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Understanding the Roles of an Accountant/CPA and Finding Opportunities for Growth

CourseMate
May 02, 2018
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Understanding the Roles of an Accountant/CPA and Finding Opportunities for Growth

There comes a time in everybody's life when we need some boost in our career to carry on another decade or at least 4 to 5 years to get where we need to go. To extend an accountant's career, we need to continue learning in order to demonstrate added skills to both our current and to potential new employers.

CourseMate

May 02, 2018
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  1. There comes a time in everybody's life when we need

    some boost in our career to carry on another decade or at least 4 to 5 years to get where we need to go. To extend an accountant's career, we need to continue learning in order to demonstrate added skills to both our current and to potential new employers. Skills honed a decade or two ago, or even three or four years ago, are not enough to sustain you. Imagine if you had to apply for your current position – would you be qualified?
  2. Continuing Education for CPA / LMS for CPE Can be

    the solution for you! Happily there are plenty of ways to pick up added skills that can keep you qualified, hirable, and valuable to your current and other companies.
  3. Forensic Accountant/Accounting A Forensic Accountant is a CPA or CA

    (Chartered Accountant) with a specialty of in-depth analysis of fraud, and an ability to follow complex accounting trails wherever they may lead. He/She can track down arcane accounting issues and, when necessary, provide evidence for internal and/or external accounting investigations. Forensic accounting is a valuable skill that can set you apart from other CPAs or accountants, even in your day-to-day job.
  4. Certified Public Accountant CPAs must not only get their original

    certification, which can take many years and some intensive testing, they must also take, on average 40 hours a year of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) in order to maintain their certification. Some CPAs do the bare minimum to get their 40 hours, while others really
  5. Certified Internal Auditor An Internal Auditor's responsibilities are mainly connected

    to a company or organization's risk management concerns such as checking on the effectiveness of control policies and processes. An internal auditor's opinion should be unbiased and professional for assurance of success, and they frequently sit outside of the regular finance and accounting organization to reduce bias and internal influence. Internal Audit is a great way to take accounting skills and focus on both accounting and business process.
  6. Management Accountant A management account provides insightful reports to the

    business leaders to help them make important business decisions. Without these reports, making a business decision is like firing an arrow in the dark. Management accountants are usually senior level professionals and their advice to management is highly regarded among the business owners. Despite the word, “accountant” in their title, management accountants are typically considered to be core corporate finance professionals, providing analysis and FP&A skills to their companies.
  7. Cost Accountant Cost accountants analyze and optimize a company’s production

    and fixed costs. This is more about scalable cost management than it is about debits and credits as in traditional accounting. Cost accountants frequently work at companies that build physical goods via manufacturing operations.
  8. Government Accountant Government accounting rules (e.g. GASB) are different than

    public company accounting rules. Financial statements are focused on telling a different story since most government entities don’t exist simply to profit, as their public/private enterprise brethren do. Government accounting requires knowledge of a rather significantly different group of rules, but opens up the world of working for government entities at the local, state or federal level.
  9. Project Accountant This role works only based of a project

    and tracks all of its cost and expense records. They are responsible for overseeing all financial elements of a project, which may range from building a simple physical or software product, right up to multi-billion dollar projects like dams or massive building endeavors. Although you are using many skills of an accountant, you also add in financial skills such as analysis and financial planning, all while having a direct connection to some tangible project or product.
  10. Staff Accountant This is almost the first step in the

    accounting career. A staff accountant is generally more into bookkeeping role while working in small businesses. They are responsible for a wide range of responsibilities including payroll, managing employees, cash handling and tax filing.
  11. There are various online learning websites and Learning Management Systems

    (LMSs) that can help you find training, get recognized certifications, or get continuing education credit to help you find success in these roles in a cost effective manner and without wasting valuable time, all from the comfort of your own computer.