How To Pursue A Career As A Certified Public Accountant
Accounting is a lucrative field, and Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are in very high demand right now. If you have a head for numbers, and a strong desire to help others achieve their financial goals, then becoming a CPA might be the perfect career choice for you. A CPA career can be very rewarding, both from a financial and personal perspective. If you are thinking about becoming a CPA, then this article will provide the information that you need. Read further to find out how you can achieve your career goals in this exciting field.
Requirements For Becoming A CPA
The minimum educational degree for becoming a CPA is a bachelor’s degree in accounting. The requirements go beyond merely earning the degree, however. In order to become a CPA, you must pass the Uniform CPA Exam. This is a 16-hour computer-based exam that tests your proficiency accounting. Many states also require that you take an ethics exam as well. Most states also require you to have a year of experience working under a licensed CPA. Taken together, these prerequisites are often referred to as “the 3 e’s”: education, examination, and experience. Since education is the foundation and first step toward becoming a licensed CPA, it is important that you put in the time and effort to study and learn.
Location Matters
As with most careers, salaries vary in different parts of the country. A CPA in Mentor may not make the same salary as a CPA in San Francisco, keeping in mind that the Mentor CPA may not have as many or as costly of expenses as the CPA in California. Always remember the salary needs to be weighed against the cost of living. It is important to take these factors into account if you decide to go into business as a CPA. It is also important to develop your client base in an area where you know that you can reach many potential customers.
A Client-Focused Attitude Is Essential
CPAs work with numbers and financial reports, yes, but they also work with people. If a CPA has a brilliant head for financial analysis, but cannot interact with clients, they likely will not find success in the field. For this reason, it is important to develop and maintain a client-focused attitude. This means listening to clients, and understanding their unique goals, preferences, and circumstances. It also means working with each individual client to develop specific financial and investment plans that are unique to them. No two clients are alike, and it is a CPAs job to make sure that clients are seen and treated as individuals.
Understanding How To Market Your Business
In order to build a sizable client base, it is important that you get the word out about your services, especially when you are first starting out. This could mean taking out ads, launching a helpful and informative website that will get people interested in your services, and doing lots of networking. Experienced professionals often look to find a firm to work for with opportunities for professional development and personal growth. Taken together, these activities will help you build the client base that you need in order to succeed as a CPA.