1. FINAL
PROJECT:
CERTIFIED
PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANT
Miguel Mejia – West Los Angeles College

2. Job Description
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is an accountant who has
passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination.
CPAs primarily work in assurance services for public
accounting firms. The CPA attests to the reasonableness of
disclosures, the freedom from material misstatement, and the
adherence to generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP).

3. Duties & Tasks
CPAs have many career paths to choose
from. Fields for CPAs include public
accounting, private accounting, and
government agencies. CPAs often work in :
• Tax advising and preparation
• Auditing
• Consulting
• Managing a business

4. Required Technical Skills
CPAs require a vast variety of skills to be
successful. Skills learned in the classroom
and in the field include:
Strong leadership Keen decision-making
Communication skills People management skills
Attention to detail Knowledge of GAAP
Analytical skills Math skills
Financial acumen Knowledge of the audit
manual

5. Tools & Equipment Used
CPAs involved in the audit services deal
with a lot of paperwork. The following
tools/equipment are used in audit
procedures:
• Working papers
• Payroll records
• Audit software & computer
• Accounting information systems
• General ledger
• Financial statements
• Other relevant financial information

6. Work Environment
•Most CPAs work in a typical office setting,
while some are able to do part of their work
from home.
•Accountants employed by public
accounting firms, the government, and
organizations with various locations may
travel often to perform audits at the client
site.
Almost half of all accountants and auditors
•
worked a standard 40-hour week in 2008,
but many worked longer hours.
Tax specialists frequently work long hours
•
during the busy tax season.
Accountants generally wear business
•
casual/business professional attire at their
offices and client site

7. Work Environment
The “Big 4” audit firms are some of the
most prestigious public accounting
firms. They are:

8. Education & Training
Requirements
•A CPA is licensed by each sate.
•In CA, to obtain the CPA license,
candidates are required to show what
they have learned and their
competence by passing the Uniform
CPA exam, meeting education
standards, and obtaining accounting
experience.
•There are changes for licensing
requirements effective January 1,
2014.
•According to CalCPA, there are two
pathways for earning the CPA
certification (see next slide)

9. Education & Training
Requirements
Pathway 2 (After 1/1/14, this will
Pathway 1 (Expires 12/31/13) be the only pathway to
licensure in CA
Designed for individuals who will practice If you are licensed under this pathway, the
only in California and requires: majority of other states will recognize your
license. If you think that someday you
 A bachelor’s degree; might want to practice in another state,
 24 semester units in accounting-related Pathway 2 may provide you the
subjects; professional mobility you desire.
Requirements:
 24 semester units in business-related
subjects (accounting courses beyond  A bachelor’s degree;
the 24 required units may apply toward  24 semester units in accounting-related
the business units); subjects;
 Passing the Uniform CPA Exam;  24 semester units in business-related
subjects;
 Two years of general accounting
experience supervised by a CPA with  150 semester units (or 225 quarter units)
an active license; and of education;
 Passing an ethics course.  Passing the Uniform CPA Exam; and one
year of general accounting experience
supervised by a CPA with an active
license; and
 Passing an ethics course.

10. Job Outlook
•The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that accountants
and auditors are expected are very likely to experience
faster than average employment growth through 2018.
•The Bureau goes on to state that accountants and
auditors who hold a professional certification,
particularly CPAs, are more likely to have favorable
prospects.
•As the economy improves and grows, the business
world will have an increased need for accountants.
•The globalization of business and the increasing
complexity of financial reporting also will put a higher
demand for accountants.

11. Expected Earnings
The following table lists average annual salaries for several
accounting positions. Salaries depend on location, company
size, professional designation, experience, and other factors.
Salaries for chief financial officers range from $75,000 to
more than $1,000,000 yearly. The salaries for bookkeepers
range from under $30,000 to more than $80,000.
Field Title (experience) 2007 Salary 2012 Estimate
Public Accounting Partner $190,000 $242,500
Manager (6-8 years) 94,500 120,500
Senior (3-5 years) 72,000 92,000
Junior (0-2 years) 51,500 65,500
Private Accounting CFO 232,000 296,000
Controller/Treasurer 147,500 188,000
Manager (6-8 years) 87,500 111,500
Senior (3-5 years) 72,500 92,500
Junior (0-2 years) 49,000 62,500

12. Professional Associations &
Clubs
•Association of Latino Professionals in Accounting
and Finance (ALPFA)
•American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
(AICPA)
•American Society of Women Accountants (ASWA)
•Beta Alpha Psi
•Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board
(FASB)
•International Network of Accountants and Auditors
(INAA)

13. References
• Wild, Shaw, & Chiappetta, (2009). Fundamental Accounting Principles. (19 ed.). McGraw-Hill.
• Accounting: Skills & Talents (2011). http://www.careers-in-accounting.com/acskill.htm
• CalCPA (2011). http://www.calcpa.org/content/licensure/requirements.aspx
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2011). Occupation Outlook Handbook.
•
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos001.htm
American Institute of CPAs (2011).
•
http://www.aicpa.org/Career/CareerPaths/Pages/CareerPaths.aspx