Premium Essay

Career Path for Cpas

In:

Submitted By tisoutit
Words 548
Pages 3
Career Path for Internal Auditor

An internal auditor is a professional that provides an independent and unbiased analysis of the internal control or activities of a company. The internal auditor’s job is vital to an administration; with management, he or she synthesizes and implements rules and recommendations. An internal auditor has the responsibility to develop and apply analytical tools or indicators that measure risks and evaluate performances. The job implies a transversal function within an organization because the internal auditor has oversight responsibility over many services or departments. He or she has to ensure the efficiency of operation, IT controls, and the trustworthiness of financial reporting; additionally, an internal auditor has to work to determine and detect fraud, and above all, make sure all activities are in compliance with laws and regulations.

Very often, companies hire audit firms to do internal auditing instead of professionals from the field, commonly recognized as Certified Internal Auditors (CIA). Nevertheless, being an internal auditor offers broad opportunities within companies; the different steps or career paths range from entry-level internal auditor, Lead/senior Internal Auditor, Internal Audit supervisor/manager, to Internal Audit executive/chief audit executive (CAE).

The entry level internal auditors must possess the basic skills to review processes, activities and objectives of the organization. At this level, the auditor is responsible for the collection, analysis, and examination of the records of the company. Moreover, the entry level auditor must prepare reports on the results and make sure that everything is in compliance with laws and regulations. Internal auditors come from a range of educational settings, but a Bachelor's degree is required. A degree in accounting, finance, business, or computer systems

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Cpa Preparation

...​While pursuing a career in the accounting field, it is almost vital to become a Certified Public Accountant to advance further. Not only do others respect and admire your Accounting education, “CPAs achieve a level of expertise and proficiency beyond that of a “standard” accountant-proudly earning them the designation of CPA” (NASBA). While preparing for the CPA exam, you further your accounting knowledge with extensive studying of vigorous material. In addition to prestige and respect, by becoming a CPA, you stand out to potential employers. Earning your CPA proves you have the commitment to your career and will help your career advancements as well as job security. CPAs have a variety of talents that many businesses look for. Many prospective employers are interested in individuals who have knowledge in Auditing, International Financial Reporting, and Tax Advisory Services, which are all topics that are tested on the CPA exam. The CPA exam tests on IFRS and GAAP which will help enhance your knowledge in international accounting. The U.S. is in motion to prepare to adopt IFRS and this extensive knowledge will help you prepare for growing globalization and a move towards IFRS. Holding the title of CPA, coupled with international accounting knowledge, almost guarantees a higher salary. According to the 2009 Robert Half Salary Guide, a CPA license can mean a different of 10% between them and their non-licensed peers (NASBA). Furthermore, there are many unique privileges and opportunities...

Words: 933 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Intermediate

...Tax Accounting Career Path Intermediate Accounting II- Spring 2014 Submitted to Dr. Jeffery Hillard Dante Pennix Sr. April 21, 2014 My goal is to become a Certified Public Accountant while achieving the goal of owning a lucrative CPA firm. One of the great benefits of choosing tax accounting as a career is that you will always have a job when you graduate. Tax accountants and CPAs will always be in high demand as long as the globalizations of marketplaces continue to develop. Tax accountants also create tax strategies to reduce the amount of taxes a client owes while remaining compliant with GAAP and tax laws. The qualities of a tax accountant consist of begin able to be organized, competent, have an attention to detail, ethical, and most in important effective communications, both written and verbal. For example, common responsibilities for tax accountants include preparing and filing taxes, financial planning, completing continuing education credits, and researching and reviewing past tax filings. In summary, the career path of a tax accountant and CPA is very tedious and technical but overall, the journey is worthwhile. The reason why I elected tax accounting as a career path was because of the stability and longevity that it holds. Another reason I choose this career choice was for the challenging and gratifying work that it brings. Tax accounting is a specialized field because of the ever changing rules in the accounting arena as with new regulations and laws of the tax...

Words: 805 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Accounting Organizations

...Professional Accounting and Financial Organizations Networking is a key activity that is not only fun, but also critical for your personal growth and career path. Business people are all about networking, building relationships and taking action. There are many professional organizations that can help students develop these important relationships and recive many great benefits. CalCPA is a professional organization for accountants that undergraduate students can join for free. This organization offers many resources for students and they are all intended to help launch a CPA career. For example, CalCPA classifieds is a service where employees seek for students for part-time and full time jobs. This organization also helps students and recent graduates to became a CPA. It provides a step by step guide for the CPA exam requirements and it also helps students to find discounts for CPA reviews. My favorite CalCPA resource is the networking events. These events are free of charge for students that are members and it is a great opportunity to meet not only other students, but also many professional who are willing to talk to students about their careers. ALPFA is also a great organization for accounting professional and students. This organization is focused on helping Latinos students emerging in a CPA career. Even though the function of this organization is to help the Latino community everyone is welcome. The membership for this organization is free for students and they...

