Individual Research Project: CPA What is a CPA? A CPA is a certified public accountant whom is licensed by the state board of accountancy. A CPA licenses just as a law license symbolizes that concept of mastering the elements of the profession of accounting. In achieving such a licenses an accountant is recognized by peers, clients, government and the public for skills, dedication and quality of work. Accountants whom further their educations by becoming a CPA have a larger variety of opportunities to choose from, such as Auditing, Business and management Consulting, Information Technology, International Financial Reporting and Tax Advisory Services (NASBA). In today’s economy and technological advances the career security is the most …show more content…
The experience must be acquired after completing required courses to sit for CPA exam (CPA-General Exam & Licensing Informtion). Becoming a CPA, is a very time consuming and expensive career, but with a little help from programs in the upstate it has become more affordable. Thanks to Anderson University’s new Business Administration- Accounting (CPA track) program it has become an achievable goal. Offering a Bachelor’s degree with all the requirements for an average tuition of $12,000 a year, about half the price of comparable programs in the state (Business Administration-Accounting (CPA track)). Thus, giving an opportunity to afford a Masters of Accounting, which is a one year degree around the state. Within every career you must juggle with the opportunity cost of the choices you have made, becoming a CPA the opportunity cost of all those long nights studying rather than working pays off in the long run. Robert Half’s 2016 Salary for Accounting and Finance states that “professionals with a graduated degree or certification (like a CPA license) make 5 to 15% more” (NASBA). Currently in the Greenville, South Carolina within the Financial Services an Accountants salary range is $45,000 to $60,000 meanwhile a Tax Accountants salary range is $60,000 to $80,000. Although both have the same amount of experience the someone who holds a certification have the potential to make
In 2012, CPAs, Inc., a corporation owned entirely by its employees, all of whom are certified public accountants performing only services in the accounting profession, had taxable income of $110,000. The corporation has never exceeded $5 million in gross receipts. The following is an excerpt from the 2012 corporation income tax rates schedule: Income
-Certified Public Accountant is the highest level for a tax professional. There are many bookkeepers and accountants, but only a small percentage of them are CPAs. Regular accountants and bookkeepers, regardless of how nice and pleasant they may be, can not, for example, represent the client with IRS, should any problem occur. Since many of the clients are successful
Mr. Reisinger attended the University of Santa Clara where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1979. (He did not specialize in anything.) Shortly after graduating, he sat for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. He studied for the exam using the Becker CPA review course and passed all parts but the auditing section the
One of the most misunderstood job positions in the United States is accounting. Accounting is often described as a dull job that requires a mastery in crunching numbers. Despite accountings misconceptions, it is often considered one of the most satisfying jobs. One particular accounting title, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), is one of the most popular qualifications accountants seek out. To organize and represent CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) was formed. Today, AICPA is informing the public about accounting and uses the slogan “Start Here, Go Places.”
The organization sets U.S. auditing and ethical standards for privately held companies, not-for profit organizations, federal, state, and local governments. It represents the CPA profession by serving ? as an advocate before legislative bodies, public interest groups and other professional organizations? (aicpa.org). Its creation established accountancy as a profession and distinguishes itself by demanding scholastic requirements, high professional accountancy principles, a stringent code of professional ethics and an obligation to serving the public
Therefore, if you are studying accounting in college you should have an idea of kind of accounting field you wish to enter. There is a quote that said, “CPA is always an accountant, but not all accountants are CPA.” Hence, there are a number of accountants who never pass the CPA exam and though they can perform a variety of accountancy task, they are not allowed to perform certain tasks that only a CPA can do. Hence, no matter if you are, a certified accountant or not you there will be a place for you in the accounting field. The larger companies will go out and hire a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in order to maintain some form ethics within the company. However, the small businesses might hire an accountant to perform duties as a managerial accounting, cost accounting, and financial accounting.
Professor Master, I understand what you are saying, from my research that is why a CPAs assist not-for-profit organizations in following manner. “Whether a CPA is on the staff of a not-for-profit organization or serves in an advisory capacity, he or she can help the organization solve tax problems, set up an internal control system, budget resources and prepare financial data for fund raisers”(CPAs in Non-Profit, Retrieved 2015). Therefore, the CPA who are capable could read, interpret, understand standards used in preparing the presented financial statements. Furthermore, the CPA would be available to present relevant information for fund raising purposes to donors, to auditors, and all other entity’s that may have a need legitimate reason
“The best-compensated accountants work in the fields of securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage and for the federal executive branch” (US). Twenty-five percent of graduate’s make fifty one thousand one hundred and thirty dollars a year. The other seventy make eighty seven thousand five hundred and thirty dollars. The best ten percent of accountants make up to one hundred and fifteen thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars and the lowest makes forty thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars. I want to get a job in accounting directly after college for a big company and work my way up into the top ten percent as fast as possible because each year, the average income raises. Experts predict that the highest paid accountant will make upwards of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year by 2020.The highest paying city for accounting is New York City, New York. The second highest paying city is San Jose, California. Accountants are always needed, they are necessary anywhere there is money being spent and saved, every business needs someone to keep up with their money and control their finances.
My goal is to become a Certified Public Accountant, in order to achieve this goal there are many steps. My first step will be to earn and receive my Bachelors in Accounting; I chose to enroll at Colorado State University – Global Campus. CSU-Global has a program of study that matches my needs but also many resources available to the students, including post education employment information. I am excited about this opportunity and plan to take full advantage of my education and the opportunities that CSU-Global has available.
I have a grown up surrounded by the bookkeeping, accounting, and tax preparation professions, as my father has held his CPA for nearly 40 years and my parents operate two successful income tax preparation offices. While in college, I eventually chose to complete a degree in finance, wanting to branch away from accounting while still being able to take advantage of the knowledge gained from my upbringing. However, after having experienced multiple professions, my current employment as a contractor in Chesapeake Energy’s accounting department has inspired me to pursue furthering my education.
In the research that I did, I found out that once I get my Bachelor's Degree, I would only need one additional year in order to become a CPA. During my high school career math was always a class that i would excel in,
Following the undergraduate degree, an accounting student would choose an exclusive area to specialize in and work towards a completion of an additional year in university to finalize the 150 credit hours required in accounting to be eligible to sit for the Certified Public Accounting board exam. The 150 credit hours are needed to obtain the required body of knowledge and to develop the skills and abilities needed to be a successful CPA. After the theory portion of the educational experience is completed, the most important aspect becomes practical experience. Practical experience is what drives the market. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants requires that either a one tier or two tier systems is required to obtain the CPA designation. This requires that relevant work experience is needed to become certified. This hands on experience helps to position a potential certified public accountant for a long and successful career. This professional curriculum is very detailed and requires a lot of individual steps entailed to reach the point of designation. If it were made into a professional school these segregated steps combined together would not only help to make things simpler, but it would allow the accounting profession to be similar to the curriculums of medicine, pharmacy and law. With an undergraduate degree, graduate theory and practice for four
CPA designation must fulfill a number of requirements such as : Education, Testing and Experience and the qualification differs state to state and those states have similar requirements.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition) points out that while most accountant's positions require "at least a bachelor's degree" there will be job opportunities in fact the job picture for accountants is "favorable" for those who have earned "professional recognition" either through certification of licensure, or by receiving designation as a certified public accountant (CPA) (BLS.gov).
Two important things in choosing a career are opportunities and advancement. In 1997 there was around 962,000 accountants in the United States, and job opportunities will continue to increase at an average through the year 2005. You can gain experience by starting with simple jobs like a cashier or even as a stock person. Another consideration could be working as a treasurer for a student organization requiring financial