Career paths

CPA

• To obtain the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification a student must meet additional credit hour requirements and pass the four-part Uniform CPA exam prepared by the AICPA.
• It includes accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting for clients (small/medium-sized businesses, corporations, governments, non-profits, individuals) .
• CPAs often specialize in areas such as Tax, Compensation/Employee Benefits and Asset Protection.
• Some CPAs audit the financial statements of their clients and produce reports to investors and authorities to certify that the statements have been correctly prepared.
• CPAs generally have their own practice or work for accounting firms.
• Forensic accountants investigate white collar crimes such as fraud and embezzlement and may work closely with law enforcement and attorneys.

Management, industrial, corporate, and private accountants

• They generally work "in-house" recording and analyzing financial information.
• Management accountants are usually part of a senior management team and work to interpret data that executives need to make business decisions.
• They prepare financial reports for non-management groups including stockholders, creditors, regulatory agencies and tax authorities. Other responsibilities include budgeting, performance evaluation, cost management and asset management.
• As part of a an accounting department, they may work in planning budgets, cost accounting and analysis.

Government accountants and auditors

• They work in the public sector, maintaining and analyzing records of government agencies.
• They audit private businesses and individuals who are subject to government regulations or taxation.
• They guarantee that revenues are received and expenditures are made in accordance with laws and regulations.
• Federal government accountants may work as Internal Revenue Service agents, or in financial management, financial institution examination, or budget analysis and administration

Internal auditors and "business risk services"

• They verify the accuracy of internal records and check for mismanagement, fraud or waste.
• They analyze financial systems, management procedures and internal controls.
• They review company operations, evaluating efficiency, effectiveness and compliance with corporate policies and procedures, laws and government regulations.
• Some internal auditors may recommend controls for organizations’ computer systems to ensure the reliability of a system and the integrity of data.

Top accounting firms

Source: The Business Journal Book of Lists (2009)