Words: 500 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Accounting Interview

...management. My dad suggested to me, “Why don’t you go with accounting? Start high and if you need to drop down then drop down, but you will always be able to get a job with accounting.” And I like numbers and I’m good with numbers. Justin: Would you say your dad is a source of inspiration? Bridget: No, it was definitely not an inspired decision. It was a very logical and practical decision. Justin: That makes sense for an accountant, I’m not surprised. Have you been satisfied with your decision to go into accounting? Bridget: I would say yes. My original goal was to always be able to work. And I have never had a problem finding a job. I have a CPA and it makes you so marketable. Interestingly, I did my public accounting work in the 80s and passed the exam in the 80s and yet, it is still impressive that I have a CPA. I don’t need it for what I do now, but it...

Words: 5812 - Pages: 24

Premium Essay

Accounting

...Certified Public Accountant Process Jenna M. Stienstra Southwest Tech Abstract A certified public accountant (CPA) is an individual who has passed the very difficult CPA Exam and been licensed by one of the 50 United States or one of five other jurisdictions. The CPA license is renewed if the individuals continue to follow the state's requirements, including professional education credits. Following the process, knowing the salary difference, and understanding what CPAs do from day-to-day are all important factors. Many changes are being made to the CPA Exam in the near future, so individuals who are planning to take the exam should be aware of the changes that will be incorporated into the upcoming versions. Keywords: CPA, process, advantages and disadvantages, exam, license, salary. CPA Process Anyone who has known a CPA has probably heard how much he/ she had to study and how difficult it was to obtain a CPA license. However, even though it takes additional college education and studying to pass the CPA Exam, it is worth the effort because of the promotions, increased pay, and more credibility that are given to individuals with a CPA license. The CPA Exam is not like any other exam, and the profession does have its pros and cons, just like any other business. What is the CPA Process? Becoming a CPA requires the individual to follow four steps in a sequence. First, the person must graduate from high school. Having a General Education Development (GED) is...

Words: 2919 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Accounting Career

...Accounting Career When looking at a career that one might want to do, there are many options of what one could choose to do. One of the fields that many people go into is accounting. Accounting is a good choice to go into because there will always be a demand for an accountant in any business. “Employment for accountants and auditors is expected to grow by 13 percent through 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.” (Careers in Accounting) Not only is there a demand in accounting, but it is also a field in which there is easy growth. An accountant can start in an entry level position and be able to move up to an executive level in the company. There are many different careers with an accounting degree because as an accountant you have many career choices and with the right amount of schooling and certificates you can move up in accounting. Accounting is a good career to go into because of the many options that are available, “Accounting is one of the largest professions in business today, with more than 100,000 accounting firms in the United States alone.” (Careers in Accounting). An accountant is required to keep track of either an individual or a company’s financial records; by preparing, analyzing and keeping the budget on track. An accountant has the responsibility to work with a business or an individual and help them understand and evaluate the money they spend and profits that can be made. An accountant needs to be able to give the business/individual...

Words: 1772 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Engl 227

......3 ACCOUNTING CAREER…………………………………………………..4-7 Education/Training Employment/Compensation MARKETING CARRER…………………………………………………………………8-10 Education/Training Employment/Compensation CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS……………………………...11 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………….....12 . INTRODUCTION Choosing the right career is a choice that everyone should approach with a clear conscience and plenty of knowledge on all of the options, weighing the pros and cons of each career, and ultimately choosing the best career that will satisfy their goals in long term options for him or her is to some degree a bit difficult. Studies show that most people at one point in their life face the predicament of choosing between two or more professional careers that is why is fundamental to questions a professional contact, friend, co-worker or even a client when making this choice: What are your abilities?, What’s your work style? Where do you want to work? Do you have people skills? Do you want to do social networking? How you will be able to balance your work and your social life? How do you deal with stress? And How must important how much money do you want to make? But also consider the educational training that you will need for a particular field. The final career choice and ultimate option should be the one that include guidance from a career counselor or school advisor. In this report, the previous questions will be explored in order to choose between a career in accounting or...

