What is an Accountant?
A qualified accountant is generally a person who has qualified by examination, received training and is skilled in the practice of accounting. Accountants work in either the public sector or the private accounting sector. The accountant is generally responsible for advising on the financial aspects of the business, as well as reporting on its financial results and looking after compliance matters such as taxation, regulations and government legislation. A non-qualified accountant is a person who is not formally qualified by examination, but generally has the experience, knowledge and the skills to perform many of the functions expected and provided by a qualified accountant. Accountants can be an Asset There will always be times during the operation of your venture that you will need professional assistance to help you with certain areas of your business. Many larger businesses can afford to have their own in-house accountant. However, most small and medium businesses either do not nee
An accountant is an individual who performs accounting tasks for individuals or companies. The exact material that an accountant handles varies depending on the size of the company and the accountant’s specialization, but generally includes financial records, taxes, and responsibility for the issuing of financial reports. An accountant is one of the primary figures in a business that he or she works for, whether it is a multinational corporation or a small family owned business. Requirements to become an accountant vary upon specialization and nation, but generally include certification through a professional agency and a basic college degree in accounting and finance. In a small firm, an accountant may be responsible for keeping all financial records. These records include payroll information, accounts payable, accounts receivable, retail sales, and information regarding investments held by the company. These accounts are kept organized in ledgers which are used to asses the financial
Think of an accountant as a designated driver for your money—ensuring that you don’t overpay your taxes or get into hot water with the IRS. Unlike a tax preparer—who generally just fills out tax returns—an accountant does your returns and provides on-going tax smarts and financial-planning advice year-round. Since all areas of your financial life have tax implications, an accountant also can help you prevent financial mistakes, allowing you to keep and invest more of your wealth. Of course, accountants aren’t for everyone. If you’re just starting out, an accountant is probably an expense you can avoid. Also, if you have a simple set of assets, an accountant probably isn’t required. But, there are circumstances where an accountant makes sense. For instance, if you’re self-employed or own a business, an accountant can serve as your financial security guard—making sure your company’s books are ship shape and blowing the whistle when financial warning signs emerge, such as declining cash f
Although job titles vary by employer, an accountant is essentially any person working in an accounting field with sufficient responsibilities to be considered an accountant, as opposed to someone that is entering data or in more of a clerk position. Common accountant duties may include journal entries, account reconciliations, and period closings. Depending on the type of accounting job, the accountant’s duties may vary greatly from these activities. Also, the type of accounting position will cause the duties to vary greatly. For example, a management accountant’s job will be much different from a financial accountant’s job. Both of these will probably not resemble an accounting auditor’s job for the most part. For many accounting positions, a person with a license is preferred. However, there are many accounting jobs that do not require a CPA or other accounting license.
