What Verdica's 827 score means for Cary Dickson
Cary Dickson's composite score of 827 out of 850 places this accounting provider firmly in Verdica's excellent band (800–850). This score reflects strong performance across the three dimensions Verdica monitors: professional licensing, public audit records, and disciplinary history.
A score in this range indicates that Cary Dickson meets or exceeds baseline compliance standards tracked by major U.S. regulators. For a business owner or consumer evaluating accounting services, an 827 score suggests low regulatory risk based on available public data. The provider has not triggered significant red flags in the areas Verdica indexes.
It's important to note that Verdica's composite score is built entirely from objective regulatory records—PCAOB audit findings and state board registration data. No independent customer reviews have been indexed yet for this entity, so the score reflects regulatory compliance posture only, not service quality, responsiveness, or client satisfaction. A reader should interpret this score as a regulatory health check, not a complete picture of the provider's overall performance.
How the sub-scores break down
License & Credentials (830/850): This sub-score evaluates whether Cary Dickson maintains valid professional licenses and credentials required to practice accounting in California. A score of 830 indicates the provider's licensing status is in good standing. In the accounting industry, state boards require CPAs and other credentialed accountants to maintain continuing education, pay renewal fees on time, and avoid lapses in registration. A high score in this dimension signals active, uninterrupted licensure.
PCAOB Record (810/850): The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) conducts inspections of firms that audit public companies and issues detailed inspection reports. This sub-score reflects the findings from those public reports. A score of 810 suggests that any PCAOB inspection results on file do not show significant audit quality deficiencies. Inspection reports document issues ranging from minor documentation gaps to material failures in audit procedures; a mid-to-high score indicates the provider's audit work has not revealed major systemic problems.
Disciplinary (850/850): This is a perfect sub-score, indicating no disciplinary actions or complaints indexed in state board records. In accounting, disciplinary actions can include violations of professional standards, client fund mismanagement, tax fraud involvement, or ethical breaches serious enough to warrant regulatory sanction. A score of 850 means Cary Dickson has no record of formal discipline on file.
What regulators in CA track for accounting providers
California's state board (the California Board of Accountancy) maintains registration records for CPAs and other licensed accountants. These records document licensing status, renewal compliance, and any enforcement actions. The state board investigates complaints and can issue discipline ranging from warnings to license suspension or revocation.
The PCAOB, a federal regulator, conducts triennial (or more frequent) inspections of accounting firms that audit public companies. PCAOB inspection reports are public and detail findings about audit quality, compliance with auditing standards, and adherence to PCAOB rules. Common findings include insufficient testing of account balances, inadequate audit documentation, or failure to address internal control deficiencies. Firms can also be inspected for quality control systems and training practices.
Verdica uses these two data streams—state board records and PCAOB inspection reports—to assess regulatory risk. Scores move based on the presence, severity, and recency of findings or disciplinary actions. A provider with multiple inspection findings or a history of discipline will score lower; a clean record scores higher.
Bottom line
Cary Dickson's 827 score indicates strong regulatory compliance standing in California with no disciplinary history and acceptable PCAOB inspection results. For someone considering this provider, the score suggests low risk from a regulatory perspective. However, verify that Cary Dickson holds current licenses for the specific services you need, and review references or fee structures independently—regulatory compliance and service fit are separate considerations.