Public Accountant

Overview

Accounting is a very familiar area when most people think of professions. It is common to assume that accountants just deal with numbers, but this path can be far more interesting. In general, accountants process and interpret statistics for businesses or individuals to increase their profit/revenue or decrease their expenses. There are three different categories of accountants: public, management, and government. Focusing on public accounting, these professionals usually work with the “public” or the companies and individuals requiring tax, accounting, or consulting services. They may advise their customers on tax related issues, business development, or help to compile financial records and financial statements. In addition, public accountants can also become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to perform more advanced services. 

Requirements

In order to become any kind of accountant, the first step is to complete a bachelor’s degree in either finance or accounting. It is generally required to have 150 credit hours in education, but this can include other courses such as financial reporting, taxes, auditing, and even non-business subjects. To begin working in the field, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement. After completing a Bachelor’s degree, some aspiring CPAs choose to earn a master’s degree to further their education. However, to become a CPA, candidates must pass the CPA exam which has 4 parts: Audit and Attestation, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Regulation, and Business Environment and Concepts. After passing the exam, some additional steps may be to try an entry-level job/internship first to get experience or continue education by earning a certification in another accounting aspect.

What Can High School Students Do?

• Familiarize yourself with other accounting professions
  • Management Accounting: https://www.accountingedu.org/management/ 
  • Government Accounting: https://www.accountingedu.org/government/ 
• Take more math classes such as Calculus, Statistics, or Computer Science
• Take business classes at your local community college or online
  • Online: https://alison.com/courses/accounting 
• Shadow/Talk with an accountant

Please check out the sources below, they have links connecting more websites to further your research!

• https://www.northeastern.edu/bachelors-completion/news/what-does-an-accountant-do/ 
• https://www.accountingedu.org/public-accounting-jobs-what-is-public-accounting-accountant-salaries-and-degrees/ 
• https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/accountant/