I hope to use my business-related skills to obtain a position as  a Certified Public Accountant in an accounting firm.

 

Career Description:

An accountant is a financial expert whose job is to help clients with a variety of assignments. Some of these include analyzing and recording financial documents, creating budgets, and finally filing taxes. These assignments will vary depending on their position and the type of accounting they practice. There are two main career areas with the field of accounting, they consist of public and private accounting. Public Accountants provide auditing, tax advisory, and consulting services. If you work as a public accountant, you will interact with a variety of clients. Public Accountants will generally be licensed as a Certified Public Accountant. Public Accountants are qualified to analyze accounting systems, and keep an update of a business's financial progress.Private Accountants associate with the inner working businesses, government, and agencies. They work for specific companies and are an important contribution to the success of an organization. Private accountants are trained to process a variety of accounting transactions, including accounts payable and billing. Private accountants will have knowledge that applies to one specific industry.

 

Education and Training:

The minimum requirement for accountants is a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Many accountants also earn a professional designation, such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA). To be considered a CPA, candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Examination, a computer-based exam consisting of four sections. A certification is not required, but it generally results in better job prospects and more opportunities for advancement. You need to meet the requirements of the state in which you wish to practice to be a licensed CPA. First, you must complete an accounting program that consists of 150 credit hours of coursework. Many schools offer a combined 5-year bachelor’s and master’s degree program to fulfill this requirement. Finally, most states require at least 2 years of professional work experience in public accounting, such as experience working for a corporation.

 

Working Conditions:

Accountants work for many types of employers, including accounting firms, large corporations, governments, and non-profit organizations. People in this profession commonly work in offices, and spend plenty of time reading, writing, calculating, and doing computer-based work. To organize and present financial information, they use specialized programs. Many accountants spend a great deal of time having conferences with clients. Most accountants work at least 40 hours per week.

 

Earnings:

Different accountants receive different earnings based on experience, education, employer, and geographic location. For instance, large firms typically pay more than small firms. Accountants with a master’s degree generally earn more than those with a bachelor’s degree. A professional designation, such as the CPA, can also lead to higher salaries.Most people in this field earn somewhere between $40,000 and $114,000 a year. Accountants in upper-level management positions earn the highest salaries. 

 

Career Prospect:

Employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 13 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. In general, employment growth of accountants and auditors is expected to be closely tied to the health of the overall economy. As the economy grows, these workers will continue to be needed to prepare and examine financial records.