Does anyone know anything about being an accountant?
373610
If you could be a bit more specific, I could help.  I'm a trainee accountant.
781485
There are two ways to become an accountant either though training or though an accounts degree.\n\nYour first step would be to do an accountant techcians course such as CAT.  Then you can either do a degree and be a qualified but not a chartered accountant or do the ACCA or CIMA.\n\ni have finished the irish version of the accounting technicans course and it took me 2 years to complete the exams and i am currently working my way towards the required 2 years work experience before i can become a member.  The techicans exams allow you to skip the first year of any accountancy degree and the professional exams.  Definately worth doing.  \n\nTry these websites for more information:\n\nhttp://www.acca.co.uk/\nwww.cimaglobal.com/\nwww.iati.ie\n\nHope you find what you are looking for.\n\nxx
615989
Check email.\n\nSort your tasks and projects --do the SHORTEST and SIMPLEST ones first.  Remember to log your time for each task.  Most of these are done on the computer.  Tax research itself is normally done on the computer nowadays.  A lot of the complicated accounting is done on "computerized spreadsheets" such as "Excel."  A lot of the accounting records reviewed and organizaed by an accountant these days are electronic in nature ("Quick Books" or "Quicken" or one of the computerized packages).  Most accountants and all young CPA's are very good with computers and databases.\n\nDocument your answers, research, and calculations (usually done electronically).\n\nAttend any training or meetings necesary.\n\nTalk to clients or other accountants on the phone about their problems and answer their questions.\n\nReview your time log before leaving for the day to insure its accuracy (this directly affects who will be billed for how much work).\n\nLeave at the end of the day.
25135
Buddy,\n\nIf your good at accounting you will make serious dough but be ready to kiss your social life good bye. The private firms such as Pricewaterhouse Cooper pay starting 50K a year for the first three years and work you like dogs. But the big raises come pretty soon....If you can make it there for 10 years without quitting from lack of sleep-expect to make double the number you mentioned. Only problem is no one can do it for a long time. Like anything it takes a lot of work.\n\nBut generally out of college you make 45-55K starting. They usually expect you to go and get a CPA license..public accountants make anywhere from 70-110K depending on how much you want to work. Public accountants are good because you basically choose your own ours and work when you have to ....great for families.\n\nToo much info? Good...I wish someone told me this in high school. :-)
860649
It is an excellent field, especially when an accountant becomes a CPA.  Your local Dept. of Labor will have the average income, however it also depends on who you clientelle are, and if you specialize or not.
1051054
The accountant is charged with providing timely, accurate information to management and shareholders in order to facilitate decisions to better the performance of the entity.\n\nFrom Payroll, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and General ledger maintenance.  \n\nInformation from these are used to create financial statements such as Income statements, Balance sheets and Cash flows.
386577
Each state has its own requirements to become certified.  You can check with your state licensing board for the specifics.\n1.  Education - You need to have a certain number of credit hours of college level accounting courses.  Then you need to pass the exam and have a certain amount of years of experience (1 - 3 depending on the state).\n2.  I took the a prep course.  It was expensive but worth it.  There are a number of different study aids so it really depends on your personal commitment and study habits.\n3. The exam is very comprehensive and difficult.  The pass rate is very low.  When I took it, calculators were not allowed but today they are.  It's an ever changing animal!\n4.  In reality, nothing.  But the perception of the public is that if you are a CPA, you know your stuff.  Today, employers want the CPA designation as a minimum.\n5.  Salary will depend on many things such as geographic location, industry (public or private), employer (large or small) and the position (tax, general).  The potential is great if you are talented and work hard to keep up with the changing atmosphere.\n6.  A CPA specializing in tax will most likely work in a public accounting firm ( and i suggest you get some experience in one...the education is immeasurable.)  Public firms are tough though.  The hours during tax season are long and your social life will be nonexistent.  Some firms specialize in an industry too so your exposure to issues will be concentrated.  If public is not for you, then working for a corporation is possible.  You most likely will be in the HQ office and will have a limited number of issues (unless its a multi national with many lines of business.)  The last is with the government, or specifically, the IRS.  The issues will be wide spread and will be a good learning experience.  The pay is not the tops but the experience will be valuable to take to your next job.\nI've been a CPA for almost 20 years and it's been very rewarding.  I took the exam 4 times and passed all four parts on the 4th time.  Failing it should not be discouraging.  You need to give yourself 5 months of heavy studying and you should be able to pass.\nGood luck.
