essay 1 - Outline

  Intro

 Thesis:

   In order to become a successful C.P.A. one must focus on education, experience, and passing the C.P.A. exam.

·         “A CPA -- Certified Public Accountant --is a financial professional who speaks the language of business. Today's CPA is in high demand as one of the most valued members of any business team. CPAs are valued professionals who are running major corporations, starting exciting entrepreneurial endeavors and developing their own practices that handle much more than tax returns. CPAs do many things for businesses and individuals. Basically they analyze how money is used by businesses, non-profit organizations, governments and individuals. If it's about money, it starts with accounting.”

·         “To become a CPA, you need to meet the requirements of the state or jurisdiction in which you wish to practice. These requirements, which vary from state to state, are established by law and administered by the state boards of accountancy.”

·         From January 1, 2001, forward and for each three-year reporting period thereafter, all AICPA members shall complete 120 hours or its equivalent, of continuing professional education.

Topic 1:

To be successful, a C.P.A. must focus on education before and during their career.

·         “Candidates must have at least 150 semester hours or 225 quarter hours of college education including a baccalaureate degree awarded by an accredited college or university.  At least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours obtained must be in accounting subjects beyond the elementary level at a four-year accredited college or university.”

·         “Statistics from the BLS are useful for those whose job description still includes the term "accountant," but it doesn't capture the potential for CPAs with ambition and management skills. The incomes of CPAs operating their own accounting businesses are limited only by their ability to network and market themselves effectively. These CPAs are paid fees based on the work they do for clients, such as producing monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements. In the corporate world, CPAs can advance to become senior auditors, controllers and even executives. Consulting firm Robert Half's 2012 salary guide for accounting careers includes salary ranges for

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Topic 2:

A C.P.A. must have experience in the workplace and in general accounting practices.

·         “Work Experience: An applicant who meets the general, educational, and examination requirements will be issued a CPA certificate upon presenting evidence that such applicant has attained two years of continuous experience in public accounting or five years,  of continuous employment in the accounting field in business or industry, government or college teaching.  Work experience must be immediately preceding the date of application for the certificate.  Effective July 1, 2009, Georgia law will change to allow those with one year of experience in either public practice or private industry to meet the experience requirement.You must contact the Georgia State Board of Accountancy at 478-207-1400 to receive an application.”

·         “There are four major kinds of accountants: public accountants, government accountants, internal accountants, and management accountants. Oftentimes they can be certified in more than one field, and switching is common.

·         Internal Accounting                                                                                                        Internal accountants keep their own company's financial records accurate and in order. They evaluate their company's efficiency to make sure that all of the numbers add up. Internal accounting is becoming increasingly important since the passing of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002, which requires the chief executive and financial officers of accounting firms to sign off on and take responsibility for their firm's business. With this increased pressure and accountability, firms are hiring more internal accountants to ensure against malfeasance. Internal accountants can also become certified as CIAs, or Certified Internal Accountants. The requirements for this certification are very similar to those for becoming a CPA. A bachelor's degree, successful completion of a four-part exam, and experience are required for both. Accountants may have multiple certifications and designations, especially if they switch between the four different types of accounting throughout their careers.

·         Accounting                                                                                                               Public accountants work for firms that provide various accounting services to corporations and individuals. They perform a variety of tasks which include auditing, tax preparation, and consulting. Moving up in the field almost always requires passing the CPA exam and getting certified, after which public accountants can open their own firms, move on to different types of accounting, or move up the corporate ladder in larger firms.

·         The career path for a public accountant in a large firm is fairly predictable. Often, newly employed accountants will spend the first year or so doing fairly menial work and getting adjusted to the office. After that, he or she can move up to become a senior accountant. If the promotions continue, a public accountant can hope to become a high-level manager or even partner in the firm.

·         Public accountants who decide to open their own firms will have to run a business and build an independent client base. But the advantage of running your own firm is the flexibility and independence to set your own hours and work from home.

·         Want to put white-collar criminals behind bars? A special area of public accounting is forensic accounting, which investigates potential fraud and illegal financial activities. Forensic accountants often work with law enforcement officials and present their findings in court. With new government crackdowns on public accounting firms, these special accountants are becoming increasingly in-demand.

Topic 3:

Passing the C.P.A. exam is vital for any accountant looking to move up to a higher position or start their own practice.

·         CPA Exam: applicants must have the above requirements to be eligible to sit for the Computer Based Uniform CPA Exam.  In order to become a CPA, candidates must past all four sections of the exam (Business Environment and Concepts, Auditing and Attestation, Regulation, and Financial Accounting and Reporting). 

·         Examination content refers to CPA Examination questions – multiple-choice, written communication, and simulations – reflecting the subject matter eligible to be tested, as specified in the Content and Skill Specification Outlines (CSOs/SSOs).

·         According to the AICPA, CPAs earn 10-15% more than non-CPAs working in accounting-related jobs. Other studies have shown the gap as high as 41% between the certified and un-certified .

·         Regardless of what area of accounting you go into, the CPA title will, above all other designations, separate you from the rest of the field. If you work in public accounting, you will absolutely get preferential treatment for being a CPA. Many titles and levels in your firm will be unattainable without it, and as a result your pay will have a much lower ceiling.

·         Becoming a CPA is challenging. It’s difficult to meet the various state requirements, and passing the test is one of the most challenging obstacles you will encounter. Said my former co-worker: “It was the worst experience of my life.”

Conclusion

·         “The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks salary data for accountants and auditors, as it does for hundreds of other occupations. According to May 2011 from the BSL, accountants earned a median income of $62,850 per year. The lowest 25 percent of accountants reported annual incomes of $48,920 or less, while the top 25 percent earned $109,870 or more. The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), on its student-oriented This Way to CPA website, states that accountants with a CPA credential can expect to make 10 percent to 15 percent higher wages than their non-credentialed peers.”

·         “Salaries typically depend on experience, and accounting firms are no exception. With one to three years of experience, an accountant at an accounting firm earns $42,250 to $54,250 a year, as of 2012. If this accountant was a CPA, however, she’d earn an annual salary of $44,363 to $59,675. With three to five years of experience, CPAs can expect earn $55,388 to $75,350 a year, while those with more than five years of experience earn anywhere from $67,467 to $88,825.”