By Suzanne M. Holl, CPA
Clients will sometimes ask their CPA to assist them with human resources-related matters. A common scenario involves the CPA assisting in the recruitment of a new CFO, or assisting the client to “redesign an accounting department.”
Even when covered by insurance, claims can have a significant impact on your practice in terms of time, money, professional reputation, and peace of mind. By knowing the warning signs of a claim, and calling your risk advisor early on, you can help minimize the impact of lost billable hours, revenue and sleep. What are the red flags? Here are five general warning signs that trouble may be brewing.
CPAs often run into situations where they have been preparing tax returns for a married couple for several years, and the couple decides to get a divorce. Divorcing spouses who ask their CPA to provide advice and services to both spouses often present a potential conflict of interest. Friendly divorcing couples don’t always stay friendly, and who do they blame when things don’t work out the way they had hoped? The CPA.
IMPACT’s fourth interactive War Story covers a case involving a large embezzlement, how it happened, and how the CPA firm could have avoided it.
Now is a good time to screen tax clients for potential problems. There is still time before tax season for a client to replace you in the event you decide to disengage. Client screening is excellent risk management as well as practice management.
