What Verdica's 656 score means for Jean Wells
Jean Wells in Colorado earned a composite score of 656 out of 850, placing the entity in the "elevated risk" band (580–669). This score reflects a mixed compliance profile: while the PCAOB record is strong, the License & Credentials sub-score is notably lower, pulling down the overall assessment.
For someone considering engaging Jean Wells as an accounting provider, an elevated-risk score warrants additional due diligence before committing. The score does not indicate immediate disqualification, but it signals that verification steps should be taken beyond this score alone. Readers should understand that this falls below "acceptable" (670–739) and well below "strong" (740–799) or "excellent" (800–850) benchmarks. The gap between the excellent PCAOB record and the weaker credentials score suggests the entity may have regulatory standing issues or licensing gaps that are separate from audit quality concerns.
How the sub-scores break down
License & Credentials: 340
This is the primary driver of the overall score decline. A sub-score of 340 indicates material gaps or concerns in professional licensing, certifications, or credential verification. In the accounting field, this typically reflects missing or lapsed licenses, incomplete continuing education documentation, or unresolved registration issues with state boards. A score this low warrants direct inquiry into what licenses Jean Wells holds, whether they are current, and whether any restrictions or conditions apply.
PCAOB Record: 810
This is a strong score indicating few or no audit inspection findings that would raise red flags. The PCAOB (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) conducts quality reviews of audit work performed by registered firms. A score of 810 suggests Jean Wells has either passed recent inspections cleanly or has only minor, non-material findings. This is the bright spot in the profile and indicates that historical audit quality—at least as measured by regulatory inspections—has been solid.
Disciplinary: 850
A perfect disciplinary sub-score indicates no substantive history of formal disciplinary actions, complaints, or sanctions from regulators. This suggests Jean Wells has not been subject to public enforcement, license suspensions, or other formal regulatory penalties. This dimension reinforces that there are no obvious red flags in the disciplinary record.
What regulators in CO track for accounting providers
Colorado's state board and the PCAOB together create the compliance landscape for accounting providers:
State Board Registration focuses on whether an entity holds required licenses (such as CPA licenses if applicable), whether licenses are current, and whether continuing professional education requirements are met. The board also tracks registration status for firms offering audit or attest services. Gaps here typically stem from failure to renew, incomplete applications, or unresolved compliance conditions.
PCAOB Audit Findings assess the quality of audit work on public company engagements. Inspectors review engagement files, audit documentation, and audit quality control processes. Findings can range from minor documentation issues to significant deficiencies in audit procedures. The PCAOB publishes inspection results, and firms are rated accordingly.
Disciplinary History encompasses formal actions: license revocation, suspension, restrictions, monetary penalties, or required remedial training. These actions become public record and are tracked both at state and federal levels.
Scores move up when entities maintain current licensing, pass PCAOB inspections without material findings, and remain free of disciplinary actions. Scores decline when licenses lapse, inspection findings surface, or disciplinary history emerges.
Bottom line
Jean Wells presents a mixed profile: strong audit quality history but notable gaps in credential or licensing status. Before engaging this provider, verify that all required licenses are current, understand why the credentials score is depressed, and confirm whether any restrictions or conditions apply to the entity's practice. The elevated-risk score does not disqualify the firm, but it does require verification beyond this assessment.