What Verdica's 820 score means for Alpa Shah
Alpa Shah's composite score of 820 out of 850 places this accounting provider in the "excellent" band (800–850), indicating strong regulatory standing and compliance history. A score in this range reflects an entity that has met or exceeded baseline licensing requirements, maintained a clean or near-clean disciplinary record, and demonstrated consistent quality in PCAOB audit oversight.
For business owners or individuals considering engaging Shah's services, this score signals low regulatory risk. It does not mean the provider is perfect or that no audit findings have ever been issued—PCAOB audits are routine and often include observations—but rather that any findings or compliance issues identified have been resolved or are not material enough to meaningfully impact the overall assessment.
Readers should interpret this as permission to proceed with reasonable confidence, while still exercising standard due diligence: verifying active licensing, confirming relevant experience for your specific accounting needs, and checking references where possible. The score is a snapshot of regulatory compliance, not a substitute for vetting qualifications or service fit.
How the sub-scores break down
License & Credentials (810/850): This sub-score reflects Shah's standing with state licensing boards in North Carolina. A score of 810 indicates current, valid professional licensing with no major red flags in the registration record. In the accounting industry, this dimension tracks whether a CPA or accounting firm maintains required licenses, continues education compliance, and has not experienced license suspensions or material restrictions. A score this high means Shah's credentials are in good standing.
PCAOB Record (810/850): The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board issues inspection reports on audit firms, documenting both strengths and deficiencies in audit quality, internal controls, and compliance. A PCAOB score of 810 suggests Shah's audit work has passed PCAOB inspection with no critical findings or only minor observations that fall within expected ranges. Lower scores in this dimension typically flag repeated audit quality issues, internal control gaps, or non-compliance with auditing standards.
Disciplinary (850/850): This is the strongest sub-score and indicates no material disciplinary actions from state boards or other regulatory bodies. In accounting, disciplinary records track ethics violations, fee disputes, client complaints substantiated by regulators, or breaches of professional standards. A perfect 850 means Shah has either never faced disciplinary action or any actions have been fully resolved with no ongoing restrictions.
What regulators in NC track for accounting providers
North Carolina's state board of certified public accountants, alongside the PCAOB at the federal level, maintains oversight of accounting providers through several mechanisms. State registration verifies that providers hold active CPA licenses, maintain continuing education requirements, and comply with professional standards set by the AICPA and PCAOB. State boards investigate complaints and issue disciplinary actions ranging from warning letters to license revocation.
The PCAOB, a congressionally mandated nonprofit, conducts annual or triennial inspections of firms that audit public companies. These inspections examine audit files, assess quality control systems, and verify compliance with auditing standards. PCAOB inspection reports are public and grade firms on areas like audit evidence gathering, financial reporting compliance, and ethical standards. Inspection findings—from minor to critical—are documented and tracked over time.
Scores move downward when providers accumulate licensing restrictions, fail continuing education, receive substantiated client complaints, or receive adverse PCAOB inspection results. They move upward or remain stable when licenses are renewed cleanly, inspections result in no material findings, and no disciplinary actions are issued.
Bottom line
Alpa Shah's 820 composite score places this accounting provider in the excellent compliance band with strong standing across licensing, audit quality, and disciplinary records. Before engaging, verify that Shah's services align with your accounting needs and confirm references, but regulatory risk is low based on this assessment.