A Career As A CPA
Are you thinking about a CPA Career? Or are you already working in the accounting profession and would like to have a CPA License? Maybe you are stuck in a rut and are thinking about changing your career. Whatever your circumstances, studying to become a CPA, or Certified Public Accountant is definitely worth consideration.
CPA Practioners are well respected by their employers, clients and by others in their social circle. It is well know that it takes diligence and hard work to become a fully qualified CPA and these are admirable qualities. Having a CPA License will lead to promotion at work, opportunities to travel as well as a feeling of personal satisfaction.
The CPA title is one of the most globally recognized professional qualifications, and arguably the most prestigious in the accounting field. Only CPAs are allowed to own (either as sole owner or as partners) a public accounting firm, and only CPAs can sign the audit report on behalf of a business or corporation.
Many big corporations strongly prefer their senior financial professionals to have a CPA qualification as this demonstrates their knowledge and expertise in the accounting field.
Before becoming a CPA the following requirements will need to be met:
- Education level
- Accounting (and related business) proficiency
- Ethical standard
- Related work experience
- Commitment to the Accounting community
Read more about these requirements here.
As a general rule, you should sit for the CPA Exam as soon as you meet your state’s academic requirements. The exam is based on academics, so it’s best to take the test while your accounting courses are reasonably fresh in your mind. Recollection of coursework material will be far more valuable to you than on-the-job experiences.
This site will cover aspects of studying to be a CPA such as:
- Qualifications Needed
- The Best Review Courses
- Costs of Taking The Exam
- The Four Sections of The CPA Exam
- Advice and Tips on How To Pass the CPA Exam
- Advice on Career Paths
The benefits of a CPA career speak for themselves – a higher salary than a regular accountant, better employment prospects and becoming highly respected in the business world.
The career paths for CPAs and potential CPAs are diverse. Certified Public Accountants can work for big international CPA corporations right down to small neighborhood accounting practices. The areas open to you as a CPA in these enterprises include auditing, tax and administration consulting.
There are also possibilities in business and enterprise, with choices such as Financial Accounting and Reporting, Fincancial Analysis, Treasure/Cash Administration and Management Accounting. Federal, state or local government also provide CPA career prospects. Other areas to look into include Education and Non-profit Companies.