598248
If you are a tax accountant working for a firm you can make a lot of money.  I know someone who makes more than a million dollars annually.\n\nTax is a field that not many people go into but everyone needs one.   Demand... Supply... big bucks... if you can do it.... (I'm not talking about H&R Block or the like)
979300
There are many different kinds of accountant.  If you are reasonably numerate (top 75 percentile) and logical/methodical in your approach to problem solving it isn't difficult at all.\n\nThe hard part is maintaining interest in your studies, as some segments of the qualifications can be very dull.\n\nThere are many different types of accountancy work.  Management accounting, financial accounting, bursarial work, advisory, forensic, audit.... the list goes on.  \n\nIt is a good career path, and if you take a good combination course, with a management element you may well be able to move into other work.  Most senior officers in local government and Chief Executives started their careers in accountancy.\n\nIf you are seriously considering a post graduate course in accountancy the main options are:\n\nCIMA - Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - good generic course with strong management element, liked by business and local government.\nhttp://www.cimaglobal.com/cps/rde/xchg/live/root.xsl/index.htm\nCIPFA - Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants - again good management element, but predominantly for those wanting a career in local government.\nhttp://www.cipfa.org.uk/\nACCA - Association of Chartered Certified Accountants - generally preferred option for practice accountants\nhttp://uk.accaglobal.com/\n\nYou could enter the career by working for one of the 'big four', KPMG, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Ernst&Young.  Or any number of other firms, or you could apply for a trainee post within local government.  You should expect to take three or four years to qualify, but the financial rewards are high.\n\nBefore you leap into the career wholeheartedly, why don't you try getting a Summer job in an accounts office, or ask local firms/councils for some work experience to give you an idea of what's involved.\n\nPersonally I drifted into finance by accident, I've spent 10 years advising non-financial managers on all aspects of financial rules and regulations and the customer facing aspects of the job gave me great satisfaction.  I've done some audit/forensic accounting, which is brilliant if you like problem solving and puzzles.  Now I'm using that experience in a general management position.\n\nGood luck, whatever you decide to do....just remember that there's more to life than work.  After all I'm 34 and I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up!!
512013
I'll list a few things about it - you can be the judge if it's positive or negative.  \n\n1.  If you do bookkeeping, it can be repetitive, same thing every month\n2.  You will deal with the public alot if you work at a CPA office \n3.  Tax season usually means long work hours and you will most likely not be able to take any vacation/days off from Jan - April
896287
If you want your accountant to get information on your tax affairs, then yes.  But your new accountant should do this for you if they are worth their salt!  They'll fill out a form 64-8 and ask you to sign it to authorise them to receive information directly from HMRC re your tax.\n\nIf you do not want your accountant to be contacted directly by HMRC there is no need to tell them.
54265
This site has a wonderful explanation on the basics of accounting. Please be patient enough to read through. http://www.futureaccountant.com/accounting-process/study-notes/\n\n\nhttp://www.futureaccountant.com/\nhttp://www.schoolingkids.com
975210
You don't have to be an accountant to work in an accounts department or accountancy firm. Lots of firms have "accounts clerks" who work with accountants. The work is probably more routine but if its calculations you want that might fit the bill.\n\nSomething else you could consider is a job analysing data, for example for a polling organisation or perhaps a council (traffic surveys etc). This would be more statistics-based.
233256
A web site to enable you  to create an understanding on accounting..\n\nhttp://www.futureaccountant.com/accounting-process/study-notes/\n\n\nhttp://www.futureaccountant.com/\nhttp://www.schoolingkids.com/
616110
The only two sure things in life are death and taxes.\n\nSo either be an accountant or a mortician.
1084143
I am a public accountant who deals with small businesses.  I like to think of accounting as detective work with numbers.  When a client supplies me with information, I go through the numbers and see which ones are innocent (ie clean), and which ones are guilty.  I keep my clients on the straight and narrow by reporting ALL their income, and finding ALL the appropriate deductions.   I interview the clients to get more information, I do research on the internet to learn more about the client's vendors, and I consult with colleagues to discuss best procedures.  It can be a rewarding job.
219542
No.  Number crunching is only a very small part of what an accountant does.  Accountants must know or have a general understanding of generally accepted account standards of the United States (GAAP).  Furhter, it depends on what type of accountant you are refering to.  An auditor must know the standards published by the Financial Auditing Standards Board.  If they audit governments they must know GASB's and GAGAS Standards.  If they are a tax accountant, they must be very familiar with the internal revenue code (which by the way is very long and very difficult to understand at times).  If they work in the private sector they must know GAAP and the process used within their company.  Basically accountants deal more with accounting and auditing standards than actual numbers.