Start by defining the work you need, then compare Denver firms against the same questions about relevant experience, credentials, written scope, data security, fees, communication and—if you need assurance work—peer-review information. A local address or broad service list alone does not establish that a firm is right for your needs.
Define the work before you contact firms
Write down the services you need rather than asking generally for “accounting help.” Specify the outcome, entity or personal situation involved, and any deadlines. For example, bookkeeping, tax preparation, financial statement preparation, an audit and a review are different services; do not assume that a firm offering one also provides the others you need.
Ask each firm to identify which requested services it will perform and what falls outside its scope. If you need an audit, review or other attestation engagement, raise that at the start: the qualifications and authorization for assurance work need separate scrutiny.
Verify credentials and relevant experience
Check what credential the provider holds
The Colorado Board of Accountancy states that it regulates certified public accountants (CPAs). Its website provides a license search and complaint resources. Verify a prospective CPA’s current status directly with the Board; an article or directory listing cannot confirm live standing. The Board says it does not regulate accountants, public accountants, tax preparers or enrolled agents, so establish exactly what credential a person holds and check it with the appropriate regulator or credential source. Colorado Board of Accountancy
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Ask about work like yours
A firm’s service menu does not establish that the person assigned to your engagement has the right experience. Ask about comparable clients, your industry or entity type, the team’s recent continuing education, and who will lead the work. If the engagement involves an audit, review or attestation, ask separately who is authorized to sign the report and what relevant engagements that person has handled. Authorization is not, by itself, proof of fit for your particular work.
Get scope, people, deadlines and fees in writing
Before work begins, obtain an engagement letter that makes the arrangement specific. It should identify the work and deliverables, responsible personnel, deadlines, what the firm needs from you, any outsourcing, safeguards for private information and the fees. Ask how fees are calculated and what circumstances could change an estimate. If any part of the proposal is unclear or missing, resolve it before signing.
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Ask how the firm handles your information and communicates
Find out how sensitive documents will be exchanged and protected, who can access them, and whether any work or data handling will be outsourced. Discuss how the team handles accuracy, timeliness and confidentiality, how to reach the person responsible for your work, and what response times to expect. Confirm how you will receive updates and raise questions during the engagement and, if relevant, throughout the year.
For audit or review work, examine peer-review information
If your engagement includes audited or reviewed financial statements, ask the firm for its most recent peer-review result. The AICPA’s public site lets users find firm enrollment status and accepted peer-review documents for firms in specified sections or firms that request public availability; the public file does not necessarily contain the same documents for every firm. AICPA Peer Review public file
The Colorado Society of CPAs describes peer review as a process for monitoring accounting and auditing quality and identifies the AICPA program as the route for Colorado’s mandatory requirements. Treat peer-review information as one input about a firm’s accounting and auditing practice, not as a guarantee of future work or a substitute for checking the engagement team and scope. Colorado Society of CPAs peer review
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare candidates on the same questions
Use a consistent checklist so you can compare proposals on fit rather than a firm’s marketing language:
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- Which named services will the firm perform, and which are outside scope?
- Who leads the work, who handles day-to-day questions, and will any work be outsourced?
- What experience does the team have with clients like you and your industry or entity type?
- For assurance work, who signs the report, are they authorized for that work, and what relevant experience do they have?
- What deliverables and deadlines are included, what do you need to provide, and how will information be exchanged?
- How are sensitive documents and personal information protected?
- What are the fees, billing basis and circumstances that could change the estimate?
- How can you reach the team, and what response times should you expect?
- If assurance work is involved, can you review the latest peer-review result and relevant public-file documents?
Use the Colorado regulator to verify CPA credentials; use the firm’s written answers and engagement terms to judge fit. A directory or local office can help identify candidates, but neither establishes credentials, experience, service quality or suitability.
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