What Verdica's 720 score means for Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC
A composite score of 720 out of 850 places Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC in the "acceptable" band (670–739), which indicates a provider meeting baseline regulatory and professional standards but with some gaps worth noting. This grade-B rating suggests the firm is operationally sound for most business accounting needs, but falls short of the "strong" (740+) or "excellent" (800+) tiers.
For a business owner or audit committee evaluating this provider, a 720 means you're working with a licensed, functioning practice that regulators have not flagged as high-risk. That said, the score's composition—driven down by moderate sub-score performance in licensing and PCAOB findings—indicates areas where diligence is warranted before engagement. The acceptable band is where many regional and mid-sized firms land; it reflects competence without exceptional distinction in compliance or audit quality metrics.
How the sub-scores break down
License & Credentials (660/850): This sub-score reflects Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC's standing with Ohio's state board and national credentialing systems. A score of 660 is below the acceptable band threshold, suggesting either lapsed credentials, restricted licenses, or gaps in required registrations or continuing education disclosures. In the accounting industry, this dimension typically captures whether a firm and its principals maintain current CPA licenses, whether any have been suspended or revoked, and whether the firm holds required registrations (e.g., with the SEC if applicable). A lower score here does not necessarily mean the firm cannot practice, but it flags incomplete or compromised standing that should be clarified before a major engagement.
PCAOB Record (690/850): The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board tracks audit quality through inspection reports and enforcement findings. A score of 690 indicates the firm has PCAOB inspection history with identified deficiencies or findings. This score band typically reflects issues such as insufficient audit documentation, inadequate testing of account balances, or insufficient engagement partner involvement—matters that don't rise to enforcement action but signal quality control or execution gaps. For firms that audit public companies, a 690 PCAOB score suggests past findings that may now be under remediation.
Disciplinary (850/850): This is the firm's strongest sub-score, indicating no material disciplinary actions, sanctions, or settled complaints in the underlying state board and regulatory records indexed by Verdica. A perfect 850 is positive news: it means Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC does not carry a public disciplinary record with Ohio regulators or bodies tracked by the PCAOB.
What regulators in OH track for accounting providers
Ohio's state accounting board and the PCAOB (the federally chartered auditor overseer) maintain different but complementary oversight. The PCAOB publishes inspection reports for any firm that audits public companies; these reports detail audit execution failures, documentation gaps, and quality control breakdowns. Violations can trigger enforcement actions—including civil penalties, restrictions on accepting new audit clients, or revocation of registration—if patterns persist.
The Ohio board manages CPA licensing, renewal compliance, and disciplinary proceedings. They track license status, disciplinary complaints from clients or other sources, and ethical violations. Infractions include fraud, incompetence, or violation of professional standards; remedies range from education requirements to license suspension or revocation.
Both regulators publish their findings; Verdica aggregates this data to populate the sub-scores. A firm's trajectory across multiple inspections or license renewals will shape its trend over time. Scores improve when findings are resolved and quality systems strengthen; they decline when new deficiencies emerge or disciplinary actions are filed.
Bottom line
Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC is an acceptable, operationally licensed provider without a public disciplinary record, making it suitable for routine accounting work. Before engagement, confirm current license status in Ohio, review any PCAOB inspection reports directly if the firm audits public companies, and request references to clarify how the firm addressed past inspection findings.