How to Become an Accountant
If someone were to tell you that accounting is all about communication, you'd probably think the person knows nothing about the profession. Accountants are number-crunching wizards performing complex calculations in minutes, if not seconds. You would be thinking that how does math intersect with communication?
Yes, accountants are undoubtedly deft mathematicians,;but if you take a deeper look at their profession, you'll realize that it is more closely related to communication than you thought.
Accountants are people who communicate important financial information to individuals and companies. They prepare, analyze, and verify financial statements, manage internal accounts of companies with which they work,to make sure taxes are paid properly and examine financial records of businesses for legal compliance. Accountants also offer investment and financial planning services to their clients.
Accounting is a popular career choice of people with above average numeric and analytical ability, and there are various academic paths for those who dream of becoming an accountant.
Accounting Education
There are some lower-rung, entry-level accounting jobs that can be attained after securing an Associate's degree in Accounting, but the standard credential for most jobs in the profession is a Bachelor's degree in Accounting.
A Bachelor's in Accounting degree is typically a four-year undergraduate program available at universities and colleges. However, some four-year institutions also offer accelerated accounting degrees for students looking to graduate early. An accelerated Accounting degree can be earned in much less time as compared to a traditionally-paced college.
A Bachelor's degree in Accounting includes courses on various accounting principles such as Accounting Fundamentals, Payroll Accounting, Tax Accounting, Cost Accounting, Auditing, etc. Since technology has become such an integral part of the profession, becoming an accountant also involves extensive computer training.
Accountants are important members of any business's financial team, which is why they are also trained in other business concepts such as finance, management, marketing, business law, etc.
Some accountants choose to continue on the path of academics to get a Master's in Accounting or an MBA for career advancement.
Professional Certifications
Many accountants vie for professional certifications for gaining a competitive edge over their rivals as well as for career growth. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is probably the most widely known certification for accountants. To get a CPA certification, you need to have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a related field.
The certificate is awarded after candidates pass a rigorous four-part Uniform CPA Examination. A CPA certificate not only qualifies accountants for a wider array of jobs, but also makes them eligible for a bigger paycheck.
In addition to CPA, there are many other certificates that can help accountants get professional recognition. Chief among them are Certified Management Accountant (CMA) offered by the Institute of Management Accountants, Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) conferred by the Institute of Internal Auditors, and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) awarded by ISACA to qualifying candidates.
In conclusion, accounting is an attractive, high profile profession that is projected to experience a much faster than average growth in employment – so says the 2010-11 edition of the Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook. In cold numbers, that translates to a 22 percent growth in employment by 2018. (bls.gov/oco/ocos001.htm#training). If you have the necessary skills and required qualifications, then a golden career awaits you!
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