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What Education Do I Need to be an Accountant?


What education do I need to become an accountant?

As an accountant, you might typically work in the public or private sector. Accountants provide mainly auditing, consulting and financial analysis services.

Typical work may involve reviewing and maintaining financial records for companies or organizations, preparing and submitting tax documents for organizations, companies and individuals, assessing aspects of financial operations and recommending measures to be taken to improve fiscal efficiency. Also, accountants often take charge of the daily management of funds and other important financial transactions.

Education to be an accountant

Normally, you should have a bachelor's degree in Accounting if you want to become an accountant. For senior positions, a master’s degree in Accounting may be required.

In addition to a basic degree level accountancy qualification, many accountants are expected to become certified as CPAs (Certified Public Accountants). This is especially true if you wish to work with organizations such as the SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission) and others.

    Degree

    Bachelor's degree in Accounting, master's degree for certain positions

    Professional Certification

    Certified Public Accountant credentials are required for certain positions

    Work Experience

    Not always required, but often required by the big accounting firms

    Computer Literacy

    Good knowledge of accounting-related computer applications such as Microsoft Excel and Oracle, good math and analytical skills, good organization skills, a good eye for detail


3 Steps to Becoming an Accountant

1. Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

An accounting degree is commonly considered to be the basic entry-level qualification for accountants to enter into the field. Accounting degrees usually cover all aspects of finance and accounting required to become an accountant. Other alternative courses might also deal with specializations in taxation, auditing, financial management, marketing or finance.


2. Work Experience

If you want to become an accountant, relevant work experience can be invaluable, and in some states it is a prerequisite to becoming a CPA (Certified Public Accountant). Internships and entry-level positions in accounting firms provide a wealth of practical experience which you can then build on in the future. It will also give you a deeper insight into the work of accountants and areas in which you might like to specialize in the future.

3. License & Certification

You can work as an accountant without being licensed or certified, but the best employers, and the best positions require you to be CPA licensed. The CPA license is a professional qualification, administered by the Board of Accountancy.

If you want to advance your professional career, and in particular if you want to work in the SEC, you will need to pass the CPA exam.

You will need to accrue between 120 and 150 credit hours in order to take the CPA exam; the number of hours varies from state to state. In addition, in certain states, there may be a requirement for a certain quantity of relevant work experience, and/or business school credits for you to be eligible to take the CPA exam.

There are various further professional qualifications and certifications available for accountants wishing to develop their professional career in a specific direction. Many of these are available through the American Institute of CPAs.



Tips:
  • Become an intern. Working as in intern at an accounting firm or within the accounting department of a large organization will give you some relevant work experience which could be helpful later when you begin applying for positions following your graduation. A typical intern will help with preparation of financial statements, audits, and may also be involved in communication directly with clients. An accounting internship will also give you valuable experience using relevant accounting computer applications and software.
  • Become a member of an accounting association. Being a member of a professional accounting organization provides many benefits such as keeping up to date with current best practices and developments in the field. It also gives you an excellent opportunity to network and take advantage of career development offers.




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