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Certified Public Accountants Job Description

Job Descriptions October 26, 2013

Certified Public Accountants are also known as CPAs. They are the ones that companies trust to oversee their finances. This involves not only reviewing the numbers but also planning, defining policy and protocol, and implementing new systems of organization. CPAs are always in demand, considering that they have a higher level of expertise than bookkeepers.

The Duties of a Certified Public Accountant

These “certified” public accountants are certified and educated, bringing their employers and clients a host of legal and business expertise. They handle a variety of duties, from accounting tasks, to auditing, to organizing information for legal purposes. The CPA also analyzes structures and systems, determining if the client or company should make a change and implement a new system.

The CPA’s job is not limited to the overall analysis, but may envelope matters such as benefits, compensation, asset protection and finding new data processing software that best suits the company. Considering their high level of expertise, CPAs are often asked to help plan the financial future, develop budgets, negotiate contracts, and create measures to prevent fraud.

It’s easy to see that companies rely on CPAs to do far more than inspecting or filing taxes. They are a one-stop solution for many accounting issues, and have the authority to play a variety of roles because of their extensive certification-level training. Financial statements and reports play an important part to a public accountant’s daily routine, therefore, paying attention to detail and CPA accountant training is the priority.

Education in the economy is critically important since forecasting is an important part of the job description. You’re a problem solver, not just a reporter that is preparing to “scale” the job, but one who is ready to fulfill any of the client’s needs, in regards to financial planning or investigating problems with the books.

CPAs and the Experience/Skills That Matter

If you seek work in an accounting firm and plan to progress towards a management position, you will have to add managerial responsibilities to your duties. This involves mentoring, training new workers and deciding whom to hire. Long hours are a given, since overtime frequently happens at the request of your company, or due to your number of clients. Travel is sometimes requested for business purposes.

Most jobs, in this field, go to students with work experience; a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, or preferably a master’s degree, is expected from those who are seeking certification. You will eventually face a market that is international in scope and fiercely competitive. The best strategy is to take the CPA exam, when you qualify (based on hours of experience and training), and specialize in a specific type of market or business type. Specialization and skills that can provide “real world solutions” are the most welcoming assets among firms.

This is a career path that has numerous accounting initiatives, and one that can provide you with a high-paying salary, benefits and job security. If you have people skills, detail-oriented approaches to analysis, and the willingness to study hard, this career path is for you!

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