7 Qualities your Accountant Should have

An accountant is important for your business as you need to maintain the book of accounts to get a true and fair view of the status of your business. A professional accountant requires a high degree of precision and level-headedness. Also, if any figure is misplaced or wrongly entered, it can affect your decision making. Therefore, hiring a wrong accountant will have a negative impact on your business. So, if you want to hire an accountant, then here are a few qualities of a good accountant you should look for.

1) Knowledge about Latest Tax Laws
It is important for an accountant to stay updated with any change in the tax laws as well as any industry’s generally accepted accounting policies. An accountant should have specialized knowledge about tax returns and policies.

2) Accurate and Detail Oriented
Accountants need to be extremely accurate and detail oriented. This means they have to make sure that they double check their work. Errors should be avoided and they should provide accurate information in the books of account.

3) Client Oriented
An accountant should not only be good with numbers but also be able to understand his clients and establish good communication with them. When an accountant has an understanding of his client’s business, he will be able to work better as per the client’s business goals and requirements. The accountant will help you with analysis of your financial statements and assist you in making proper business decisions.

4) Communication Skills
An accountant should be able to communicate accounting terms to a person in an easier way. Having the ability to explain complex accounting terms in an easier manner is a major skill that you should look for in your accountant.

5) Flexibility
An accountant is expected to meet the needs of his clients. Also, he should be able to meet his client deadlines. Moreover, an accountant has to keep his cool while dealing with his clients as all of them will not be the same. Therefore, flexibility is an important quality that an accountant should possess. He has to embrace every challenge and effectively respond to changes in work environment.

6) Trustworthy
An accountant deals with confidential information and thus, they need to develop client’s trust. Being able to manage client’s information increases his trustworthiness and helps him gain more clients in the future.

7) Ethical
It is essential for an accountant to have the correct ethics and morals in his professional as well as personal life. By being a law abiding person you know that your accountant will do the right job for you and it will definitely show in your books of accounts.

These are a few qualities of a good accountant. When you hire an accountant you would want him to have these qualities. If you are not sure whether you will hire the right accountant, it is recommended that you consult a professional accounting firm.