What Verdica's 827 score means for John Sutton
John Sutton in DC has earned a composite score of 827 out of 850, placing them in the "excellent" band (800–850). This means the entity demonstrates strong compliance performance across the dimensions Verdica measures. A score in this range reflects minimal regulatory friction and good standing with both federal audit oversight and state licensing authorities.
For a prospective client or business evaluating this provider, an 827 score signals low compliance risk. It does not mean the provider is perfect or risk-free—no accounting firm scores 850—but it does mean they have maintained clean records where regulators have looked. The score is built on measurable, third-party data (PCAOB findings and state board registration), not opinion. No independent customer reviews are currently indexed, so readers cannot cross-reference client satisfaction or service quality through that lens yet.
How the sub-scores break down
License & Credentials (830/850): This sub-score reflects the entity's standing with state professional licensing boards in DC. A score of 830 indicates the provider holds valid licenses and registrations and has not accumulated significant disciplinary marks at the state level. Minor gaps or older, resolved issues may account for the small difference from perfect, but broadly this signals the entity meets DC's baseline requirements for practice.
PCAOB Record (810/850): The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board conducts quality inspections and enforcement reviews of accounting firms. A PCAOB score of 810 means Verdica's analysis of audit findings and inspection results has not flagged serious deficiencies. This could reflect clean inspections, minor non-conformances that were remediated, or a clean enforcement record. A score this high suggests the firm's audit work meets PCAOB quality thresholds.
Disciplinary (850/850): A perfect score here means no disciplinary actions were indexed in the underlying data. This is the strongest indicator among the three sub-scores: Verdica found no formal sanctions, fines, suspensions, or complaints upheld by state or federal regulators. This dimension carries weight because disciplinary action usually reflects deliberate misconduct or gross negligence, not technical oversights.
What regulators in DC track for accounting providers
The PCAOB, a congressionally chartered nonprofit, inspects registered accounting firms every one to three years (more frequently for larger firms) and issues detailed audit quality findings. Inspections assess whether firms comply with auditing standards, maintain adequate quality controls, and properly document their work. Violations can range from documentation deficiencies to substantive failures in audit scope. Enforcement actions follow serious breaches and can result in sanctions, mandatory remediation plans, or partner suspensions.
DC's state board (part of the District of Columbia Department of Licensing) oversees professional licensing and conducts complaint investigations. Practitioners must maintain continuing education, ethical standards, and compliance with state accounting rules. The board can suspend or revoke licenses, levy fines, or issue warnings. Complaints lodged by clients, employers, or other practitioners are investigated and may result in disciplinary orders.
Both regulators publish findings and actions; Verdica indexes these records to calculate the sub-scores. A low sub-score in either dimension typically signals unresolved audit deficiencies, repeated compliance failures, or formal disciplinary action. A high score reflects clean records and no outstanding regulatory concerns.
Bottom line
John Sutton in DC is a strong-to-excellent choice from a compliance standpoint, with an 827 composite score reflecting solid standing across licensing, audit quality, and disciplinary records. Before engaging, prospective clients should verify that the provider's specific service offerings (tax, audit, bookkeeping, etc.) match their needs, and should ask for client references or service-level commitments, since no customer reviews are yet indexed on this page.