What Is a CPA?
My name is Valerie Polding. My company is Valerie K. Polding CPA LLC. We are a full service small accounting firm located in Cape May Court House.
What is a CPA? To become a CPA, I had to complete 150 credit hours of education before I could sit for the CPA exam. It took me seventeen years to get my degree. I attended college in the evening and weekends, working during the day. During that time, I was a single parent, to a now wonderful thirty-six year old son, and caregiver for my Mom.
The CPA exam is a rigorous, horrible two day exam (three days when I took it) which is designed to assess a candidate's professional competence in auditing and accounting and the ability to apply those skills with good judgment and an understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities. Normally 10% of candidates pass (all four parts) the first time. A CPA must also work for an established accounting firm or State or Federal Government. I worked for the State of New Jersey as a field auditor for five years. My experience with the State and my contacts there, have proven invaluable for my clients.
We are required to attend 120 hours of continuing education, every three years, in technical subject areas (24 of which must be in Accounting & Auditing), 4 in NJ law and Ethics.
Why do my clients use me? Because I act as an advisor to my individual clients, businesses and nonprofit organizations. I believe my clients rely on me for assistance in not only tax work but the building of college funds, planning for retirement and creating estate plans. The businesses look to me for advice on developing effective accounting systems, maximizing operating results and resolving various management problems.
How do I treat my clients special?
- I know each and everyone of them.
- I address them all by name and not client number.
- I try not to keep anyone waiting for an appointment.
- I frequently call or e-mail, just to "shoot the breeze" or "catch up".
- Some of the older ones are invited for tea. Lots of them have had tea with my Mom when she was alive, one of the reasons I started out with and kept a home office.
- Lots of us play golf, meet for cocktails and dinner or sit together at our civic minded functions.
- I try to include my clients in on some of the non-profit functions I get involved in.
- When IRS or NJ comes out with an industry specific change I do an e-blast.
- If I read a tax law that pertains to a particular client.....they get a copy of it.
- I have a monthly e-newsletter that each client that has an e-mail address gets.
- All returns are electronically filed as are payroll payments and payroll quarterlies. IN most cases, on electronically filed tax returns, an expected refund can be directly deposited in less than 10 days.
- With clients that are getting a large refund, I discuss the advantages of depositing ½ their refund for current bills or spending and putting the other ½ directly into a new or current retirement account.
- And we are soon to offer the acceptance of debit/credit cards for the payment of invoices.
- We also offer tours of our organic, hydroponic garden.
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