Can Your Accountant Be Your Auditor?

Audit Auditor Accountant Accounting Finance Business

Accountants & Auditors

Accounting can be a tricky topic, especially when you’re preparing to hire an accountant in the near future. Hiring can get tricky because those who are certified to be accountants are not necessarily well versed in your particular industry. In fact, your accountant can occasionally offer you expertise in areas outside of accounting; however, keep in mind that sometimes you simply have to learn how to draw the line.

One particularly tricky area is auditing. Many accountants work full-time as auditors but it’s important to note that if someone be working as your accountant, he or she cannot work as your auditor. Why, you may ask? It’s quite simple.

Responsibilities of an Accountant

An accountant’s primary responsibility is to make sure your business is functioning correctly in every area of financing. By contrast, an auditor’s primary responsibility is to make sure your accounting records are kept accurately. Your accountant cannot keep your finances in order and also check for accuracy at the same time. If your accountant were to operate in such a way you can be certain that an accident would occur at some point down the line.

What Course Should You Plot?

What’s the best course of action? Choosing to hire both an auditor and an accountant. Hiring both will ensure that your team has the requisite types of capability and it will also guarantee that when tax season arrives you won’t have any unpleasant surprises should an audit take place.

Have you ever tried to hire your accountant to be your auditor? How well did that work out for you? Probably not very well. Leave your comments below.

Image credit: www.seniorguidance.org

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