What Verdica's 656 score means for Steven Schuring
Steven Schuring's composite score of 656 out of 850 places him in the "elevated risk" band (580–669). This means his qualifications and regulatory standing show some strengths but also material gaps or concerns that warrant closer scrutiny before engagement.
A score in this range suggests the provider meets baseline requirements to operate but has room for improvement in compliance posture, credential depth, or regulatory history. For a business owner or CFO evaluating whether to work with this accounting provider, a 656 score is not a green light—it's a yellow flag. It indicates you should do additional due diligence: verify current licensing status directly with California's state board, review engagement terms carefully, and ask about any disciplinary events. The score reflects published regulatory data only, so independent references from past clients would strengthen your decision-making.
How the sub-scores break down
License & Credentials (340 / 850): This is the weakest component and a primary driver of the overall score. A sub-score of 340 indicates gaps in formal qualifications, certifications, or active licensure standing as tracked by California's state board. In the accounting field, this might reflect incomplete CPA credentials, lapsed licenses, limited specialty certifications, or unresolved registration issues. This sub-score alone signals elevated risk and should trigger direct verification with the California Board of Accountancy.
PCAOB Record (810 / 850): This is a strong sub-score. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board maintains records of audits performed by registered firms and tracks inspection findings. A score of 810 suggests that any PCAOB inspection activity or audit quality issues on file are relatively minor or have been addressed. This is a positive signal and indicates Steven Schuring's work on audits or attestations has not triggered major regulatory action.
Disciplinary (850 / 850): A perfect score here means no formal disciplinary record is indexed in the data Verdica reviewed. This reflects the absence of documented complaints, sanctions, or enforcement actions from California regulators during the lookback period. This is the strongest sub-score and is a legitimate reassurance point.
What regulators in CA track for accounting providers
California's state board and the PCAOB together create a regulatory framework designed to protect public investors and the integrity of financial reporting.
State Board Registration: California requires accountants offering services to the public to hold an active license and maintain certain education and experience standards. The board tracks whether practitioners have current credentials, have completed mandatory continuing education, and have a clean disciplinary history. Gaps in licensing—such as expired credentials or incomplete application status—would depress the "License & Credentials" score.
PCAOB Audit Findings: If an accounting provider conducts audits of public companies or brokers, the PCAOB inspects their work for quality and compliance with auditing standards. The PCAOB publishes findings when firms have deficiencies in audit procedures, documentation, or internal quality controls. Repeated or serious findings lower the PCAOB sub-score. The fact that Steven Schuring's PCAOB score is high (810) is noteworthy and suggests audit work, if performed, has not been flagged for major problems.
Disciplinary Records: Both the state board and PCAOB maintain records of enforcement actions, including warnings, fines, license restrictions, or suspensions. These are public and directly inform the disciplinary sub-score. The perfect score of 850 in this dimension means no such actions appear in the indexed data.
Bottom line
Steven Schuring's score of 656 indicates a qualified but not-yet-verified provider. The strong PCAOB and disciplinary scores are reassuring, but the weak credentials score is a material concern that requires you to independently confirm his current license status and scope of practice with California's state board before engagement. Do not rely solely on this score for your decision.