By service
Accounting firms by service
“Accounting firm” covers very different work. Here is what each service is, who needs it, and which of the 21 firms in the directory list it on their own websites.
Audit and assurance
An audit is an independent CPA firm's examination of your financial statements, ending in a written opinion on whether they are fairly presented under the accounting framework you use (usually US GAAP). Reviews and compilations are lighter levels of assurance: a review gives limited assurance, and a compilation gives none. Only a licensed CPA firm can sign an audit or review report.
Who needs it: Companies whose lenders, investors, bonding companies or regulators require audited statements; nonprofits above their state's or funders' audit thresholds; organizations that spend federal awards (Single Audit); housing and health care operators with HUD or agency reporting; and employee benefit plans that must file audited statements with their Form 5500.
Firms offering audit (21)
Pease Bell, CPAs, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, Baker Tilly, BDO USA, Cherry Bekaert, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Crowe, Eide Bailly, Forvis Mazars, Grant Thornton, Plante Moran, RSM US, Wipfli, Clark Schaefer Hackett, Cohen & Co, Maloney + Novotny, Meaden & Moore, Rea Business Advisors
SOC examinations (SOC 1 and SOC 2)
A SOC report is a CPA firm's examination of the controls at a service organization, under AICPA attestation standards. SOC 1 covers controls that affect your customers' financial reporting (a payroll processor, a loan servicer). SOC 2 covers controls over security and, if you choose, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy (a SaaS product, a data center). A Type 1 report looks at control design on one date; a Type 2 report tests whether the controls worked over a period, usually six to twelve months.
Who needs it: Companies that host, process or handle customer data or transactions, most often when a customer's security or vendor-risk review asks for a SOC report before signing.
Firms offering soc 1 / soc 2 (13)
Pease Bell, CPAs, EY, KPMG, PwC, Baker Tilly, BDO USA, Cherry Bekaert, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Crowe, Eide Bailly, Forvis Mazars, Grant Thornton, Wipfli
Tax advisory and compliance
Tax compliance is preparing and filing returns: federal, state and local income tax, sales and use tax, payroll tax, and information returns such as Forms 1099. Tax advisory is the planning around them: choice of entity, credits such as the research credit, multistate exposure, transactions, succession and personal tax for owners.
Who needs it: Every business and most individuals with more than a simple return; especially companies selling into several states, owners planning a sale or succession, and anyone facing an IRS or state notice.
Firms offering tax (21)
Pease Bell, CPAs, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, Baker Tilly, BDO USA, Cherry Bekaert, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Crowe, Eide Bailly, Forvis Mazars, Grant Thornton, Plante Moran, RSM US, Wipfli, Clark Schaefer Hackett, Cohen & Co, Maloney + Novotny, Meaden & Moore, Rea Business Advisors
Client accounting services
Client accounting services (CAS) is outsourced accounting: a firm keeps your books, closes the month, reconciles accounts, runs payables or payroll, and can act as your controller or fractional CFO. It replaces or supports an in-house accounting team, rather than checking its work.
Who needs it: Growing businesses without a full finance team, owners who want monthly financials they can rely on, and companies preparing for their first audit or a raise.
Firms offering client accounting (15)
Pease Bell, CPAs, Baker Tilly, BDO USA, Cherry Bekaert, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Eide Bailly, Forvis Mazars, Grant Thornton, Plante Moran, Wipfli, Clark Schaefer Hackett, Cohen & Co, Maloney + Novotny, Meaden & Moore, Rea Business Advisors