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Before you look for a CPA that can meet your needs, be sure you understand some of the things you may need to know about CPAs. Our Free CPA Referral Service will give you the option of:

• Locating a CPA in your community
• CPAs working in specific sizes of firms
• CPAs with specific technical specialties
• CPAs that speak foreign languages and more

Why the CPA Credential? There are many things to consider when Choosing a CPA . CPAs act as independent auditors, as well as financial and tax advisors, to individuals, businesses, government, and the not-for-profit community. Any time you engage any CPA for services, we recommend an Engagement Letter to clarify the scope of services and your expectations of the CPA.

CPAs are professionals, distinguished from other accountants by stringent CPA licensure requirements. They typically have an college degree, and meet specific education requirements (in Utah since 1986 CPAs are required to have a bachelors degree plus 30 hours of upper division accounting education). In addition they must pass a rigorous two day national certification examination, and meet certain experience requirements in order to quality for the CPA certificate and state license.

In addition, CPAs are governed by a strict Code of Professional Conduct and, when providing audit or attestation services, they must undergo Peer Review. The profession is governed by Professional Ethics and Conduct of professional membership organizations to whom they may belong and always by the licensing entities in the states in which the CPA practices.

Depending upon the individual CPA's education and experience, a CPA may serve you by:

• Recommending tax planning strategies
• Preparing and/or reviewing tax returns
• Advising individuals on personal financial planning, including retirement and estate planning
• Reviewing a company's accounting systems and internal controls and recommending improvements
• Consulting on business problems and advising ways to improve the use of a client's resources
• Assisting in the design and installation of data processing, internal controls and management information systems
• Conducting special engagements (financing, inventories, cost accounting, credit and collection) for business, government and not-for-profit organizations
• Helping clients apply for loans and credit by gathering and preparing information required by lenders
• Working with clients, attorneys, and bankers on mergers, acquitions and expansions

What is a Reasonable Fee? CPAs normally charge according to the amount of time required to perform the services you request. There are no "fee schedules" common to the profession. Fees vary depending upon the type of service you require, the prevailing costs in the community, the CPA's level of expertise, and the complexity of the work.

Speak frankly with a CPA about fees. Find out how much you will pay to have work performed by a staff accountant, who is under the supervision of a CPA, as opposed to a higher level employee, such as a supervisor, or perhaps even a partner of the firm.