The main job of an accountant is to ensure that a company’s financial records are in order and up-to-date. A public accountant does not usually work with the financial records of just one company, although in this position you may have specific clients that you work with. There are large firms that hire accountants to work on various cases or if you have enough experience, you can start your own company and take in clients of your own. Even if you do work with a large accounting firm, you can still work on your own part time, such as on weekends.
The duties of public accountants are varied. They can include such things as:
- Preparing income tax returns for small and large businesses
- Preparing individual income tax returns
- Overseeing employee health benefits
- Providing compensation under the agreement of employee health benefit plans
- Auditing client financial statements
- Informing investors about their financial statements
Public accountants can also specialize in what is called forensic accounting. In this type of work, you would be involved in investigating embezzlement of funds and other types of fraudulent activities with a company. Bankruptcies and financial disputes fall into this category of accounting, as does the investigation of criminal activities, such as money laundering. In this type of work, you would be working closely with law enforcement officials and may be called upon to testify in court about your investigations and financial reports.
A public accountant usually works in an office setting. If you are an independent accountant, you may have an office in your home. Even when you work with a large firm, you might still be able to bring home some of your work and complete it on your own time. You do have to be aware that the information you deal with is confidential and if you bring it home, it should not be placed where any of your family members or visitors can see it.
Then job of public accountant requires specialized training. First of all, you should hold an undergraduate degree in accounting, business or a related field. As an accountant filing financial reports, the law requires you to be certified as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant). You have to pass either a state or national exam and meet the requirements set down by the state where you practice. To obtain this certificate, most states require that you have 30 additional hours of course work beyond that required for your undergraduate degree. The courses are administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and involve attaining a passing score on a rigid comprehensive exam. Many accountants working in this field have advanced degrees, such as a Master’s degree.
