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Do you like math and working with money? Do you make wise financial decisions on a regular basis? Can you analyze situations to determine ways to make them more profitable? If so, you may do well as a certified public account. What is a CPA, you ask? A CPA is a person who is responsible for the financial transactions of a business, like the taxes and the payroll documents. CPAs are highly important in the business world because they ensure that companies stay on budget and maximize their profits. Here is a brief overview this business career so you can determine if you want to be a part of it.
What Does a CPA Do?
The job duties of a CPA will vary from place to place, depending on the kinds of financial transactions going through an organization. A retail chain is going to have a vastly different set of accounting needs than a television study, and the television study will have a different set of needs than an elementary school. Most businesses can use the help of CPAs, even if they do not have an obvious need for accountants. Thus the work you do will be mostly based on the kinds of clients you work with.
For the most part, CPAs are responsible for ensuring that a company stays on budget and makes as much money as possible throughout the year. CPAs are also responsible for filing taxes for a company and advising executives about potential investment opportunities. Most certified public accountants must attend classes or seminars related to tax law so they can stay as up to date on that information as possible. This could happen once a year or once a month, depending on the year and the type of business a CPA finds employment through.
Where Do CPAs Work?
As a CPA, you can work just about anywhere you want. Most large-scale corporations need in-house accountants to keep track of their finances, but even small businesses often outsource their bookkeeping to CPAs. You could run your own business, work with an accounting firm, or work with a business in their place of operation. You may find employment through a hospital, school, government office, movie theater, retail store, real estate office, and any other place where money is exchanged on a regular basis. If you happen to work on your own, you could have clients in any number of those locations that you have to visit for your work.
How Much Money Do CPAs Make?
The amount of money you make as a CPA will vary largely based on the amount of experience you have and the particular employer(s) you work with. Here are some salaries to consider for different positions in this career path:
Accounting Clerk Salaries
- Lower 10%: below $25,271
- Middle 50%: $28,436 – $35,649
- Top 10%: above $39,050
Bookkeepers
- Lower 10%: below $29,189
- Middle 50%: $33,488 – $43,609
- Top 10%: above $48,526
Chief Financial Officers
- Lower 10%: below $182,759
- Middle 50%: $256,107 – $433,487
- Top 10%: above $521,635
As you can see, there is a potential to make a substantial amount of money in this field, but that is only after about 15 to 20 years of experience as a CPA. Some CPA jobs that you encounter will pay more than others, so you just have to check into the salaries available for you in the future. As long as you remain dedicated to this career, you should be able to make a lot of money in the future.
What Does It Take to Become a CPA?
For most CPA jobs, you will be required to have a bachelor’s degree or higher in accounting or a similar field in business. You can choose to get your accounting degree online or through a traditional college campus, depending on how you like to learn. This degree program will provide you with the foundation of information that you will need to build on in your career, but you will have to go through additional training when you actually start work as a CPA. If you have a degree in hand, you should have no trouble finding work as a certified public accountant. You just have to take a look around at the job opportunities available and see which ones are right for you.
