3 Methods How To Become An Accountant

(doylc.com) How to Become an Accountant - Accountants are highly qualified financial professionals who prepare and review financial records. Depending on your interests, accounting could be an attractive career for you. However, to become an accountant, you must meet a number of educational criteria and earn specific certifications depending on the type of accounting you wish to do. With the right education and certifications, you can become an accountant and rise quickly in the profession.

• Fulfillment of educational requirements

Obtain a bachelor's degree in accounting. Most accountant positions require at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, such as accounting. B. Accounting. B. Business administration or administration. Depending on your state's requirements, you may not be required to have an accounting degree, but you will likely need to complete a certain number of credits in accounting, economics, and ethics. Each state has its own requirements, so speak to a college advisor before beginning your studies.

If you choose to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), most states require you to complete 150 hours of college coursework. That's 30 hours more than most bachelor's degrees. Some schools allow you to complete a 5-year program and graduate with a bachelor's and a master's degree.

If you are not enrolled in a 5-year program, you can take additional courses through your college or university. Your school may have a program to help you get those extra 30 hours.

To help you qualify for the CPA exam, your employer may pay for the additional 30 hours or coursework for you.

Do an internship in a company. In order to gain practical experience, you would like to take part in an internship program. This allows you to work at an accounting firm, often for college loans, and become familiar with the profession.

Internships can be part-time during the school year or full-time during the summer months.

Internships are excellent opportunities to network and make contacts that can help you in future job searches.

Earn a master's degree. After completing your bachelor's degree, you can decide to continue your studies in accounting. Many employers prefer to hire a candidate with a master's degree in accounting. If you meet the requirements, follow the graduate program application requirements and apply. Once admitted, it should take you two years to complete your degree.

You should consider a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) or a Masters in Accounting (MAcc). A MAcc is primarily aimed at those interested in becoming CPAs or CMAs. The MBA offers a broader understanding of the relationship between business and accounting.

• Obtaining licenses, certifications and registrations

Find out about your state's requirements. Once you have earned or are about to earn college, you should look into the various state and federal licenses and certifications you will need. Each license has specific qualifications (education, experience, exam, and fees) that you must meet.

There are several roles that an accountant can fill, and each has a different type of certification.

Employers often pay the fees for an employee to obtain certification.

Become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). By law, you must be a CPA to file reports with the Security and Exchange Commission. Becoming a CPA is especially appealing if you want to advance within a company or gain a larger client base. To become a CPA, you must pass a national exam and meet other state requirements. Check your state's requirements before beginning the process of becoming a CPA.

Most states require CPA candidates to complete at least 150 semester hours of college courses

All states require you to take the Uniform CPA exam. Most states require you to pass all four parts of the exam within 18 months of passing the first part.

Obtain a management accountant certification. You can manage the finances of a large multinational company and develop an interest in becoming a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). If you decide to become a CMA, you must have a bachelor's degree, complete a two-part exam, agree to the Institute of Management Accountants' code of ethics, and have at least two years of experience.

The exam covers a range of topics including balance sheet analysis, working capital policy, capital structure, valuation issues and risk management.

Earn an internal auditor certification. If you enjoy evaluating a company's financial operations and finding ways to streamline its operations, you should consider becoming a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). To become a CIA, you must pass a four-part exam, have a college degree, and have two years of experience as an internal auditor.

Depending on the type of internal audit you choose, there are other specialized certifications. These include the Certified in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA), Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP), Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA), and Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA).

Earn a certification in Information Systems Analysis. You can manage and audit information systems and want to advance your career by becoming a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). To become a CISA, you must pass an exam with ISACA and have 5 years of experience auditing information systems. In certain cases, they can also replace training with experience.

Depending on the subject area, you can also deepen your qualifications with a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) or Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC).

• Advancing in the profession

I work in a junior position. Because it can take time to gain the experience needed to earn certifications and advancement in a firm or business, many accountants serve a few years in a junior position before being given greater responsibilities. Once you gain the necessary certifications and experience, you will likely move into higher positions. These posts can be supervisory and eventually transition into partnerships.

It is extremely unlikely that you will become a leader overnight. It can take decades to climb the ladder of an accounting firm.

Start your own business. If you have the necessary experience and financial resources, you can also consider starting your own accounting firm. It's unlikely you'll have the client base, experience, and financial backing you need right out of college. You may need to work in a company for some time before you decide to start your own business.

Most new businesses don't make a profit for the first few years, so make sure you have enough money saved to get through this early phase.

Continue your education. Almost every certification requires you to continue your professional education. This can often mean completing a certain number of hours of study, either through courses or seminars. It can also mean going to conferences and taking college courses to keep up with the latest developments in the field.

Check with the certifying organizations to make sure you meet their continuing education requirements. These organizations also host seminars and conferences to keep you up to date with the latest trends in accounting.

Companies are often willing to bear the costs of further training for their employees.

Consulting firms and other organizations often hold seminars on topics related to their field.

Gain experience in different types of accounting. To advance in your field, you may need to familiarize yourself with another area of ​​accounting. For example, if you are a senior accountant you may need to refresh your information systems or vice versa. Not only does this help you get promoted, it can also help you find a better job somewhere else later.

Your employer may be willing to pay for you to get this extra expertise.