Words: 1965 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Research

...principles and topics like financial statements, foreign exchange rates, and capital structure, this online program is an excellent path for you. (An on-campus option may also be available; contact a student advisor for details.) You'll gain the knowledge you need to pursue a career in this field and move toward professional certification. The Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting is designed to provide students with the education necessary for a rewarding and challenging professional career in public, private, or governmental accounting. The curriculum includes foundation courses at a level needed for professional certification for the U.S. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination. Keeping pace with trends towards international convergence of accounting standards (and CPA examination test trends), students will learn IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) by comparing and contrasting them with U.S. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). Students will learn to apply these principles to record accounting events and prepare financial statements. To enhance students' expertise, courses in cost accounting, individual and multinational taxation, as well as auditing and forensic accounting are offered. Each state sets forth standards required to be eligible to take the CPA exam and apply for licensure or certification as a CPA. The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification requires membership in the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) as...

Words: 430 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Accounting an Interesting and Diverse Career

...Interesting and Diverse Career Within the Career Path of Accounting there are certainly a diverse range of options. One can choose to be a Corporate Accounting Assistant, an Accountant, a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), a CMA (Certified Management Accountant), a Forensic Accountant, an IRS Agent, an International Accountant, a comptroller (or controller), or even a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This is just a few careers in accounting. Accounting also offers all levels of positions from entry level to senior level. One can also be an entrepreneur in the accounting field. A Corporate Accounting Assistant handles accounts receivable and accounts payable. They help prepare financial records as well as help with payroll and the distribution of payroll. They handle company Deposits. A Corporate Accounting Assistant should have a four year bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. They should be good at handling pressure, organization, and math. They should be good at learning new programs, like challenges, and be good with dealing with people (Films Media Group, 2007). These are characteristics that everyone in the accounting field should posses. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) provide a wide variety of services including accounting, tax, auditing, and consulting services to governments, corporations, non-profits, and individuals. CPAs often specialize in a specific area rather than offering services in all areas. CPAs may become entrepreneurs...

Words: 1244 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Assignment I

...Unit 1 Assignment Kaplan University AC301: Intermediate Accounting II September 23, 2012 Question 1. Relate the following information about your state: a) http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/accountancy/ b) CPA certification allows an accountant to become a partner in a CPA firm. It is also a requirement for career advancement and a requirement for other management positions. Some employers require job applicants to hold a CPA credential before applying for higher-level jobs. Accounting firms typically expect accountants to advance in their career, so a failure to achieve CPA certification after a certain amount of time can be cause for dismissal. CPA licenses provide credibility for accountants in other career paths. CPAs can teach college classes. A CPA can provide other services at a CPA firm such as offering financial advice, investment guidance and retirement planning, and holding this certification provides additional credibility. c) One thing about my state board that I found most interesting was that you can print your license, renew your license and click and verify a license all on the web page if you wanted to. It is very convenient, and if you haven’t received your paper license in the mail yet, your prospective employer can check on the web page and verify in a matter of seconds. d) One years and 2,000 hours in public accounting; five years and 10,000 hours in business, industry, government or college teaching (teaching at a 4 year college or...

Words: 1157 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Cpa Qualifications

...Evaluate 3.1 Short Paper: CPA Qualifications Tameika Bennett Evaluate 3.1 Short Paper: Critical Thinking Demonstrate your critical-thinking skills by crafting an analytical essay describing all of the qualifications necessary to becoming a CPA. Use the module resources and your own research to provide specific examples. Go beyond the surface to interpret and draw conclusions based on the facts. The decision to become a CPA could be an easy one if you have a passion for the profession. Once you decide that you want to head down that path there are several things that must be done before acquiring that prestigious title behind your name. It is not an easy journey but becoming a CPA is definitely a great way to go to further your career. The CPA certification is state issued and not issued by the federal government. With that being said, the state in which you reside will determine the steps you will need to take to become a CPA and also specify what if any additional or different requirements my state New York has. Generally, there are three requirements for a CPA licensing, the three E’s: 1. Education 2. Exam 3. Experience New York also require you to have good moral character and be 21 years of age. 1. Education According the Aicpa.org website most states require 150 semester hours of schooling, which usually means you have at least a bachelor’s degree. Out of those 150 semester hours each state also requires a certain amount of accounting...

