CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is an accountant has met the requirements of California state law and has been issued a license to practice public accounting by the California Board of Accountancy. CPAs audit financial statements of both publicly and privately held companies, including homeowner associations.

Year-End Audits. To perform year-end reviews or audits of their financial statements, associations must use CPAs.

License Verification. To verify a CPA's license, go to California's Board of Accountancy.

RECOMMENDATION: Associations should use CPAs who specialize in community associations. They are more aware of the unique issues affecting associations, such as tax considerations, the interplay between operations and reserves, proper internal controls, financial statement preparation, etc. To find CPAs who specialize in homeowner associations, see "Accounting" in our Service Directory.

Updated by ADAMS KESSLER 8/9/2008