If your accountant in Sonoma County is not acting in a professional or ethical manner, isn’t responsive to your needs, fails to keep their promises, or doesn’t seem to understand your case or company, it’s time to start looking for a replacement.

At Virtual Jeannie Bookkeeping Services, we pride ourselves in our exceptional work and dedication to our clients. We understand that you might be hesitant to sever ties with your accountant because of the important role that they play in your business. However, we want to warn business owners that dragging out an unfit partnership will only hurt your business in the long run.

Here are some signs you need to let your accountant go.

They’re Not Up to Date with Tax Laws

Tax law and accounting principles are ever changing. Any changes in accounting principles can affect your business operations. If your accountant fails to keep up with these changes, they may make costly accounting mistakes that negatively impact your business.

They may fail to ensure tax compliance or may overlook available exemptions. As a result, you could end up paying more tax than necessary.

They Have Poor Communication

Does your accountant return your calls? Do they set up regular meetings to discuss your business’s financial health with you?  Do they apprise you of potential regulatory actions that could be initiated against you?

If you answered no to these questions, it may be time you started looking for a replacement. Before any drastic decisions, try to find out why they are avoiding you or are unresponsive to your needs.

They Fail to Plan Ahead

You don’t dig a well when a fire is raging. Tax preparation is a year-round endeavor, not a monthly exercise. Your accountant should work with you round the year to build, execute, and monitor an effective tax savings plan.

If this is not the case and they wait until May or April to begin planning for the current financial year, you may want to start exploring alternatives.

The economy is ever changing, your Sonoma County accountant should be planning for your business’s financial future.

They Fail to Provide Guidance

Every business owner needs an expert who can help them improve the overall health of their business by their side. In addition to preparing taxes, a good accountant offers valuable advice and comes up with recommendations at regular intervals. This information helps pave the way for better decision making.

If your accountant does not offer consulting services, you may reach a dead end in your attempt to make your business more profitable after a point. Without expert advice, you may fail to take the right step at the right time.

They Keep Missing Important Deadlines

For a good accountant, missing a deadline is a cardinal sin. If your accountant keeps missing tax return filing deadlines and deadlines for filing state disclosure forms and other important documents, it is time to consider replacing them.

Virtual Jeannie Bookkeeping Services offers a range of bookkeeping and accounting services. Whether you plan to build a new bookkeeping system from scratch or want to streamline an existing process, we can help. To talk to one of our bookkeepers, call (707) 664-1425.