Words: 754 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Accounting

...Career Path for Accounting Studies It is always so hard to give the exact number of people who have majored in accounting, but one thing that I know is that the demography is very wide and large. This is because they have different reasons for majoring in this career path. The most common reason to all people is because accounting is a marketable career and they merely want to find a job. The number of people majoring in this field is growing immensely and the most important thing is to consider the main reason of joining this profession. Some people will claim that when they were in high school, this was their best subject and they loved it and so they will need to major in it. I believe the best reason for majoring in accounting is because it has wide varieties of career path that one can major in. People should understand that this field is not all about debits and credits. It is more of a communicating language in the world of business and this is why many chief executive officers hold a degree in this field. In the day today life it is usually one of the most common undergraduate degree programs. The most important thing is to make certain that all of the people who are in this profession understand business and that is why many people who have ventured in accounting always have considerations for such posts. The most interesting part of this career choice is that most of the time the people who venture into it will always have the best job positions waiting for them because...

Words: 2567 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

What Mba Can Offer?

...back to school to earn your Master of Business Administration (MBA)? Looking at new employment numbers, there may be no time like the present. A recent analysis of career placement data for 2009 and 2010 by U.S. News revealed that 75.7 percent of 2010 MBA graduates were hired within three months of graduation, up from 70.8 percent in 2009. It's Time to Earn Your MBA. Find the Right Business School Now. Think an MBA might benefit you? Join us as we explore seven MBA specializations that could help you climb the corporate ladder. In addition to required core courses, most business schools allow you to concentrate on one of these key disciplines: * Business Administration Health Care Administration Is An MBA Right For You? * * Management * Human Resources (HR) * Marketing/Communications * Technology * Accounting Keep reading to see if one of these MBA specializations is right for you. #1 - Business Administration Business administration is the meat and potatoes of business school, or what most schools call the core curriculum. In this program, you would take courses like accounting, communications, economics, HR, marketing, and technology. You'll also likely work independently and in groups, pouring over case studies and giving presentations to your peers. Potential career paths: Mastering business administration can help you develop a broad-based background that could help prepare you to move into any number of avenues in today's multi-faceted...

Words: 1207 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Mock Interview

...Accountant or commonly known as CPA. The position involves auditing companies by making sure that their financial statements match the actual transactions made by the company in a given period. Certified Public Accountants must graduate with a B.A. in accounting, earn a MAcc (Master of Accountancy), and pass the CPA exams. Upon receiving the title of a CPA, career opportunities are endless. A majority of people receive jobs with the “big 4” public accounting firms that are KPMG, Ernst and Young, PWC, and CBIZ (Bell). Others choose to work for companies that are large enough to have accounting departments. An average salary for someone who passed the CPA is around $60,000 which is dramatically larger compared to the average total occupations salary (bls.gov/OCO). Background of interviewee I interviewed Mike Chalfant on October 30, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Mike Chalfant works for a public accounting firm called KPMG. The KPMG Kansas City branch is located at 1000 Walnut St in downtown Kansas City. KPMG’s history spans back three centuries and features a number of significant mergers, most recently the combination of Peat Marwick International and Klynveld Main Goerdeler, into KPMG in 1987 (Cypert). KPMG International’s member firms have 145,000 professionals, including more than 8,000 partners, in 152 countries (kpmg.com). Mike earned his undergraduate degree and MAcc from Kansas University and went on to pass his CPA exams. Mike’s career path is to move up the ranks of the...

Words: 576 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Accounting Degree

...M.S in Accounting and Financial Management with flexible class schedule and excellent education quality .The students able to get better career in respective filed. I have completed some business courses (Bachelor Degree in accounting from University of Calcutta, India, Master Degree in accounting from National University, Bangladesh and Certified Cost and Management degree from The Institute of Cost & Management Accountants of Bangladesh) but my intention to earn a real education from USA. After migrate to USA I have been working with Certified Public Accountant. Working with real world and professional environment I think accounting degree in the united state is better than any other degree to reach to destination of future career. My final academic/ professional goal in my life to became a certified public accountant. Accounting is the study of how businesses track their income and assets over time. Accountants engage in a wide variety of activities besides preparing financial statements and recording business transactions including computing costs and efficiency gains from new technologies, participating in strategies for mergers and acquisitions, quality management, developing and using information systems to track financial performance, tax strategy, and health care benefits management. There's a lot to get out of a career in accounting. The basics of how a business works will be learned. The field of accounting offers stimulating and challenging work that is...

Words: 782 - Pages: 4