What is An Accountant?

Accountant – Definition: (dictionary.com)

A person whose profession is inspecting and auditing personal or commercial accounts.

• A person concerned with the maintenance and audit of business accounts and the preparation of consultant reports in tax and finance

• A person whose job is to keep or inspect financial accounts.

When you started your business you likely had visions of helping people with your product or service, working together with employees, and having more time with your family.

However, many small business owners quickly realize there are a lot of other areas of business they need to learn. Legal, customer service, and accounting quickly become essential.

When it comes to accounting, you may be better off hiring an accountant.  

An Accountant is…

An “accountant” is an individual who is qualified and trained in bookkeeping, preparation, auditing, and analysis of financial accounts.

An accountant will prepare financial reports and statements to aid in planning and decision-making.

Accountants also tend to have a good understanding of tax laws and can advise and assist in tax strategy.

Although they have a basic understanding of tax consequences, they are not certified in offering tax advice, planning, or preparation, such as a CPA or EA.

The primary function of an accountant

The primary function of an accountant is to prepare and examine financial reports. They will usually review what a bookkeeper has done and ensure that the bookkeeper’s records are accurate and that taxes have been addressed properly (What is a Bookkeeper).

This is a general take. Some companies, like ProAdvisor CPA, provide bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services. Some just provide one of these. It all depends on what you are prepared to hand off and what areas you need the most help in.

If you aren’t sure what your business needs, most businesses offer consultations to help you decide what would be best. 

If you would like to schedule a consultation with ProAdvisor CPA, you can schedule one here. 

Education

The accountant role is similar to that of a bookkeeper, where there is no hard requirement to being an accountant.

There is no requirement to be a licensed bookkeeper or accountant to operate as one. However, many employers will not consider an individual for an accountant position without a minimum of an associate’s degree and some base level experience in the field of work.

Many accountants start as bookkeepers and work their way into an accountant position. Unlike a bookkeeper, the accounting field has much more opportunity for growth.

General to Specialized

Typically, accountants start out in a general accounting function. Over time accountants tend to become more specialized. Many accountants/bookkeepers specialize in a specific industry, like construction or education.

ProAdvisor CPA specializes in small businesses, startups, and franchises. 

There are many growth opportunities for an accountant, they can either grow into a specialization, such as a tax specialization, international tax specialization, sales tax specialization, or move up a notch with a certification such as an Enrolled Agent, CPA, or CMA.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Many accountants will work their way towards becoming a CPA, or Certified Public Accountant.

A CPA licensure is one of the most, if not the most, difficult professional licenses to obtain with an average attrition rate of 55%, 12-18 months to complete four, (4) hour exams.

An accountant will not be able to sit for the CPA exam without a set amount of college courses, which can equate to a master’s degree, which is why you will find most CPA also has Master’s Degrees in Accounting.

They also will need at least (1) year of public accounting experience that is signed off by an active licensed CPA.

Enrolled Agent (EA)

Though, not a typical route for an accountant, an accountant who specializes in tax may go down the route of becoming an Enrolled Agent.

An Enrolled Agent is a tax advisor who is a federally-authorized tax practitioner.

The Enrolled Agent credential is the highest credential awarded by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and is recognized across all 50 states, whereas the CPA license is licensed state by state.

An Enrolled Agent can also represent clients directly in front of the IRS with claims against the taxpayer.

Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

The IMA’s Certified Management Accountant certification is geared towards the specialization in management accounting and financial management fields.

In order to sit for the CMA, the individual must have a Bachelor’s Degree and two continuous years of experience employed in the management accounting roles.

Individuals that hold the CMA are proficient in making strategic business decisions based on financial data.

Typically many CMA’s grow into roles such as Vice President of Finance, Controller, Chief Financial Officer, or Chief Executive Officer.

Overview

If you are looking to have someone help with your books or understand your business’s finances better, an accountant is likely the answer.

There are many types of accountants and likely even some that specialize in your industry. 

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