This glossary explains the key accounting, tax, and finance professionals small businesses may work with. Each entry gives a clear, plain‑language description of the role and how it helps with bookkeeping, taxes, payroll, financial planning, or compliance—so you can quickly find the right expert for your needs.
Tax Professional
A general term for anyone who helps individuals or businesses with taxes, including preparing returns, planning tax‑saving strategies, and ensuring compliance with tax laws. They can also represent you in audits or complex tax matters, so consider hiring one of the experienced tax professionals when your tax situation is complicated or you need help reducing tax risk.
CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
A licensed accountant who provides tax preparation, audits, bookkeeping, and financial advisory services. CPAs are trusted for complex tax planning, business accounting, and for filing official financial statements.
Tax Preparer
A person or firm that completes and files tax returns for clients. Tax preparers handle tax forms and calculations. They may not offer broader financial planning or hold professional licenses.
Tax Consultant
A Tax Consultant provides strategic tax advice to minimize liabilities and structure transactions. A Tax Consultant often works with businesses and high‑net‑worth clients on tax planning. They also handle compliance matters.
Tax Advisor
A Tax Advisor provides tailored guidance on tax decisions and filing options and explains available credits and deductions. They help clients develop long‑term tax strategies. They also work to reduce taxes and avoid penalties.
IRS Enrolled Agent (EA)
An IRS Enrolled Agent is a federally authorized tax practitioner. EAs, along with CPAs and tax attorneys, can represent taxpayers before the agency. They can handle audits, collections, and appeals. EAs specialize exclusively in tax matters.
Tax Accountant
Small-Business Tax Accountant
A tax accountant who specializes in the needs of small businesses—prepares business tax returns, advises on deductible expenses, manages payroll tax compliance, helps choose tax‑efficient entity structures, and develops practical tax‑saving strategies for owners.
Tax Attorney
A lawyer with expertise in tax law who provides legal tax advice, represents clients in disputes or litigation, handles complex tax planning and structuring, and advises on compliance and regulatory risks.
Tax Specialist
A practitioner with deep expertise in a specific tax area (for example, corporate, international, or payroll tax) who provides technical guidance, problem‑solving for complex filings, and targeted planning for specialized tax issues.
Accounting Firm
An Accounting Firm offers a range of financial services, from bookkeeping and tax preparation to audits, advisory work, and payroll. Staffed by accountants with varying specialties, Accounting Firms range in size from sole practitioners to national firms.
Tax Resolution Specialist
A practitioner who helps taxpayers resolve unpaid tax problems—negotiates offers in compromise, installment agreements, penalty abatements, and represents clients in collection matters with tax authorities.
Local Accountants
Accountants operating within a specific town or region who provide hands‑on, in‑person bookkeeping, tax filing, payroll, and advisory services tailored to local regulations and small business needs.
Payroll Specialist
A Payroll Specialist focuses on employee compensation processes. They calculate paychecks and withhold taxes and benefits. They file payroll tax returns and manage year‑end reporting. A Payroll Specialist also ensures payroll compliance.
Bookkeeper
A day‑to‑day financial record keeper who tracks transactions, maintains ledgers, reconciles bank statements, categorizes income and expenses, and produces the transaction-level data accountants use for reporting and tax filings.
QuickBooks ProAdvisor
A certified QuickBooks expert who configures accounting software, trains users, optimizes workflows. A QuickBooks ProAdvisor resolves bookkeeping issues, and helps businesses get accurate financials from their QuickBooks setup.
Profit First Certified Professional
A Profit First Certified Professional is a financial advisor, accountant, or bookkeeper trained and certified by Profit First Professionals. They implement the Profit First cash‑management method, prioritizing allocation of income to profit before expenses.
Financial Advisor
A professional who helps individuals and business owners develop comprehensive financial plans—covering investments, retirement, insurance, and tax‑aware strategies—and aligns tax guidance with long‑term financial goals.
Controller
A senior accounting manager who supervises day‑to‑day accounting operations, oversees month‑end close, ensures accurate financial reporting, implements internal controls, and manages the accounting team.
Auditor
An independent or internal reviewer who examines financial records, internal controls, and reporting processes to verify accuracy, detect errors or fraud, and issue audit opinions or improvement recommendations.
Management Accountant
An accountant who prepares internal financial analysis—budgets, forecasts, cost reports, and performance metrics—to support operational decisions and improve business efficiency.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
A company executive responsible for financial strategy and stewardship—oversees planning, reporting, capital structure, risk management, and advises leadership on financial decisions that drive growth.
Forensic Accountant
A Forensic Accountant investigates suspected financial misconduct. They examine transactions and trace assets. They quantify losses and prepare evidence for legal proceedings. A Forensic Accountant may also provide expert testimony in court.
Business Valuation Analyst
An expert who assesses a company’s worth using financial models and market data—provides valuations for sales, mergers, buyouts, litigation, or financing decisions and documents the methodology and assumptions.
Financial Planner
A professional who builds long‑term personal finance plans—crafting strategies for savings, investments, retirement income, tax efficiency, and insurance to help clients meet life goals.
Estate Planner
An advisor who structures wills, trusts, and transfer strategies to preserve wealth, minimize estate taxes, protect beneficiaries, and ensure assets pass according to a client’s wishes.
Accounting Technician
A trained support professional who handles routine accounting tasks—prepares basic financial statements, assists with reconciliations, supports audits, and works under the supervision of accountants.
Chartered Accountant (CA)
A professionally qualified accountant (recognized in many countries) who provides accounting, audit, tax, and advisory services. They have to complete rigorous education, exams, and practical experience.
Small-Business Consultant
An advisor who helps small companies improve operations, finances, and growth. Small-Business Consultants offer practical guidance on bookkeeping, tax planning, cash‑flow management, pricing, and scaling the business.
Investment Advisor
An Investment Advisor is a licensed professional who provides investment advice and portfolio management. They assess risk tolerance, recommend securities, and may have a fiduciary duty to act in a client’s best interest.
