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Certified Public Accountant: Duties and Responsibilities

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Certified Public Accountant Introduction What draws me into the field of accountancy? Why do I want to launch a career as a certified public accountant (CPA)? What is there about numbers, spreadsheets, profit and loss statements, audits, inventory and fiduciary responsibility that appeal me? In this paper I will describe in detail the reasons why I am attracted to this field. Also, what are the duties and responsibilities of a CPA? How available are job openings for a person with the education and experience to work as a CPA? How well to companies compensate those hired as CPAs? These questions and issues will be thoroughly reviewed in this paper. The Literature on Duties and Responsibilities of a CPA The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition) points out that while most accountant's positions require "at least a bachelor's degree" there will be job opportunities in fact the job picture for accountants is "favorable" for those who have earned "professional recognition" either through certification of licensure, or by receiving designation as a certified public accountant (CPA) (BLS.gov). There are four main fields of accounting and auditing listed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics: "public accounting, management accounting, government accounting, and internal auditing." CPAs are not limited to a narrow list of activities, in fact public accountants typically work with a "broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting

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