Samuel's CFO Website

  • Home
  • CFO Blog
    • Samuel’s Other Blogs
      • CFO Moves
        • USA
        • Canada
        • UK
      • CHRO Moves
  • CFO Book
    • Buy your copy
    • What others have to say about Guide to CFO Success
  • How Samuel Helps
    • Hire your next CFO
    • Build your Finance Team
    • Financial Executive Coaching
    • CFO Peer Groups
    • Speaking & Training
  • About Samuel
    • Media on Samuel Dergel
  • Contact Samuel
  • English
  • Français
You are here: Home / Ask Samuel: Is it time to change CPA Firms?

November 29, 2011 By Samuel Dergel 2 Comments

Ask Samuel: Is it time to change CPA Firms?

Dear Samuel,

I am a CFO of an owner-managed company. In recent years, our CPA firm has not been servicing us properly.

They are always pushing our deadlines to the limit, even when all the information they have requested has been delivered in a timely fashion to them. We also recently had a significant interest charge from the IRS because they ‘forgot’ to file a form on time.

I like the partner in the firm, but I don’t find that we are getting the service we need. Is it time to change CPA firms?

Fed up in Phoenix

Dear Fed up,

If you look at our CFO Relationship Map, you will see that the CPA firm is an important external relationship that needs to be nurtured for a CFO.

It is unfortunate that you are not satisfied with the service from your CPA firm.

Changing CPA Firms is an option. Before you do so, I would recommend that you sit down with the most senior person at the firm you deal with to see if you can find solutions to your dissatisfaction.

If you decide that it is time to change CPA Firms, I recommend that you get referrals to other firms from other CFOs you know, as well as your bankers. You should do a preliminary review of the services of a few CPA firms, and reduce the list to 3 of your top choices. Ask these 3 top firms to meet with you and prepare a proposal.

When making your choice for a CPA firm, make sure that when you assess the proposals, it is not solely based on price, but on the work they will be doing, as well as the service levels they will be committing to. This is important – because the reason you left your previous firm in the first place was not because of price, but because of service.

If you’d like to ask Samuel a question, click here.

Share this:

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Bill Finnecy says

    December 1, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    talk to the partner in charge and give them the benefit of the doubt in hearing from you and your concerns.

    Reply
    • Samuel Dergel says

      December 1, 2011 at 4:27 PM

      Bill, I do agree. It is what I recommended before looking at other CPA firms as options. Thank you for your input!
      Samuel

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get Samuel's CFO Blog by Email!

Join the 571 people that receive new blogs by email when published.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Search in Samuel’s CFO Blog

Like what Samuel has to say?

Great! The goal of Samuel's CFO Blog is to engage with CFOs and those who work with CFOs.

Please feel free to comment on any of the issues raised in Samuel’s CFO Blog. Your input, positive or not so positive, encouraging or critical, will add value to all readers of the blog.

You can reach Samuel...
Telephone
San Francisco: +1 (415) 738-2070
Montreal: +1 (514) 907-0925
Email: samuel@dergelcfo.com

View Samuel Dergel - The CFO Expert's profile on LinkedIn

Twitter: @DergelCFO

Follow
  • @JohnGradek joins @DergelSearch #SupplyChain #Aviation #Logistics #ExecutiveSearch https://t.co/5tw8mQ4SxI https://t.co/kmACmVgnrX
     
     
     
  • RT @diginomica: hits/misses - automate deep learning, software audits (yuk) https://t.co/6HP7zkzsaC -> Jon's picks include @UpperEdge, @krm…
     
     
     
  • RT @jonerpnewsfeed'>jonerpnewsfeed: A CFO Success Story: Sajid Malhotra, CFO of Limelight Networks - by @dergelCFO https://t.co/O3q28683k3 (via @jonerp) #e…
     
     
     
  • @jonerpnewsfeed'>jonerpnewsfeed @jonerp @sajidmalhotra @llnw
     
     
     
  • Read our newest #CFO #Success Story - @sajidmalhotra of @llnw'>llnw https://t.co/DhvOlzRlDk https://t.co/9bZkTIk1bN
     
     
     
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Archives – Samuel’s CFO Blog

Categories – Samuel’s CFO Blog

All of Samuel's Blogs Assessment Blog Board Board Books books for CFOs Build your Finance Team Career Management CEO CEO CFO CFO Buzz CFO Coach CFO Coaching CFO Consulting CFO Moves CFO Peer Groups CFO Relationships CFO Research CFO Search Chief Financial Officer Executive Coaching Executive Search Finance Team Financial Executive Coaching Great CFO Guide to CFO Success Hire your Next CFO How Samuel Helps HR Investors LinkedIn New CFO Personal Branding Recruiters Social Media Speaking and Training Successful CFO Succession Planning Talent Management Team Structuring The Strong CFO Training and Development Wiley
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Contact Information

You can reach Samuel by:

Telephone
San Francisco: +1 (415) 738-2070
Montreal: +1 (514) 907-0925

Email: samuel@dergelcfo.com

Copyright © 2011-2016 - Samuel Dergel (Dergel CFO Search & Consulting Inc.) Note: Opinions expressed on this website are the personal opinions of Samuel Dergel only, and not any other person or entity, unless attributed otherwise.

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.