Why Become a Certified Public Accountant

The desire to become a CPA is not enough, there must be a reason behind our training and that training must carry us forward to audit companies big and small. Smaller companies have less historical financial data in general and they are more difficult to audit due to this constraint. Large organizations provide the auditor with an opportunity to find various types of issues if not complexity, including the integrity of the financial statements and the timeliness of the information that is provided to investors.

Becoming a CPA is important for the development of personal goals in one’s career but the title itself does not mean anything unless we have a purpose. For me, that purpose is to aid in the development of a more equal field for participants in finance. We hear in the news that President Donal J. Trump does not want to disclose financial data that should be provided to auditors and that demonstrates that the arena has not changed. The elite still holds the majority of the ground when it comes to wealth and there is disparity in the distribution of resources and wealth itself.

CPAs are important because they can audit and prepare taxes, they can also place a level of materiality to which companies that they audit must abide by. If the company is not compliant, the opinion of the auditor could be detrimental to the organization being audited. However, it is remarkable to see managers change internal controls, manage personnel and restructure inventory in order to comply with the regulations and suggestions that the auditor makes for a more transparent reporting.

When we think of auditors, we think of people with analytical skills, professionals with knowledge of GAAP, GAAS and GAGAS. The first two apply to private entities, while the latter applies to governmental institutions. GAGAS is referred to as the Yellow Book in common terms and it contains regulation that governmental organizations must follow. For example, there are guidelines to creating funds, and those funds are restricted or unrestricted depending on the agency, the purpose and the goals of the organization.

I have worked with many CPAs and I have noticed that their demeanor and independence from each other is obvious. There is a clear cut and visible line that borders each CPAs work and that in itself is a sign of accountability in the profession. My desire to become a CPA stems from finding new knowledge, from learning new concepts, but also to have a purpose in my career.

Coming from a background in math, where I was usually good with numbers and having a good memory, I find myself seeking an opportunity to develop further and to become someone with a purpose. The idea of giving an opinion on a company’s financial statements and reviewing the development of the organization through the glass of expertise is exciting, challenging and stimulating.

Accounting tends to be one of those professions where we can get stagnant, in other words stuck in old ways, but the desire to develop and have a purpose can help someone in the field have the motivation necessary to thrive and to develop potential new strategies that companies can follow and apply to their business.

Participating in company meetings, fully understanding an industry and making sure that we have the best interest of the public at hand allows us to mature, become better professionals and achieve the CPA license for a purpose other than recognition. We, as professionals, must be able to look outside our environment and find reasons to grow, other than earning a higher salary or having seniority at an organization. There is more to this journey than numbers and codes, and while those guidelines are strictly implemented by agencies like the Internal Revenue Service, the story of accounting carries more weight than we think.

Finance and accounting have something in common, they deal with money and numbers, when we get involved in a project that includes both specialties, we have a complete if not wholesome process and we are able to see the full picture in the eyes of a person and not just a professional.