Choosing a CPA for physicians: questions worth asking
Physicians may have a mix of clinical work, practice ownership, and other professional income. The right CPA relationship should make the financial side easier to understand and give you a clear way to plan ahead. These questions can help you evaluate that fit.
Will my reports answer practice questions?
Ask how the books will separate revenue, staffing, occupancy, and other operating costs in a way that is useful for your practice. Reliable monthly records make it easier to spot a change and determine whether it reflects timing, a one-time cost, or an ongoing trend.
How will we plan during the year?
Tax preparation records what has happened. A planning conversation looks at what may happen next: changes in income, staffing, equipment, or ownership. Ask when projections are revisited, what information you will need to provide, and how decisions will be documented.
Who handles payroll and owner payments?
Clarify who is responsible for payroll records and reporting, and how the CPA will coordinate with your payroll provider or internal team. If you own a practice, discuss how owner payments and business expenses will be tracked. The appropriate treatment depends on your entity and facts.
What does communication look like?
Agree on the cadence for reports, questions, and planning meetings. Ask who your point of contact will be and how sensitive documents are exchanged. A useful relationship should give you both dependable routine work and room to raise an important question before a deadline.
Look for relevant experience and a clear scope
When comparing a CPA for physicians, ask for the services and responsibilities in writing: bookkeeping, tax returns, payroll coordination, projections, or advisory may each have a different scope. Mona’s background includes a decade in a dental service organization and work with the financial needs of physician practices. Pacific Bay CPAs serves clients across the San Francisco Bay Area.
This article is general information, not individualized accounting or tax advice. Your practice structure and circumstances determine the right approach.
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