What Verdica's 820 score means for Matthew Scott
Matthew Scott's composite score of 820 out of 850 places him in Verdica's "excellent" band (800–850), indicating strong overall compliance standing based on available regulatory data. This score reflects performance across three measured dimensions: licensing credentials, PCAOB audit history, and disciplinary record.
For a business owner or consumer evaluating an accounting provider, a score in this range suggests low regulatory risk relative to the broader population of accounting professionals. The 30-point gap from a perfect score is typical even for highly compliant providers; achieving 850 is rare. Readers should interpret this as evidence that Matthew Scott has maintained good standing with state and federal oversight bodies, but should still conduct their own due diligence regarding fit, experience, and service offerings—a high compliance score does not measure technical skill, industry specialization, or service quality.
How the sub-scores break down
License & Credentials (810/850): This sub-score reflects Matthew Scott's registration status and credential maintenance with Colorado's state board. A score of 810 indicates the licensing records are in good order with no significant red flags. In accounting, this typically means current renewal status, no lapsed certifications, and compliance with continuing education or credential requirements set by the state. Minor gaps—such as late renewals that were later remedied, or administrative clarifications needed during re-registration—might account for the 40-point difference from a perfect score. This is not unusual.
PCAOB Record (810/850): The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board inspects firms and auditors engaged in public company audits, examining work quality, audit procedures, and regulatory compliance. A PCAOB score of 810 suggests Matthew Scott's audit work or firm inspections have not revealed material deficiencies. The score does not mean zero findings; PCAOB inspections routinely identify areas for improvement. A score at this level indicates findings, if any, were either minor, remediated, or not systemic enough to trigger enforcement escalation.
Disciplinary (850/850): A perfect score here means no formal disciplinary actions on record with Colorado's state board or PCAOB during the period Verdica tracks. This is the strongest signal in the profile. In accounting, disciplinary actions might include ethics violations, client fund mishandling, tax fraud complicity, or repeated audit failures. A perfect disciplinary score is meaningful and relatively uncommon.
What regulators in CO track for accounting providers
Colorado's state board of accountancy maintains the official registry of CPAs and accounting professionals, tracking licensing status, renewal compliance, and whether practitioners meet education and experience benchmarks. They investigate complaints and can impose discipline ranging from warnings to license revocation.
The PCAOB, a congressionally created body, oversees auditors of public companies. Their inspections examine audit work papers, client interactions, and internal quality controls. Inspectors look for failures to detect material misstatements, inadequate evidence-gathering, insufficient professional skepticism, and compliance with auditing standards. PCAOB findings are published in inspection reports and can trigger enforcement investigations if patterns emerge.
Both regulators share an interest in whether accounting providers comply with tax law, maintain client confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest, and uphold professional standards. Scores move down when there are unresolved complaints, licensing lapses, audit quality deficiencies, or disciplinary cases.
Bottom line
Matthew Scott's 820 score indicates he is a low-risk accounting provider from a regulatory perspective, with clean disciplinary history and solid credential maintenance. Anyone considering engagement should still verify his specific experience with their industry or audit type, confirm references, and clarify service scope and fees—compliance scores measure regulatory standing, not technical fit or value.