hold a master's degree in accounting may have a deeper and more specialized knowledge in a particular field, such as taxation or forensic accounting

CPAs must also have the following to qualify for licensure:

• 1-2 years of professional accounting experience
• Passing scores on all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination

Before hiring a CPA, employers should always confirm that the candidate holds an active, unencumbered license in good standing with state administrators. You can usually research a CPA's license through your state's accountancy board.

Experience with clients big and small

When selecting a CPA, it can be helpful to consider professionals who have experience working with both large and small clients.

Colin Smith, a certified public accountant and financial reporting consultant with over 16 years of experience, emphasizes the importance of working with CPAs with diverse experience. Companies of all sizes can have complex accounting issues to deal with. Look for a CPA that's worked in a range of environments and understands the tradeoffs and challenges of companies (or individuals) of your size and complexity.

Smith explains that some accountants from large firms may find it challenging to transition to working with small businesses due to differing expectations and resource limitations. Conversely, accountants who primarily serve small businesses might struggle to meet the demands of large Fortune 500 companies.

For this reason, it's important to find a CPA who has experience in a variety of environments and understands the unique challenges faced by companies with traits similar to yours.

Relevant specializations and experience

Accounting is a broad field, and professionals can specialize in many areas. Many industries come with their own niche accounting issues and topics, so hiring a CPA who's well-versed across several industries can help ensure they're equipped to handle your particular accounting needs, says Smith.

Specialization areas include:

• Compliance and assurance
• External or internal auditing
• Financial, cost, or management accounting
• International accounting

If your accounting needs fall within a specific specialty area, consider working with a CPA who has several years of experience in that field.

Transparent fee structure

Many CPAs charge by the hour, but some use pay structures built around flat fees or monthly retainers. Flat-fee structures offer more cost certainty to help you budget for your monthly accounting needs.

Regardless of the CPA's fee structure, you should look for transparency and predictability up front.

Personalized support and communication

As you explore how to find a CPA, don't overlook the value of soft skills. Personalized service from a CPA who takes the time to understand your organization's unique financial needs can lead to higher levels of trust and confidence.

It can also help to find a strong communicator. Technical accounting concepts can be difficult for non-experts to understand. If the CPA you hire will be dealing with stakeholders from non-accounting backgrounds, seek someone who can explain organizational accounting in easy-to-understand terms.

Have a casual conversation with them to gauge their communication style and skills to see if it fits what you're looking for, says Smith.

Continuous learning and professional development

All CPAs must complete continuing professional education (CPE) courses to qualify for license renewal. However, some CPAs are more proactive about CPE than others. Forward-thinking CPAs even use their CPE requirements to develop targeted professional specializations.

CPAs can also pursue developmental learning independently in response to changing industry trends, tax laws, or financial technologies.

Seek someone who readily engages in professional development and continuous learning, not because they have to but because they want to.

Strong reputation and client testimonials

Finally, look for a reputable professional with a strong track record backed by positive reviews and testimonials. You can also gain insights into a CPA's professional history by performing your own research into their licensure history.

Be cautious about placing total faith in online testimonials, as these can be easily manipulated. Look for reviews and referrals from people you know, like, and trust, and who can attest to whether they fit your needs, Smith advises. If someone you trust had a positive experience with a particular CPA, you stand a good chance of having the same.

Common mistakes when looking for a CPA

Now that you know what to look for in a CPA, it is important to consider some common pitfalls to avoid during your search.

Going with the lowest-cost provider

When it comes to selecting a CPA, understanding the relationship between cost and quality is crucial.

Like anything else in life, you generally get what you pay for. Paying a fair rate or even a premium price for a quality CPA can be well worth it through the additional value you gain and the time you can save by being able to address issues quickly and efficiently, explains Smith.

Hiring a CPA to offer advice on a single, discrete question

While it may seem convenient to consult a CPA for a quick answer to a specific question, this approach often falls short. Many accounting decisions are context-based, says Smith. As much as possible, your CPA should know you and/or your business and have a holistic perspective of your financial situation and objectives to offer effective advice.

For example, asking a CPA if you should lease or buy a piece of equipment for your business requires several considerations, including your overall business strategy, growth objectives, free cash flow, prevailing interest rates, and other factors. Expecting quick answers with limited information will only limit the value you get from your CPA.