How to Write a Good Review for an Accountant

Client reviews are a valuable tool for both accounting professionals and individuals seeking financial guidance. These reviews build trust and provide prospective clients with insights into an accountant’s service quality. They also offer accountants constructive feedback to help them improve their services. This article explains how to write a helpful, constructive, and effective review.

What to Include in Your Review

A useful review focuses on specific examples of the accountant’s service. Highlight concrete ways the accountant assisted you. For instance, instead of generally saying “they did a good job,” a more impactful statement would be “they helped me understand complex tax deductions specific to my small business, which led to significant savings on my federal income tax return.”

Detailing the accountant’s communication style is helpful. Describe how clearly and promptly they responded to your inquiries. For example, did they explain intricate financial concepts, such as cash flow analysis, in an understandable manner? Also mention if they met deadlines for tax filings or financial reports.

Focus on the tangible results the accountant helped you achieve. This could include tax savings due to their knowledge of tax codes and eligible deductions, improved financial clarity from detailed reports, or the successful resolution of an IRS notice. Quantifying these outcomes, if comfortable, can make the review more compelling, such as “their advice on entity structure saved my business an estimated 10-15% in self-employment taxes annually.”

Professionalism encompasses the accountant’s demeanor, ethical conduct, and reliability. Comment on their consistent professionalism throughout your engagement, from initial consultations to ongoing service. This includes their adherence to ethical standards.

If you have suggestions for improvement, present them constructively and politely. Frame feedback around specific actions or processes rather than personal criticisms. For example, instead of “they were disorganized,” you could say, “implementing a more streamlined document submission process could enhance efficiency.” This type of feedback helps the accountant grow professionally.

Information to Exclude

Avoid sharing confidential financial information in a public review. This includes specific dollar amounts, account numbers, or other sensitive personal financial data. Sharing such details can compromise your privacy and potentially that of the accounting firm.

Refrain from personal attacks or unsubstantiated claims. Reviews should focus on the professional service provided, not on personal opinions or baseless accusations. Comments that lack specific examples or factual support are not helpful and can be seen as unfair.

Avoid overly vague or emotional language. Overly emotional or general reviews, or those without specific examples, are less credible and useful. Focus on objective observations and factual accounts of your experience.

Exclude irrelevant details not pertaining directly to the accountant’s professional service. Information about your personal life, unrelated business matters, or other extraneous topics should not be included. The review’s purpose is to evaluate the accountant’s services.

Where to Post Your Review

Several online platforms allow you to share your experience with an accountant, reaching a wide audience of prospective clients. Google My Business is a prominent platform, particularly for local searches, as reviews directly influence local search rankings and visibility. Positive reviews on Google can significantly boost an accountant’s online presence and credibility.

Yelp is another widely used general business review site where consumers often seek information on local services. Listing on Yelp can increase visibility and help build trust among potential customers.

Many professional directories and industry-specific websites also feature accountant reviews. These include sites like TaxBuzz, WalletHub, or specialized CPA directories. Some accounting firms may also have a testimonial section on their own websites where they collect client feedback directly.

LinkedIn offers an opportunity to provide a professional recommendation if the accountant has an active profile. This can serve as a valuable endorsement within a professional network. Beyond public platforms, providing direct feedback to the accountant, either verbally or in writing, can also be a valuable way to share your experience and offer insights.