MARIELA RUIZ, CPA, PLLC

Helping Individuals and Businesses Financially Thrive.

Tag: money

How to Find a Reliable Accountant

When it comes to our finances, there is no such thing as too much organization and attention to detail. The notion of having our money taken care of and kept in the right places can do wonders for alleviating our stress and allow us peace of mind. One of the best ways to ensure our financial security is by hiring a professional. The only tricky part of bringing in a certified personal accountant (CPA) is finding one you can trust with your livelihood. Keep reading to learn some tips on how to spot a qualified CPA and help you keep the money rolling in smoothly.

They Are Always Communicating With You:

One of the most vital aspects to a good CPA is their communication skills. If your accountant isn’t keeping you in the loop about what’s going on with your finances, that’s not a great sign it will be a smooth working relationship. The ability to articulate information to you about the state of any aspects of your portfolio, from your assets to your investments or liabilities, is paramount to your future and the reason CPA’s are hired in the first place.

They Plan Your Finances Throughout The Entire Year:

While this statement seems to be a no-brainer, you would be surprised to find out how many accountants struggle to focus on your long term futures and securities as opposed to more immediate financial management strategies. One of the best upsides to having a CPA you can trust should be the knowledge that they are spending time planning your financial strategy throughout the entire fiscal year or even longer, as opposed to advising you on week to week transactions. Keeping an eye on the future while managing the present is always the best way to grow your personal wealth, so finding a CPA that understands that can be crucial.

They Give You Tips On How To Budget:

Hiring a personal accountant that cares more about coming in, doing the basic necessities of their job each day and then clocking out will never bring you the returns that you are looking for. It is often hard to see from the outside if your accountant is going above and beyond or not, but one of the best indicators of this is the advice they give you and the regularity with which they give it. Daily, weekly and monthly budgeting tips, while not a requirement, should be expected from any CPA. The more any client knows about their finances, the better it will work out in the long term. Whether it’s merely calling to advise against a trend of purchases they see you making or providing a helpful way to save money in an area they see you are spending too much, a CPA is your financial lifeline, which means they should always be there to have your back on any financial matter.

They Don’t Mind Explaining Anything To You:

To most people, this seems like a relatively simple and obvious task for a CPA, because it merely requires them to not find your lack of knowledge about intricate financial matter frustrating. However, it is shocking how many CPA’s believe relative autonomy is the way to go when it comes to your money, which is a relatively absurd notion. While it’s true that any CPA should have deeper knowledge of your financial situation, there needs to be a consistent dialogue between them and their client that centers around informing them as much as they can about any financial matter. The more a client knows, the better they can work with their CPA to ensure they flourish when it comes to short-term and long-term financial goals.

Conclusion:

There are so many factors that go into choosing the right CPA for you. It’s important to feel safe and secure leaving your finances in another person’s hands, so why not know you are getting the best person for the job right from the start? With Mariela Ruiz, CPA, there’s nothing more important than the financial success of clients, so schedule a consultation today and take that first step towards a more prosperous future!

Qualities of an Excellent CFO for Your Small Business

As a business owner, you understand the importance of making sure your finances line up month after month. Hiring a CFO or chief financial officer to keep an eye on your business’ money is a big step. Keep reading to learn four of the qualities to look for in your ideal candidate in order to ensure a prosperous future for your company.

CFO display.
CFO display.

Knowledge of Your Company’s Industry

Every industry is different and each has different financial needs. Ensuring you choose a financial team member that understands the ins and outs of your company’s financial field is incredibly important. In order for your CFO to be successful in the company they need to fully understand where your clients and stakeholders are coming from to make the best money choices.

Reliability

If you are ready to take the step of hiring a CFO, you’re choosing to hire a leader that you will be able to rely on in any given situation. They will not only be leaders of your accounting and financials but they should also be reliable during difficult times in order to keep the business moving forward.

Problem Solving Skills

No matter what stage your business is in, there are always problems to be solved. Whether concerns faced by small businesses or issues that arise after profitability, you need to trust your CFO will have the problem solving skills necessary to address the issue.

Nameplate with CFO printed on it.
Nameplate with CFO printed on it.

Wide Range of Financial Knowledge

It goes without saying that your CFO needs to understand the ins and outs of finance. However, it would also be highly beneficial to work with someone that understands other aspects of business such as investments and risk management. A CFO with this knowledge would be incredibly helpful for the growth of your company.

Thoughts

Choosing to work with anyone in a financial capacity is a big step, especially if you own a business. These are only a handful of the qualities needed in the perfect CFO for your company. That’s why MARIELA RUIZ, CPA, PLLC prides our self on holding all of these and many other positive aspects that make a good chief financial officer. Visit our website today to learn how we can best help your company keep growing.

Why You Need a Bookkeeper

Running your own business can be a tricky and stressful job. Taking charge and managing everything from stock and employees, to sales are all important tasks you must take care of when you are a business owner. While some of these tasks can only be handled by the owner, there are other tasks that can be overseen by a professional who is willing to help. A bookkeeper is one of the best resources you can have as a business owner. Follow along with this blog to find out why you should hire a bookkeeper.

Personal Escape

One of the most difficult aspects of running your own business is finding balance. Outside of your business, you also have a personal life. It can be all too easy to get caught up in everything that needs to be done at work. While it’s great to be focused on your work life, having some personal time to spend with your family and friends is equally as important. Hiring a bookkeeper to manage all your business finances can help you find time to spend outside of the office. You can leave work knowing that someone is going to help balance and take care of your expenses, transactions, and income.

Second Opinion

Staying sharp and up-to-date on all current business owner education and information is important. However, some aspects of running your own business can be opinion based; that is why having a bookkeeper who sees all your finances and income can help you view things through a different perspective. If you are considering making a few changes within your business, your bookkeeper should be your go-to person for a second opinion.

Scheduling

Being a business owner can be very demanding. There are multiple places where you need to be, differing situations you must take care of, plus attempting to balance family time. All of these things must be handled while also keeping track of when bills are due. Hiring a bookkeeper can make a huge difference in your ability to balance all these tasks and deadlines. Your bookkeeper will be able to take care of the books and pay all your bills on time so that you can keep up with your travel and family obligations. Bill deadlines are just another thing you can cross off your to-do list when you hire a bookkeeper.

Conclusion

Running your own business is a very demanding job. Having as much help as possible is very important. Hiring a bookkeeper to help you keep track of all your financial moves can make all the difference in your ability to balance work and personal life. Knowing that your books are being taken care of and your bills are getting paid even while you’re away can give you peace of mind. If you’ve been convinced, head on over to our website to get started with your bookkeeping process.