An accounting firm is a business entity engaged in practice as certified public accountants. The practice of certified public accountants includes any activity where a person:
(1) holds himself or herself out to the public in any manner as one skilled in the knowledge, science and practice of accounting, and as qualified and ready to render professional service therein as a certified public accountant for compensation; or
(2) maintains an office for the transaction of business as a public accountant, or who, except as an employee of a certified public accountant, practices accounting, as distinguished from bookkeeping, for more than one employer; or
(3) offers to prospective clients to perform for compensation, or who does perform on behalf of clients for compensation, professional services that involve or require an audit of financial transactions and accounting records; or
(4) prepares for clients reports of audits, balance sheets, and other financial, accounting and related schedules, exhibits, statements or reports which are to be used for publication or for credit purposes, or are to be filed with a court of law or with any other governmental agency, or for any other purpose; or
(5) in general, or as an incident to such work, renders professional assistance to clients for compensation in any or all matters relating to accounting procedure and the recording and presentation of financial facts.
(6) signs or affixes his or her name or any trade name or assumed name used by the person in his or her business or profession to an opinion or certificate attesting to the reliability of any representation or estimate in regard to any person or organization embracing financial information, financial transactions or accounting records.
