Accountants

Accountants plan, summarize, analyze, and interpret financial information. They also prepare various accounting reports and assist owners and managers in making financial decisions. Accountants also supervise the work of other accounting workers, which includes checking the accuracy of recorded financial information.

Some accountants work as members of accounting firms that sell accounting services to other businesses. For example, a small gasoline station owner may not need a full-time accountant. The station owner or an employee may do the day-to-day accounting tasks. These tasks include recording and summarizing basic accounting information. The owner may hire an accounting firm to help plan the accounting system and to analyze, report, and interpret the accounting information. A business selling accounting services to the general public is called a public accounting firm. Public accounting firms provide a variety of accounting services to other businesses and individuals. These accounting services may include all accounting tasks as well as planning an accounting system. Accounting firms may periodically check the accuracy of a business' records and prepare monthly or annual statements and reports.

Some accountants, known as private accountants, are employed by a single business. The work of private accountants is similar to that done by public accounting firms. However, a private accountant works for only one business.

Many professional accountants in the United States also earn the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. Each state sets standards that persons must meet to earn the CPA. These standards usually include passing a rigorous examination and having some actual accounting experience. In some states, college accounting study can substitute for some of the required experience. The CPA designation is important to professional accountants. The public knows that CPAs are accounting professionals. Public accounting firms often require that accounting employees earn a CPA to be eligible for promotion for top positions. Many businesses also require that top accounting personnel earn the CPA designation.