Top 10 Best Accountant / CA in San Francisco (Verified & Reviewed Guide)

Introduction

Finding the right Accountant / CA in San Francisco can feel high-stakes. Local businesses juggle city- and state-level compliance, multi-state sales, payroll rules, and fast-moving growth—while individuals often need help with high-income tax planning, equity compensation, and real estate.

In this guide, you’ll learn what an Accountant / CA does, what it typically costs in San Francisco, and how to evaluate firms beyond marketing claims—so you can hire confidently.

This list was evaluated using publicly available information where known (service scope, firm credibility signals, and visibility of client feedback). Where details are not publicly stated, the guide says so rather than guessing.

About Accountant / CA

An Accountant / CA helps individuals and organizations manage financial records, taxes, compliance, and reporting. Depending on the engagement, they may handle bookkeeping and monthly closes, prepare tax returns, advise on entity setup, support audits, or provide strategic finance (like cash flow forecasting and CFO-level guidance).

People usually look for an Accountant / CA when money becomes more complex than a spreadsheet—such as starting a company, hiring employees, dealing with stock options, running multi-entity finances, or needing proactive tax planning (not just filing).

Average cost in San Francisco: Not publicly stated as a single “average,” because most firms quote based on complexity. In practice, San Francisco pricing commonly uses hourly billing, fixed-fee packages, or monthly retainers—amounts vary widely depending on the work and turnaround time.

Licensing/certifications: In California, “CPA” (Certified Public Accountant) is the standard state license for public accounting and attestation work. “CA” often refers to “Chartered Accountant” (a credential common outside the U.S.); however, offering certain regulated services in California may still require a California CPA license or other appropriate authorization, depending on the work performed.

Key takeaways

• Accounting can mean bookkeeping, tax, audit/assurance, and advisory—ask which services are actually included.
• For tax work, look for a CPA (or appropriately credentialed tax professional) and confirm who signs the return.
• For businesses, month-to-month support is often more valuable than once-a-year filing.
• Pricing varies; the best firms clarify scope, deliverables, and timelines in writing.

How We Selected the Best Accountant / CA in San Francisco

We used practical, buyer-focused criteria to narrow down firms that are recognizable, established, and service-capable in San Francisco:

• Years of experience: Firm history and tenure signals (where publicly stated)
• Verified customer review signals: Publicly available review presence and consistency (when known)
• Service range: Tax, accounting, advisory, and industry coverage
• Pricing transparency: Whether the firm explains pricing models or scope clearly (when publicly stated)
• Local reputation: Recognizable local presence and professional credibility indicators

Only publicly available information is referenced when known. If a detail (like phone, pricing, or review summaries) isn’t reliably published, it’s listed as Not publicly stated rather than estimated.

About San Francisco

San Francisco is a dense, high-cost, high-opportunity market with a large concentration of startups, venture-backed companies, professional services, and high-income households. That mix creates ongoing demand for sophisticated tax planning, revenue recognition support, payroll compliance, multi-state filings, and advisory services around fundraising or acquisitions.

Service needs often spike around predictable moments: tax season, new entity formation, funding rounds, audits, SOC readiness, and year-end closes.

Key neighborhoods served (varies by firm):

• Financial District
• SoMa
• Mission District
• Nob Hill
• North Beach
• Castro
• Sunset District
• Richmond District

Some city-specific service coverage by neighborhood is Not publicly stated by many firms because they serve clients across the Bay Area and beyond.

Top 5 Best Accountant / CA in San Francisco

#1 — Deloitte (San Francisco)

• Rating: Not publicly stated
• Years of Experience: Not publicly stated
• Services Offered: Audit & assurance, tax, consulting/advisory (service lines vary by engagement)
• Price Range: Varies / depends (typically quote-based)
• Contact Phone: Not publicly stated
• Contact Email (if available): Not publicly stated
• Website (if available): https://www2.deloitte.com/
• Google Map or ProfessNow or Yelp Link:
• Google Reviews Summary (summarized, not copied; if unknown write “Not publicly stated”): Not publicly stated
• Best For (Budget / Emergency / Premium / Family-Friendly / etc.): Premium / complex business needs (enterprise, audit, advisory)

#2 — PwC (San Francisco)

• Rating: Not publicly stated
• Years of Experience: Not publicly stated
• Services Offered: Assurance, tax, deals, consulting (scope varies by client and industry)
• Price Range: Varies / depends (typically quote-based)
• Contact Phone: Not publicly stated
• Contact Email (if available): Not publicly stated
• Website (if available): https://www.pwc.com/
• Google Map or ProfessNow or Yelp Link:
• Google Reviews Summary (summarized, not copied; if unknown write “Not publicly stated”): Not publicly stated
• Best For (Budget / Emergency / Premium / Family-Friendly / etc.): Premium / transaction support and complex compliance

#3 — EY (Ernst & Young) (San Francisco)

• Rating: Not publicly stated
• Years of Experience: Not publicly stated
• Services Offered: Assurance, tax, strategy & transactions, consulting
• Price Range: Varies / depends (typically quote-based)
• Contact Phone: Not publicly stated
• Contact Email (if available): Not publicly stated
• Website (if available): https://www.ey.com/
• Google Map or ProfessNow or Yelp Link:
• Google Reviews Summary (summarized, not copied; if unknown write “Not publicly stated”): Not publicly stated
• Best For (Budget / Emergency / Premium / Family-Friendly / etc.): Premium / scaling companies and regulated reporting needs

