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How To Become an Accountant
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | Jan 1, 2024
Are you thinking of becoming a Accountant or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Accountant, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Accountant job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
Steps to Become a Accountant
Accountants have many finance-related responsibilities generally associated with prepping financial records. These tasks can include organizing and maintaining financial records, ensuring accounting statement accuracy, and computing taxes and preparing tax returns. Accountants must perform these tasks while abiding by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). In this article, we discuss the steps required to become an accountant:
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Earn your accounting degree.
- Ethics.
- International finance.
- Auditing.
- Financial recordkeeping.
- Management.
- Statistics.
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Find an accounting job.
After obtaining your degree for your career in accounting, you'll need to then gain real-world experience to advance in your career. You can progress toward earning an advanced degree while working an entry-level accounting job. Additionally, internships for companies such as accounting firms can lead to job offers.If you wish, you can proceed in this direction instead of going directly to a job. During an internship, it's essential to put forth your best effort, be professional, and build your professional network for your future. -
Earn an advanced degree.
- Master of Accountancy.
- Master of Science in Accounting.
- Master of Professional Accountancy.
- Master of Business Administration with an accounting specialty.
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Take the Certified Public Accountant Examination.
Depending on which accounting specialty you choose, you may decide to take your Certified Public Accountant Examination, commonly known as the CPA. This career path requires you to pass a comprehensive examination and have extensive knowledge in the field of accounting. After passing your CPA exam, you'll be qualified to file Securities and Exchange Commission reports and represent clients before the Internal Revenue Service in matters related to income taxes. -
Continue your education.
To maintain your license as a CPA, you'll be required to complete continuing professional education training every year. You'll also need to renew your CPA license every few years. In addition, you may also obtain your Certified Management Accountant certification. Attaining this certification requires two years of experience in accounting management and successful completion of an exam.
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