2.

01 - CONTENT

I. Accounting Career Opportunities and Educational and Experience Requirements

A. Accounting Clerk
1. Responsible for recordkeeping for payroll, accounts receivable, or accounts
payable
2. Usually requires one to two accounting courses and little or no work experience
B. Bookkeeper
1. Responsible for recording business transactions. In large firms, may
supervise accounting clerks
2. Usually requires one to two years of accounting education plus experience as
an accounting clerk
C. Accountant
1. Usually supervises bookkeepers and prepares financial statements and
reports for a business
2. Usually requires a bachelor’s degree. It sometimes can be filled by a person
who has experience as a bookkeeper or a two year degree. Entry level
positions may not have an experience requirement. The size of the firm will
impact the education and experience requirements.
D. Certified Public Accountant or CPA
1. Provides trusted financial advice to help individuals, businesses, and other
organizations plan and reach their financial goals
2. Requirements include education, experience, and a passing score on a
Uniform CPA exam. A majority of states require 150 credit hours of education
at an accredited college or university as a prerequisite to CPA certification.

II. Career Paths in Accounting

A. Public accounting
1. Accountants who work for public accounting firms which provide services for
other companies
2. Most public accountants are Certified Public Accountants (CPA’s).
3. Services usually provided are:
a. Auditing – reviewing financial statements to assess fairness and
adherence to GAAP
b. Tax accounting – tax compliance and tax planning
c. Management advisory – helping customers improve their business
performance

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 B. Managerial accounting
1. Private accounting
2. May involve working for a single business in industry
3. Provides financial information about business segments, activities, or products
C. Governmental accounting – CPAs in government have responsibilities in the
areas of auditing, financial reporting, and management accounting .
1. Federal government
a. Accountants may work at the FBI, IRS, Securities and Exchange
Commission, Homeland Security, Department of the Treasury and the
General Accounting Office.
b. Duties may include:
(1) Investigating white-collar crime
(2) Managing financial statement audits for government agencies
(3) Performing research and analysis on financial management issues
(4) Testifying before a legislative committee on an audit or on the impact
of pending tax legislation
2. State and local government – CPAs are involved in conducting financial,
performance, or compliance audits which may include:
a. Analyzing a school district's ability to remain viable
b. The propriety of expenditures for constructing prisons
c. The effectiveness of the workers' compensation system
d. The regulatory compliance of hazardous waste programs

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2.01 An Accounting Career?

Why did I take Accounting II?

How will this course help me in my career?

What accounting careers do I know about?

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2.01 Understanding Careers in Accounting – Page 1

Accounting Clerk Accountant

Bookkeeper Certified Public Accountant

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2.01 Understanding Careers in Accounting – Page 2

Public Accounting

Managerial Accounting

Governmental Accounting

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2.01 Understanding Careers in Accounting – Page 3

Federal Government State and Local Government

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 2.01 AICPA Organization – Page 1

1. What does AICPA stand for?

2. What are the 11 tabs across the top of the home page?

3. Name three different types of publications that are available.

4. Under the CPE & Conferences tab, click On-Site Training link and list the Popular
topics?

5. Under the CPE & Conferences tab, click on the Public Seminars link and list two
New and Hot Courses.

6. List three areas of Interests.

7. What are the topics under the Career tab?

8. Briefly describe what information is provided under each topic listed for the Career
tab.

9. What are the topics under the Becoming a CPA tab?

10. Briefly describe what information is provided under each topic listed for the
Becoming a CPA tab.

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 2.01 AICPA Organization – Page 2

11. Click on the Becoming a CPA tab. Click on the Getting Started link. Click on the
Frequently Asked Questions on the left sidebar. Answer the following questions:

a. Are CPAs and accountants the same thing?

b. What is a CPA and what do they do?

c. What do I have to do to become a CPA?

d. What kind of education will I need?

e. What types of skills will I need?

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 2.01 AICPA Organization – Page 1

1. What does AICPA stand for?

2. What are the 11 tabs across the top of the home page?

3. Name three different types of publications that are available.

4. Under the CPE & Conferences tab, click On-Site Training link and list the Popular
topics?

5. Under the CPE & Conferences tab, click on the Public Seminars link and list two
New and Hot Courses.

6. List three areas of Interests.

7. What are the topics under the Career tab?

8. Briefly describe what information is provided under each topic listed for the Career
tab.

9. What are the topics under the Becoming a CPA tab?

10. Briefly describe what information is provided under each topic listed for the
Becoming a CPA tab.

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 2.01 AICPA Organization – Page 2

11. Click on the Becoming a CPA tab. Click on the Getting Started link. Click on the
Frequently Asked Questions on the left sidebar. Answer the following questions:

a. Are CPAs and accountants the same thing?

b. What is a CPA and what do they do?
c. What do I have to do to become a CPA?
d. What kind of education will I need?
e. What types of skills will I need?

Why did I choose to take Accounting II?

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