Accounting Careers

Accounting Careers

Becoming a Certified Public Accountant is a major milestone in any accountant's career. To become a CPA, you must first attend college and major in accounting. The controller is in charge of managing a company's entire accounting system. In larger organizations, the controller reports to the chief financial officer.

Accounting careers range from entry-level bookkeeping to being a company's Chief Financial Officer. A degree in accounting, as well as various professional designations, are required to advance to positions with greater responsibility and higher pay.

Becoming a Certified Public Accountant, or CPA, is a major milestone in any accountant's career. To become a CPA, you must first attend college and major in accounting. In addition, you must pass a national CPA exam. A CPA firm also requires some prior work experience. This is typically one to two years, though it varies by state. You will receive a certificate once you have met all of the requirements.

Many CPAs regard this as merely a stepping stone in their careers. In many offices, the chief accountant is referred to as the controller. The controller is in charge of managing a company's entire accounting system, staying up to date on accounting and tax laws to keep the company legal, and preparing financial statements.

The controller is also in charge of budgeting and financial planning. Some businesses have only one accountant who serves as the chief cook and bottle washer and does everything. As a company grows in size and complexity, additional layers of personnel are required to handle the increased workload. Growth has an impact on other areas of the company as well, and it is part of the plan.

The controller is also in charge of preparing tax returns for the company, which is a much more involved and complex task than filling out personal income tax forms! In larger organizations, the controller may report to a vice president of finance, who reports to the chief financial officer, who is in charge of setting broad growth and profit objectives and implementing appropriate strategies to achieve those goals.