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A certified public accountant is an individual responsible for monitoring the financial transactions for a business. This line of work will vary from one business to another, but as a whole, a CPA will manage the financial records and taxes for an organization or individual. If you enjoy learning about math and business, this could be a fitting career path for you. CPAs must consult with clients on a regular basis, so you must have clear communication to work in this profession. Let’s take a look at the job of a CPA so you can determine if this is a career path for you.
CPA Job Duties
The job duties of a certified public accountant will depend greatly on the business that the person works for and the position he or she holds within the business. There are many different CPA jobs to take into consideration, so it is hard to say exactly what you may do in this profession. Common job duties for CPAs may include:
- Comparing the costs and earnings of a business to maximize profits
- Preparing a budget for an organization to abide by
- Filing taxes for a company at the end of the year
- Assessing payrolls to minimize labor expenses
- Advising businesses on financial matters, such as the opening of a new location or the purchase of a new building
- Managing the quarterly records for a business
- Communicating with executives about the monetary transactions for their companies
- Delegating tasks to accounting assistants
You can usually find out what your work responsibilities are going to be when you go to apply for a job because they will be outlined in the application. Until you do that though, there is no real way to determine what you will do as a CPA working with an accounting firm or business.
CPA Salary Levels
The specific CPA salary you earn will be based on your experience, position, location, and other factors. Some CPA positions pay significantly more money than others, so you will not know exactly what you can earn in this field until you begin your career. Here is a look at some of the different salary levels you may see based on the factors surrounding your job:
Salary by Industry
- Tax and Audit Services: $37,062 – $87,844
- Manufacturing and Distribution: $40,224 – $90,293
- Financial Services: $39,135 – $88,189
- Banking: $38,155 – $82,918
- Auditing and Tax Services: $39,327 – $86,542
Salary by College Degree
- Master of Business Administration: $41,281 – $87,400
- Master of Accounting: $40,080 – $79,099
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting: $39,839 – $89,502
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting: $38,628 – $92,948
How to Become a CPA
If the CPA job description above sounds enticing to you, you may want to consider becoming a certified public accountant in the future. This process will start with an accounting degree, most likely at the bachelor’s level. Some CPAs go on to fulfill their master’s degrees, but that is not necessary unless you are planning to work in the executive tier of this industry. If you choose to get your master’s degree, you will likely spend two years in school in addition to the four years you will devote to undergraduate studies.
Common courses in accounting degree programs include:
- Accounting Ethics and Professional Relations
- Accounting for Decision Making
- Accounting Information Systems
- Auditing
- Business Statistics
- Corporate Taxation, Individual/Estate Taxation
- Cost Accounting
- Financial Accounting Transaction Analysis
- Government and Non-Profit Accounting
- Principles of Accounting
You can get your accounting degree online if you need a learning program with a flexible schedule, or you can choose to attend a traditional university. Either way, a simple degree should be all you need to work in an entry level position for an accounting firm. You may even be able to find clerical work once you complete the requirements for your associate’s degree in accounting, so you can gain employment before you actually complete your degree. With the right training, you should have no trouble being hired as a certified public accountant. You just have to look around at the CPA job opportunities available for you.
