What Verdica's 830 score means for Cherry Bekaert LLP
Cherry Bekaert LLP's composite score of 830 out of 850 places the firm squarely in the "excellent" band (800–850), indicating strong regulatory standing and compliance performance. This score reflects an aggregate assessment across three key dimensions of accounting firm oversight: professional licensing, PCAOB audit history, and disciplinary records.
For a business owner or buyer of accounting services, an 830 score signals that this firm has demonstrated consistent adherence to professional standards as measured by the regulators who oversee the accounting industry. The narrow gap between the composite score and the maximum (20 points) suggests minimal red flags in the data sources Verdica monitors. This does not mean the firm is flawless—no score is perfect—but it does mean that based on public regulatory records, Cherry Bekaert LLP has not exhibited patterns of serious violations, major audit deficiencies, or unresolved disciplinary issues.
Readers should interpret this as a baseline of trustworthiness grounded in observable regulatory compliance, not as a recommendation or endorsement. It reflects what public records show, not client satisfaction, service quality, or pricing competitiveness, none of which are captured in this score.
How the sub-scores break down
License & Credentials (850/850): This perfect sub-score indicates that Cherry Bekaert LLP meets all state registration and licensing requirements in Colorado. The firm holds the appropriate credentials to practice as a CPA firm in the state. A high score in this dimension means the firm is current on registrations, maintains required insurance or bonding where applicable, and has not had licenses revoked or suspended. Any lapse or sanction in licensing would depress this score significantly.
PCAOB Record (800/850): The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board conducts inspections of firms that audit public companies and broker-dealers. This sub-score of 800 reflects Verdica's analysis of findings from those inspections. A score in this range suggests the firm has undergone PCAOB oversight and the inspection findings did not reveal systemic quality-control failures, widespread audit deficiencies, or violations of auditing standards. Scores below 700 in this dimension typically signal material findings that required remediation. The 50-point gap from perfect suggests minor or non-critical observations may have been noted, which is normal in regulatory inspections.
Disciplinary (850/850): This perfect sub-score means Verdica's review of state board disciplinary records found no substantiated complaints, sanctions, or enforcement actions against Cherry Bekaert LLP. State boards track complaints from clients, peer firms, and the public, and investigate potential violations of professional conduct rules. A perfect disciplinary score indicates a clean record on file.
What regulators in CO track for accounting providers
Colorado's Division of Professions and state board oversight, combined with PCAOB inspection data, form the backbone of regulatory monitoring for CPA firms. The state board maintains a registry of licensed firms and tracks disciplinary actions such as complaints for fraud, negligence, violation of ethics rules, or failure to maintain professional standards. These actions result in scores that range from warning letters to license suspension or revocation.
The PCAOB, a federally mandated nonprofit, inspects firms that audit public companies. Their inspections evaluate the quality of audit work, compliance with auditing standards (GAAS and PCAOB standards), and the adequacy of internal quality-control systems. Inspection findings are categorized by severity; critical deficiencies drive scores down significantly, while minor observations have minimal impact. Firms with clean PCAOB records have demonstrated that their audit methodologies and quality controls meet federal standards.
These regulatory bodies do not assess client service, responsiveness, or fee structure—only compliance and professional conduct standards that protect the investing public and small business owners who rely on accurate financial reporting.
Bottom line
Cherry Bekaert LLP scores in the excellent range with strong marks across all regulatory dimensions, indicating no major compliance or conduct issues on public record. Anyone considering the firm should verify that its service offerings and pricing align with their needs and request client references—factors this score does not measure.