HomeNewsServicesAccountingI Want My CPA to Have Business Sense

I Want My CPA to Have Business Sense

No Comments
Tampa CPA Firm

By Rene J. Zarate, CPA•ABV

Rivero, Gordimer & Company (RGCO) has had the good fortune of operating for close to 40 years. Much of that fortune is attributable to long-standing client relationships, some who continue to work with us into successive generations. Since those client relationships are so vital to all of us, we believe it may be helpful for other business owners to learn what has drawn one client to hire us and stay on after many years and changes in their businesses.    

William “Bill” Casale has been a client and friend to RGCO for over 20 years. We have assisted him with assurance, tax, and advisory services for both domestic and international companies. His comments below are excerpts from a recent interview. We agree that the comments and criteria are not only valuable for selecting a CPA firm, but that they can also be adapted to fit any relationship you might have with a professional provider (e.g., medical, legal, financial). Here were some of the major takeaways from Bill:

————————

The pace of change is on an upward trajectory. Throw in technological advances, economic upheaval, political turmoil, and a pandemic for good measure, and the partners you select to help you navigate this terrain become even more important. Choosing the right partners has a huge impact on your survival ability. Beyond the basic values of honesty, integrity, and technical competence, what else should you be looking for in your CPA?

I want my CPA to view things from my perspective. I want my CPA to have business sense. Technical expertise is fine, but common sense and the ability to incorporate the knowledge in a practical, useable way is key. Standing in the shoes of the client and incorporating their expertise while understanding my business environment and challenges is extremely important.

I want my CPA to be accessible and connected. I need a CPA who is available when I need them and has varied expertise and specialties under roof depending on my needs (e.g., tax, audit, buying or selling a business, strategic planning). I also want them to be connected and confident enough to refer me to other professionals if needed. If they don’t have an answer, I want them to know where to find one. 

I want my CPA to be my coach. Since they have varied experience across a large spectrum of businesses (e.g., manufacturing, service based, nonprofit), they have exposure to how these businesses operate and how to meet their challenges. As a result, they are in a unique position to recommend best practices that may be applied in a different manner in my industry, perhaps providing an edge that my competitors do not have.

I need my CPA to be proactive, communicating changes to laws and regulations. I want them to not only give me the latest information but also explain how it may affect my business and suggest changes I can make. 

I want my CPA to have a stellar reputation, experience in the market, and be leaders with roots in the community. This is important for several reasons including cross referring opportunities, strengthening our relationship as we share vendor and business referrals promoting our mutual success.

I want a CPA who has the capacity to meet client deadlines, can grow as my business grows, and recruits to strengthen their bench. They need to be comfortable dealing with complicated corporate structures and with multiple affiliated businesses, including international entities.  

———————–

Bill’s expectations may seem like a tall order, but if you consider what is at stake—your financial and business success—you want a relationship that is viewed as a partnership rather than vendor/client. The ability to meet the client’s expectations frequently rely on the CPA’s willingness to collaborate with other professionals, whether internal colleagues or outside subject matter experts. Over time, most of us learn that the breadth of expertise needed by clients is beyond one person’s capacity. A smattering of humility may be our greatest learned attribute.

We are grateful for our clients’ confidence in us over the years. If you would like more information about how we can apply our expertise to your business or situation, contact us at 813-875-7774.

Download Article


You might also like.

Different types of audits and understanding what your nonprofit needs
Audit, Review, or Compilation? Understanding Your Nonprofit’s Options
• September 9, 2026
Person uses a tablet displaying a stock trading app while a laptop beside shows a market chart on a white desk, with a notebook in view.
Understanding Business Value Before a Major Decision Requires It
• July 27, 2026
IRS Form 990 for Nonprofits
IRS Form 990 for Nonprofits: Why It’s More Than Just a Tax Filing
• July 20, 2026
Author: Rene Zarate
Rene J. Zarate has practiced public accounting in the Tampa Bay area since 1980. Prior to joining Rivero, Gordimer & Company P.A., he spent three years with an international accounting firm in the United States. During his years in public accounting, Mr. Zarate has concentrated on: consulting and business planning for closely held businesses; managing financial forecasts and projections used by management and other end users; valuation of closely-held companies. The businesses have ranged in size from $5MM to $300MM, where he has utilized his experience to assist CEOs and governing boards with areas such as strategic planning, business process enhancements, succession planning and assistance with determining and fulfilling capital investment needs. He has extensive experience assisting health care providers, as varied as multi-specialty clinics and physicians, home health services, ambulatory surgery centers, revenue cycle technology developers and senior living facilities. Additionally, Mr. Zarate has provided transaction advisory assistance to both buyers and sellers of businesses in industries including contractors, international distributors, healthcare, and professional services. This assistance has included the management of due diligence/Quality of Earnings, as well as assistance with the client and their advisors, regarding negotiating key deal terms and document review. Mr. Zarate has been involved with substantial forensic engagements related to sophisticated corporate frauds both in Bankruptcy and State Courts. He has worked extensively with various financially troubled organizations in the context of reorganizations, liquidations and receiverships. Additionally, Mr. Zarate continues to actively offer consulting services to American companies engaging in commerce in Latin American countries, where his knowledge of the Spanish language and experience are utilized. For the period from 1989 to 1999, Mr. Zarate worked in private industry as the Chief Operating Officer of a closely held healthcare organization. He maintained that position until he engineered the sale of the company to a national healthcare organization, and managed the subsequent transition. As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Zarate was responsible for an organization which employed over 500 people, servicing clients in seven counties of west-central Florida. His duties required his expertise in financial, regulatory, and human resource areas, in addition to a significant commitment to customer relations. In 1999, he resumed his position providing valuation & advisory services for Rivero, Gordimer & Company P.A. Mr. Zarate is a native of Tampa and graduated from Western Kentucky University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, in addition to being a 1992 graduate of the Leadership Tampa program sponsored by the local Chamber. He also has been awarded the Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) designation by the AICPA. The ABV designation recognizes CPAs with extensive professional experience in business valuation. The accreditation is granted exclusively to CPAs.

Powered by