Why It Makes (Dollars and) Sense to Hire an Accountant to Do More Than Just Prepare Your Tax Return

by Gary Krupa, CPA


When embarking on a voyage into unknown territory, it makes good sense to avail oneself of the services of a guide or sherpa. This is someone, usually a native of the territory, who understands the local customs and geography, and who possesses the skills necessary to help the traveler successfully navigate the territory by avoiding serious mishap. A sherpa, according to Your Dictionary.com, is "a member of a Tibetan people living on the slopes of the Himalaya Mountains in Nepal, known for their endurance at high altitudes and often serving as guides for foreign mountain climbers."

Indian guides were common when the first white settlers arrived in America. If you’re familiar with the story “The Last of the Mohicans”, by James Fenimore Cooper, you probably remember the character of Hawkeye, otherwise known as Nathaniel or “Natty” Bumppo. Although of the caucasian race, Hawkeye is perhaps the embodiment of the ideal guide: someone who has easily adapted to the wild frontier, is highly skilled with a rifle, and has earned the confidence of both the Indian and the White Man. He escorted Cora and Alice, the daughters of the British Colonel Munro, through hostile Indian territory. He was about as cool-headed as anyone charged with such a dangerous mission could’ve been.

In today’s business world, an accountant is especially well equipped to play a similar role. An accountant can help an organization succeed by applying his or her skills and experience to its financial management. Accountants have savoir-faire, or expertise, when it comes to objectively analyzing their client’s financial affairs and taking effective action. Another strength that accountants and bookkeepers have is the ability to organize financial records in the most meaningful way. These qualities can be invaluable to a small organization seeking to become a bigger one, or to one struggling just to maintain solvency in the troubled economy we find ourselves in.


Tomorrow's entry: why many business owners and organization directors don't hire accountants, and more about what the advantages are to hiring one.


Gary Krupa is a CPA in New York and Arizona, with more than twenty-five years experience providing accounting, tax, audit and computer services to small and medium-size organizations. He’s especially attentive to the needs of his clients. He moved to Rimrock, Arizona in late May 2008. He has offices in Rimrock and Peoria, AZ. His e-mail address is gkcpa@q.com.
Read more about Gary Krupa's accounting service by following this link:

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