#4 — KPMG (San Francisco)

• Rating: Not publicly stated
• Years of Experience: Not publicly stated
• Services Offered: Audit, tax, advisory (including risk and deal-related services; varies by engagement)
• Price Range: Varies / depends (typically quote-based)
• Contact Phone: Not publicly stated
• Contact Email (if available): Not publicly stated
• Website (if available): https://kpmg.com/
• Google Map or ProfessNow or Yelp Link:
• Google Reviews Summary (summarized, not copied; if unknown write “Not publicly stated”): Not publicly stated
• Best For (Budget / Emergency / Premium / Family-Friendly / etc.): Premium / audit and risk-focused engagements

#5 — Moss Adams (San Francisco)

• Rating: Not publicly stated
• Years of Experience: Not publicly stated
• Services Offered: Assurance, tax, consulting (often serving middle-market and growth-focused organizations; scope varies)
• Price Range: Varies / depends (quote-based; some services may be packaged)
• Contact Phone: Not publicly stated
• Contact Email (if available): Not publicly stated
• Website (if available): https://www.mossadams.com/
• Google Map or ProfessNow or Yelp Link:
• Google Reviews Summary (summarized, not copied; if unknown write “Not publicly stated”): Not publicly stated
• Best For (Budget / Emergency / Premium / Family-Friendly / etc.): Business-focused / middle-market companies needing ongoing support

Comparison Table

Cost of Hiring a Accountant / CA in San Francisco

Average price range: Varies / depends. Many San Francisco firms do not publish rate cards publicly, and pricing can change based on scope, deadlines, and who performs the work (partner vs. manager vs. staff). Common billing structures include hourly, fixed-fee per deliverable, and monthly retainers.

Emergency pricing: If you need last-minute filings, urgent clean-up bookkeeping, or fast turnaround for lender/investor requests, expect rush timelines to increase cost. Exact surcharges are Not publicly stated and are usually handled case-by-case.

What affects cost most

• Scope: bookkeeping vs. tax filing vs. year-round tax planning vs. audit support
• Complexity: multiple entities, multi-state activity, sales tax, international items
• Quality of records: clean books vs. months/years of catch-up work
• Turnaround time: standard deadlines vs. rush delivery
• Advisory depth: basic compliance vs. scenario planning and strategy
• Tools and integrations: payroll, expense tools, POS systems, AR/AP workflows

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does a Accountant / CA cost in San Francisco?

Varies / depends. Many firms quote after a discovery call because pricing depends on record quality, number of entities, filing needs, and how quickly you need results.

How to choose the best Accountant / CA in San Francisco?

Start by matching the firm’s core services to your needs (tax planning, bookkeeping, audit, advisory). Then confirm who will do the work, what deliverables you get, and how communication works month to month.

Are licenses required in San Francisco?

For certain regulated services (such as issuing audit/attestation reports), a CPA license is required in California. For general bookkeeping or some tax preparation, requirements can differ—ask what credentials the signer holds.

What’s the difference between an Accountant / CA and a CPA in California?

“CPA” is the California-recognized license commonly used for public accounting. “CA” often means Chartered Accountant (typically outside the U.S.); in California, a CA may still need the appropriate U.S. credentials depending on the services offered.

Do these firms handle individual taxes (not just businesses)?

Varies by firm and engagement. Large firms often focus on business, high-net-worth, and complex individual returns; always confirm they accept individual clients and ask about minimum fee thresholds.

Can an Accountant / CA help with startup finances in San Francisco?

Yes—especially with entity setup, cap table-related tax considerations (as applicable), bookkeeping systems, payroll setup, and monthly closes. Ask whether they support fundraising readiness and investor reporting.

Who offers 24/7 service in San Francisco?

Not publicly stated. Accounting firms typically operate during business hours, though some may accommodate urgent deadlines. If you need after-hours support, ask about response-time expectations and escalation paths.

What should I bring to the first meeting?

Bring prior-year returns (if applicable), current financial statements, access to bookkeeping files, payroll summaries, and a list of pain points (missed deadlines, messy books, tax notices, cash flow issues). The clearer your inputs, the faster you’ll get an accurate quote.

How long does it take to onboard a new Accountant / CA?

Varies. Simple tax-only engagements can start quickly; full-service bookkeeping clean-up or system migrations can take weeks. Ask for a written onboarding plan with milestones.

Final Recommendation

If you need enterprise-grade audit, complex advisory, or transaction support, start with Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG—they’re typically suited to larger, more complex engagements with formal processes and multi-team delivery.

If you want strong business accounting and advisory support for established small-to-mid-market companies, Moss Adams is often a practical fit for ongoing needs without the same enterprise-only posture.

For budget-sensitive individuals or very small businesses, many of the best-fit options in San Francisco are smaller local practices—but firm-by-firm pricing and availability are often not publicly stated, so you’ll get the best results by requesting a scoped quote and confirming who will actually handle your account.

Get Your Business Listed

If you’re a Accountant / CA in San Francisco and want your details added or updated, email contact@professnow.com. You can also registe & Update yourself at https://professnow.com/.