Why an accountant?

An accountant is a specialist in financial-administrative matters. He or she performs inspections and knows all the ins and outs of tax legislation. This makes him the confidant and advisor to entrepreneurs in middle- and small-sized businesses.

What does an accountant actually do?
The accountant collects and verifies your financial information. He or she examines whether the financial statements of your company display a complete and accurate picture of the financial situation. If this is the case, the accountant gives out a auditors statement.

This statement is interesting for shareholders of your company. It gives them a clear overview on money management over the past year. But also if you do credit and grant requests at a financial institution, an auditors statement may be required. This statement also contains directly the difference between a administration and an accounting firm: only an accounting firm has the power to issue an auditors statement.

Clear. But does an accountant do even more?
Yes! And that brings us to another (and perhaps most exciting) task for the auditor: to support the entrepreneur in determining policy. The accountant gives the financial and fiscal consequences of the policy in a clear way. For you as an entrepreneur that information is very important. You can assess how your company is doing and whether an investment or a new course is required.

And then?
You can also consult an accountant about consultancy assignments, acquisitions, succession, business valuation, start or termination of your business. He or she provides you fiscal, economic, social and legal advice. In addition, an accountant can give management support or advice on automation issues.

How does an accountant keep his know-how up to date?
After completing the training and the practical component, an accountant is not finished studying. An accountant is obliged to keep his or her knowledge annually up to-date. Each year, he or she has to achieve a fixed number of PE points through study or training. (PE stands for Permanent Education.)

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