What Do You Need To Do To Become an Accountant in America

In 2008 before the recent economic crisis, Accountants held about 1.3 million jobs all over America. Now after four years of recession, the economy is reviving and is anticipating an increase in the demand for skilled accountants. Since it was because of the mismanagement of these accountants and the financial gurus that caused many accounting and financial firms go bankrupt during the recession; the U.S government has in placed strict accounting and reporting guidelines.

So now what do you need to do to become an accountant in America? First off you need to be good at mathematics, and should be able to study, evaluate and translate raw facts and figures into meaningful form. You should have solid inter-personal skills and be able to communicate effectively both to clients and managers. Other than that one should have strong computing skills as most accountancy is now done through different computer software and programs.

Most employers require at least a bachelor’s degree in accountancy or related field. Some positions require a master’s degree in accounting or an MBA with majors in accounting, finance or related subject area. There are other employers that provide you with the opportunity to continue your education and have various professional education courses, conferences, and seminars to equip you with the right skills that help you become an accountant in America.

For an accountant who works along or with the companies and organizations that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is required by law to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). This is a meticulous exam which has four parts to be passed by an applicant. It is accredited by the State Board of Accountancy and is prepared by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

All the states in America except California, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Vermont, require CPA applicants to complete 150 semester hours of college coursework—an extra 30 hours ahead of the usual 4-year bachelor's degree. Some universities develop a 5-year program to include the additional 30 credit hours. CPA require a candidate to at least have undergraduate credentials, but some States accept a few years of public accounting work experience to be equivalent to a degree. Therefore, budding accounting students should study various accounting programs and research about any requirements of different States in which they wish to become certified.

Finally you should realize that there are many other certifications and licensure that you can add to your resume that will really enhance your chances of becoming an Accountant in America. Some of the prominent and prestigious accounting certification apart from the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), are Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).