What Verdica's 804 score means for Armanino LLP
Armanino LLP's composite score of 804 out of 850 places the firm in the "excellent" band (800–850), indicating strong overall compliance and credential standing. This score reflects how regulators and licensing bodies assess the firm's fitness to serve as a public accounting provider. A reader should interpret this result as follows: Armanino LLP has demonstrated solid adherence to professional standards, maintains current credentials, and has not accumulated significant disciplinary red flags in the indexed data sources.
The score is not a guarantee of service quality or fit for any specific client need—it is a regulatory and credential snapshot. An 804 indicates the firm clears a meaningful bar, but it is not a perfect score. The gap between 804 and 850 comes primarily from the PCAOB Record sub-score (735), which is lower than the firm's License & Credentials and Disciplinary scores. This tells a reader that while the firm is well-credentialed and has no major disciplinary issues, there are findings in PCAOB audit inspections worth understanding. For business owners evaluating Armanino LLP, this score suggests a provider that meets regulatory expectations and merits further conversation, though—as with any professional services partner—direct reference checks and scope alignment remain important.
How the sub-scores break down
License & Credentials (850/850):
A perfect score here means Armanino LLP holds all required licenses and certifications in Missouri and meets state board registration standards with no gaps. In accounting, this typically includes CPA firm licensure, partner credentials, and continuing education compliance. A maxed sub-score indicates the firm has maintained these standing items without lapse or sanction.
PCAOB Record (735/850):
The PCAOB (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) inspects audit firms regularly and issues findings on audit quality, documentation, independence, and technical standards. A score of 735 sits in the "acceptable-to-strong" range. This suggests Armanino LLP has passed PCAOB inspection cycles, but inspectors have identified areas for improvement—such as audit documentation weaknesses, sampling issues, or compliance gaps in specific audits. A lower PCAOB sub-score typically means the firm had repeat findings, higher remediation demands, or multiple deficiencies flagged across inspections. A 735 is not alarming; it reflects the reality that most firms have inspection findings. However, it's the primary driver of why the composite score sits at 804 rather than above 820.
Disciplinary (850/850):
This perfect score indicates no material disciplinary sanctions, complaints upheld by state boards, SEC enforcement actions, or similar regulatory penalties indexed in the data. In the accounting field, disciplinary records can include suspension of licenses, fines, required retraining, or settled complaints. A maxed Disciplinary score means Armanino LLP has not accumulated these marks and operates without active regulatory investigation or sanction.
What regulators in MO track for accounting providers
Missouri's state board and the PCAOB use different lenses. The state board focuses on initial licensure, renewal, continuing professional education, and disciplinary complaints from clients or peers. The PCAOB, a federally established oversight body, inspects audit quality at firms that audit public companies or broker-dealers. PCAOB findings typically address whether audits complied with standards—for example, whether auditors tested revenue recognition correctly, evaluated management estimates appropriately, or maintained independence. These inspections do not rate "good" versus "bad" firms in absolute terms; they flag where firms fell short of audit standards and require remediation. Scores move up when firms resolve prior findings and show clean inspection cycles; scores move down when inspections reveal recurring deficiencies, inadequate remediation, or new quality issues. Both regulators publish their findings, which feed into Verdica's composite model.
Bottom line
Armanino LLP scores in the excellent band with strong credentials and no major disciplinary issues, but carries a moderately lower PCAOB audit inspection score that suggests some past compliance gaps. For business owners considering engagement, this profile warrants a direct conversation about the firm's specific audit or accounting experience in your industry and a review of client references before signing an engagement letter.