What Makes a Good CPA?

As tax time comes to a close, I find myself once again thinking "phew, I'm glad that's over." It's also around this time of year when I think about how tedious tax preparation can be. If my lifestyle were any simpler then I suppose my tax preparation would be as well. Understanding all the various aspects of the tax code may truly be an act of futility. For that reason praise must be given to the men and women who have chosen a career replete with number crunching and studying tax preparation. These people are the accountants of the world.
Since I find it such a chore to prepare my own taxes I look to accountants for aid. Therefore, one may ask the question, "what makes an accountant worthy to toil through all of my receipts, W-2's, 1099's and various other itemized deductions?" To help answer that, I have come up with several attributes that I look for when trying to choose a good accountant.
Without a doubt one of the best attributes is knowledge of the tax laws. A well educated accountant is invaluable to the tax payer. Some people who have prepared taxes for individuals or businesses make claims about their experience in dealing with the IRS. No matter what their experience may be, many of them are not Certified Public Accountants. For me having the 3 letters "CPA" included on the tax preparers title brings comfort my mind because it shows at least that my tax preparer has been trained. Those 3 letters also imply accuracy and dedication.
Along with knowledge of the well trained CPA, a good quality for an accountant is punctuality of services. I understand that the client needs to present his/her tax documents in a timely manner so the preparer can meet specified deadlines. However, professionalism by staying ahead of the game and filing extensions when deemed appropriate are valuable weapons that I like to see in the CPA's arsenal.
Since there is a lot of responsibility placed on the client as well for accuracy when filling out tax documents, there are times when the client needs advice or coaching. Therefore, another great attribute of the CPA is availability. There have been countless times when looking at my tax paperwork confusion over certain things creates consternation. Being able to get a hold of any accountant knowledgeable of my circumstances may be a daunting task especially when dealing with a large accounting firm.
After reaching my accountant and relaying my concerns, the next attribute of importance is communication. As much as I admire professionals and the knowledge they possess in their area of expertise, sometimes they forget that not everyone understands their vernacular. Some questions are answered using verbiage that can leave you more confused than before you posed the question. Speaking plainly to the client about concerns can oftentimes be very refreshing.