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Careers in the field of accounting
The possibilities are endless for someone seeking career opportunities in the field of accounting, as there are a lot to get into. These career options range from entry-level bookkeeping, to auditor, to financial head of a company. Accounting-related positions usually entail challenging work and tough responsibilities along with higher compensation. But just getting a degree in accounting does not necessarily guarantee you these perks. You need to be accorded a professional title in this field as well.
Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is perhaps the biggest achievement any accountant or accounting student can ever dream of in his particular field of endeavor. |
Most accounting firms and other businesses prefer CPAs to non-CPAs. If you want to become a CPA, you must get a college degree with a major in accounting. You also need to pass the national CPA board examination, which is considered as one of the toughest professional examinations. In order to gain actual accounting background and working experience, you will also need to work in an accounting firm for a period of one or two years, depending on which state you are in. If you complete all the necessary requirements, you will then be given a certificate that entitles you as Certified Public Accountant. You will now be allowed to provide your services to the public.
Yet still, many CPAs do not only take their careers from there. To many CPAs, such a title may just serve as a stepping-stone to greater career heights, such as becoming a chief accountant. Also known as the controller, the chief accountant is responsible in managing the company's entire accounting system, prepares financial statements and handle accounting and tax laws.
The chief accountant is also in charge of the company's financial planning and budgeting operations. It is also the controller's job to determine whether the company can give a salary raise to its employees, or how much more a business can pay for more people, carefully ensuring that it does not negatively affect the business's growth and profit generation. In addition, s/he is also in charge of preparing the business's tax returns. In large-scale companies, the chief accountant may directly report to the vice president for finance who will then submit recommendations to the chief financial officer based on the controller's reports. Together, they will implement the right strategies to meet the company's objectives.
Accountants usually carry a heavy workload, which may require companies, especially those that are expanding to add more personnel so that accounting tasks can be carried out smoothly and efficiently.
Heidee Mahinay is a writer of Business-Accounting-101.com, a site which gives you information on business accounting principles & help you how to manage your finances. |
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