Accountants in Rhode Island provide advice and accounting services to organizations both big and small. Whether you need estate planning services, tax advice or assistance with implementing an accounting system, an accountant offers vital assistance. Finding the right Rhode Island accounting firms to meet all of your needs can be challenging. Not all accountants provide the same services, and those services may be out of your budget.

Knowing your business goals is the first step in finding Rhode Island CPA firms that will meet your current and future needs. Follow these steps to help you find a business accountant in Rhode Island that will provide the specific services you are looking for:

1. Search for business accountants in Rhode Island.

2. Research the validity of the licenses and affiliations with associations of CPAs in Rhode Island.

3. Decide which Rhode Island accountant or firm is the best fit with your company.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Perform a general search of Rhode Island accounting firms

All Rhode Island accountants are not full-service. Some specialize in estate planning or bookkeeping while others may handle all of the accounting needs of a small business.

I recommend: The Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants website contains a list of current members and firms as well as links to their websites to help you find an accountant in your area that meets your business’ specific needs. CPA Finder is another search option to locate a Rhode Island CPA firm. Finally, the Accountants World website is a great tool to perform a directory search of accounting services in Rhode Island.

Research the credentials of the Rhode Island CPA firms that you are interested in working with

Make sure the Rhode Island accountants that you are considering are professional and licensed. Verify their affiliation with local and national accounting associations as well as the status of their professional license.

I recommend: The Rhode Island Board of Accountancy has links to downloadable PDFs listing all licensed public accounting firms as well as licensed CPAs and PAs. The Etaking website verifies the licenses of participating accounting firms and lists them on their website. CPADirectory is another option for checking the licensing information on specific Rhode Island accountants. The CPA Firms website lists accounting firms in Rhode Island as well as their websites and email addresses.

Choose Rhode Island accounting firms that meet all of the particular needs of your company

Your business has special accounting needs and not all firms may offer the service or services that you want. It is important to find one that will fit the best with everything that is important to your company: experience, professionalism and integrity.

I recommend: If you need help setting up an accounting system for payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable, then a firm specializing in bookkeeping would be a good choice. DeVine & Associates, LLC is one possibility, serving the areas of Bristol, Barrington and Providence. Another option is Jane Davis and Associates, LLC whose service area includes Providence. For more involved services like tax planning, you need more advanced Rhode Island accounting firms. Heacock & Company, which serves the Westerly, Providence and Warwick areas, offers tax planning services. EAL Tax Service, located in West Warwick, offers tax planning as well as IRS representation. They service areas throughout Rhode Island and in North Eastern Massachusetts. For a firm that specializes in the needs of small companies, you may try Eunis & Associates CPAs, Inc. located in Jamestown who services the areas of Newport, North Kingstown and Cranston. If you want a well-known firm with locations around the world, KPMG is a good choice with an office in Providence.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Interview more than one accounting firm before making a decision. Talk to colleagues and members of local accounting associations to find Rhode Island accounting firms with stellar records.