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What is a certified public accountant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.
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A certified public accountant has met the education and experience requirements to earn the CPA designation. They are licensed by state boards of accountancy and are authorized to provide accounting services to the public. CPAs can work in various fields, including audit, tax, and consulting. They prepare financial statements, analyze financial data, and provide guidance on tax planning and compliance. A CPA may also provide advisory services to businesses and individuals on financial matters.

What general advice would you give to a Certified Public Accountant?

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.Stephen Moehrle Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Professor and Chairman of Accounting, University of Missouri - St. Louis

It was a great time to be entering the accounting industry, before the pandemic. Our students were serving in internships in huge numbers and our graduates were enjoying 100% placement, usually with multiple offers. The entry-level professionals were entering a profession marked by emerging and evolving technologies that made even the entry-level duties especially interesting. Further, our tech-comfortable young professionals were experiencing quick advancement because of their ability to employ the new technologies.

Most of the above remains true so the only open question is job availability. It would be unrealistic to say things are great. However, it seems that job prospects for accounting majors will be better than for those of virtually every other entry-level profession during difficult times. I have been speaking with firm leaders across the spectrum of firms and most do intend to be on campus in the fall recruiting season. Of course, they have a lot of time to learn more about the economy over the next few months, but we are cautiously optimistic. Again, I am confident that whatever the state of job availability for young CPAs-to-be, prospects will be better for accounting graduates than virtually any other profession.

They will be entering the profession at a fascinating moment in time. Of course, the technological advances assure this regardless of economic conditions. However, there are business disruption-related issues that will provide rich opportunities for making a difference. For example, audit staff will be working with clients to see them through these troubling times. Lamentably, I fear that these young professionals will learn more about the going concern determination than they desire to know. Tax staff will help clients to optimally use the tax loss carrybacks and carryforwards that are arising by the day. Entry level professionals in corporate accounting will get a day-to-day front row seat in business management through crisis. While lamentable times, these are times when young professionals can make a difference that saves jobs.
ScoreCertified Public AccountantUS Average
Salary
6.0

Avg. Salary $76,693

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.4

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.46%

Asian 12.38%

Black or African American 8.46%

Hispanic or Latino 10.79%

Unknown 3.95%

White 63.96%

Gender

female 56.76%

male 43.24%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.7

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Certified Public Accountant?

Pros

  • High salary

  • Job stability and demand

  • Ability to work independently or as part of a team

  • Potential for flexible work arrangements

  • Positive impact on clients' financial success

Cons

  • Long hours, especially during tax season

  • High stress levels due to deadlines and client demands

  • Monotonous work at times

  • Risk of making errors or facing legal consequences for mistakes

  • High pressure to meet targets and goals

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Certified Public Accountant career paths

Key steps to become a certified public accountant

  1. Explore certified public accountant education requirements

    Most common certified public accountant degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.3 %

    Master's

    11.9 %

    Associate

    11.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific certified public accountant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CPA48.04%
    Customer Service22.08%
    IRS7.47%
    State Tax Returns4.73%
    Payroll Tax Returns1.55%
  3. Complete relevant certified public accountant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New certified public accountants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a certified public accountant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real certified public accountant resumes.
  4. Gain additional certified public accountant certifications

    Certified public accountant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific certified public accountant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for certified public accountants include Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research certified public accountant duties and responsibilities

    • Mentor highly skil accounting and tax management team to achieve establish objectives including conformity with GAAP compliance.
    • Maintain monthly client bookkeeping including bank reconciliations, account payable and prepare preliminary financial statements for CPA review.
    • Conduct bookkeeping, bank reconciliations and generate general ledgers as well as raise concerns about expenditure classifications and revenue recognition.
    • Prepare and review month-end close, including journal entries, general ledger account reconciliations, and financial statement supporting documentation.
  6. Prepare your certified public accountant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your certified public accountant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a certified public accountant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Certified Public Accountant Resume templates

    Build a professional Certified Public Accountant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Certified Public Accountant resume.
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  7. Apply for certified public accountant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a certified public accountant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Certified Public Accountant Job

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Average certified public accountant salary

The average Certified Public Accountant salary in the United States is $76,693 per year or $37 per hour. Certified public accountant salaries range between $49,000 and $119,000 per year.

Average Certified Public Accountant Salary
$76,693 Yearly
$36.87 hourly

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How do certified public accountants rate their job?

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Certified Public Accountant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

Reporting to a CPA Controller or CFO, always learning and not micromanaged. Treated as a professional always.

Cons

Business owners that do not know or understand compliance and GAAP, or the patience to follow the rules... generally common in small companies.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

It's an office job.

Cons

Everything else. Too much anxiety, debts, low sallary (€700/month).


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Pros

I like when the numbers fall in to place. I enjoy helping clients reach their financial goals. I am great with client consultations. I appreciate the chance to help plan for a client's needs.

Cons

I dislike situations where no planning had been done. I am bothered when a client has an accounting problem that could have been avoided by proper planning.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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