Qualifications of Accountants
The small business owner often starts the business with few employees and manages the accounting work himself. Eventually the demands of the business require more of his attention and he realizes he needs to hire an accountant. Hiring an accountant intimidates many small business owners. Knowing what to look for in an accountant simplifies the process.
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Education
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Colleges offer accounting students many options for higher education degrees. Technical colleges offer associate degrees qualifying students for an entry level position, such as an accounting clerk. Four year colleges offer bachelor's degrees, qualifying students for a higher level position with a higher salary, such as a general ledger accountant. Universities offer Master in Public Accountancy programs for students pursuing a higher level position, such as a controller.
Experience
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Accountants start their career in entry-level positions learning the hands-on nature of accounting to complement their educational journey. As accountants gain experience, their knowledge base increases, qualifying them for higher level positions. Accountants may increase their knowledge by advancing in one dimension of accounting, such as advancement from a payroll clerk to a payroll accountant, or the accountant may increase their knowledge by choosing lateral moves in an organization, such as transferring from cost accounting to fixed asset accounting.
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Certification
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Certification adds a qualification for the accountant that many working accountants lack. Certification demonstrates that the individual possesses ambition and the motivation to meet the certification requirements. Certified accountants are required to continue updating their skills through continuing education. Accountants pursuing certification have several options depending on their chosen career path. Certified Management Accountants work primarily in businesses. Certified Public Accountants work with accounting firms. Certified Internal Auditors find employment in the auditing field, either internally in companies or with accounting firms.
Interpersonal Skills
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Accountants learn to speak in accounting terms, using words like debits and credits or journal entries, throughout their education and hands-on work experience. Nonaccountants are unfamiliar with these terms. Accountants need to posses interpersonal skills allowing them to communicate effectively with nonaccountants regarding the information on their reports.
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