If you’re seeking a qualified translator, whether it’s for personal or business purposes, you’ll undoubtedly notice that many freelance translators and most reputable translating agencies offer the services of “certified translators.” Put simply, a certified translator is typically an experienced linguist who has obtained certification from a reputable translation accreditation organization – such as the ATA (American Translators Association), for example. When you request a certified translation, it means that the translator will provide, along with the finished product, a signed statement that attests to the accuracy of the translation.
You’ll also find that many freelance translators and translation companies offer “notarized translations.” It’s important to understand that there is a difference between certified translations and notarized translations. A notarized translation is simply one that has been signed by a notary public – or a person authorized to authenticate documentation. While any translator can simply take a document to a notary public and have it signed, that does not mean that the document is certified – a difference that you should keep in mind when seeking the services of a translator.
While it certainly provides some level of comfort in knowing that a translation has been completed by a certified translator and accompanied by a certificate of accuracy, certified translations are only necessary in certain situations. Legal paperwork associated with trials or hearings often requires a certified translation, for example. And the same is true for financial documents.
Finance is among the most regulated of all industries, with many financial documents undergoing scrutiny by a myriad of regulatory agencies. Without extensive knowledge of the industry, a translator may have a difficult time in understanding and translating financial terminology. In this highly specialized field, even the smallest error could have devastating consequences. If your financial documents aren’t translated accurately, you could be legally and/or financially responsible for the negative consequences of those errors. Often, the turnaround time for financial documentation is crucial. Whether it’s meeting the deadline for delivery of an annual report to shareholders, or submitting real estate paperwork before a deal closes, you’ll need a translator who can complete the project in the most accurate manner possible and within the timeframe required. For all these reasons, it’s important to secure the services of a highly trained, certified translator with experience in the finance industry. There are numerous financial documents that may require certification, including:
- Annual reports
- Shareholder information
- Paperwork associated with financial transactions
- Accounting information
- Auditing documents
- Appraisal/valuation paperwork
- Corporate finance documentation
- Commercial lending paperwork
- Banking services
- Investment banking documentation
- Mortgages and associated paperwork
- Other real estate documentation
- Stock market information
- Financial records and balance sheets
- Collection letters
- Income statements
- Loan documents
- Partnership agreements
- Stock option agreements
- Tax planning documents
Finding the right translator for your financial documentation can be a daunting task. Considering that you’ll need a linguist who not only holds certification from an accredited translation organization, but also one with several years of translation experience and a strong background in the translation industry, it makes the vetting process extremely time-consuming for any one individual. That’s why the best place to start your search is with a reputable translation company. Part of their job is to locate and employ the highest quality linguists available. They will do the vetting for you, ensuring that you are matched with a certified translator who has a solid knowledge and experience with financial documentation. A good translation company can ensure that the translator you hire is not only a trained professional linguist, but also one with a track record of producing high quality financial translations for other clients as well.