Degree Overview: Associate of Public Reporting
Majors Overview August 11, 2013Companies conduct public reporting to show transparency with their business practices. Careers that involve a lot of public reporting include accountants and health service managers. Associate degree program in accounting or healthcare management will prepare employees for public reporting requirements. Formal training in public reporting is generally found in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
Associate Degree Program in Accounting
Students enrolled in an associate degree program in accounting receive training in managing money and making financial recommendations to business firms. Students are taught about auditing techniques, tax rules and business operations costs. They also learn how to use technologies including accounting software programs and spreadsheets. Admission criteria usually require applicants to hold a general educational development (GED) certificate or a high school diploma.
Program Coursework
The majority of programs cover topics such as laws, computer applications, finances, and business related to auditing or accounting. Program course topics may include the following:
•Auditing
•Financial reporting
•Managerial accounting
•Organizational behavior
•Accounting information systems
•Supply-chain management
•Business law
•Federal income tax
•Strategic cost analysis
•Financial accounting
Career Options
Typically, associate degree program graduates do not possess enough academic training to become accountants, although some employers might hire individuals with an associate’s degree as accountant assistants. Other possible careers for this level of education might include:
•Accounting clerk
•Junior accounting associate
•Bookkeeper
Information on Continuing Education
Aspiring accountants need a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)), although some employers prefer individuals with a master’s degree. There are many bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offering training in public reporting, but associate’s degree programs covering this aspect are relatively few. An individual who aspires to obtain a licensed and certified public accountant position must hold a bachelor’s degree and have several years of work experience. Professionals in the auditing and accounting field have to stay abreast of changes with financial issues such as tax laws. Additional education and training may be obtained by attending college courses (such as financial form updates and accounting software programs) as well as seminars.
