What to Look for in an Accountant for Your Business in Hong Kong

The Right Accountant for Your Business in Hong Kong Should be Chosen Well

Picking an accountant is similar to choosing a business partner because he or she is going to become a dependable colleague you can trust who can offer advice and guidance. Your business needs to have a solid foundation and the right accounting for it to succeed. If you are not an expert in the field, hiring the right accountant for your business in Hong Kong is going to keep your business from failing. In addition, there are a lot of considerations that you should make before choosing anyone.

 

Hire for Their Expertise

Prior to hiring someone, make sure to identify the things you need so that searching for someone who can help you solve them will not be too difficult. If you require someone who can keep your books up to date and can file tax reports for you, there is no need for you to pay for a business accountant who has a legal background. All you need is someone who has experience in your industry and will be able to provide you with sound advice when it is needed.

 

Continuing Education

Accountants and bookkeepers require continuing education to keep up with the changes made under income tax law and requirements in financial reporting, and the changes in how businesses operate. The good thing is that a lot of short-term courses and programs for home-study, and others are available at very good costs for knowing about the current developments in accounting.

Whenever you are hiring an accountant, think about working the continuing education they need to have in your budget planning. This shows your commitment to the future of that accountant and it guarantees that books are kept based on the newest guidelines and legislation made.

 

Can Communicate with Numbers Properly

The ability to communicate is very important in a company. The best accountants can manage the financials of a company by simply translating figures into decisions. The accounting nuances are difficult and complex to hold on to for anyone without proper training in accounting. A lot of the accountants make reports and give graphs but the top ones use layman’s terms whenever they are presenting something to you.

An important trait of an accountant is that he or she be able to relay issues, weaknesses and strong points, and solutions to you and stakeholders so that it will be easier to solve them. Look for an accountant who is able to meet with the leadership team and point out problems. This puts everyone into action and enables them to formulate feasible and sound decisions.

 

Integrity

The most important thing to look for in an accountant for your business in Hong Kong is also the most difficult to judge. The accountants and bookkeepers have to be honest people because they have control over the financial records of your business. Make sure to do a thorough background check when you are going to hire an accountant. Since you are a small business owner, you should have contact with your accountant all the time. This is a real advantage because you will get to know the person on a more personal level.

 

Reputation

Having good qualifications does not automatically mean their services are reliable. You should not think twice about asking questions if they have a reliable service. You should not even think twice about contacting business owners about the previous experience they have had with the accountant. What is their level of satisfaction? Is the accountant efficient and honest? This is a very important consideration.

 

Knowledge of Your Industry and Type of Business

You should only go for candidates who are knowledgeable about accounting and your industry. If they know a lot about your business, they can contribute to its growth.

The ideal accountant for your business in Hong Kong is someone who is familiar with the way your company operates. They should have experience working with companies in the industry so that they can understand the normal costs and procedures. An accountant with the right background is going to be beneficial especially during tax season.

In addition, you need to look for a professional who has worked with similar businesses like yours. They should be aware of the opportunities and difficulties that can come. This makes them aware of how the company is growing.

 

Personality

Similar to hiring anyone to work for you, recruiting the perfect account requires regular interaction. Your accountant should have a pleasant personality and it should match yours too. If you both have very different mentalities, you also will not be able to work efficiently with each other.

 

Tech Savvy

Similar to a lot of professionals, accounting is now being changed by the latest technology. The modern software is helpful to accounting professionals when they need to efficiently accomplish things while putting a deeper insight into the company’s financials. Your accountant has to know and master the newest technology and should have the willingness to learn new technology.

A lot of accountants are using new technology, while other people still prefer old solutions. When you are going to meet with an accountant who has the potential, ask them the software they are using. Identify the reasons why he or she prefer this program. You should also find out how they perceive technology as part of their profession because it will be part of the future. With the innovations happening today, they should expect to handle technology whenever you need them to.

An accountant for your business in Hong Kong should have all of these traits so before hiring anyone, make sure to remember these things. The accountant will handle your financials so better make sure they are the perfect fit.