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WICPA Accounting Careers. Speaker name Company Background WICPA member. About the WICPA. Mission:
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WICPA Accounting Careers
Speaker name Company Background WICPA member
About the WICPA • Mission: • The Wisconsin Institute of CPAs is a professional association which strives to serve its members, assure the public, and maintain the integrity of the accounting profession through the provision of continuing education, peer review, and community service opportunities; involvement in the legislative process; and communication with the public through the print and broadcast media. • WICPA membership: • Over 8,000 members • Builds relationships • Education opportunities • Speaking opportunities • Career opportunities
Who Are You? Let’s Introduce Ourselves • Tell us your name • Why you are interested in accounting? • What do you plan to do with an accounting degree?
Fact or Fiction You have to be a great math student to be an accountant. An accounting degree can lead you to a career in sports, music or entertainment. With an accounting job, you are stuck behind a desk all day counting beans. CPAs are crime fighters. CPAs either work for the IRS or prepare tax returns.
Who Are CPAs? Certified Public Accountants Professionals Trusted business advisors Technical specialists Project managers Analysts & decision makers Strategic thinkers Problem solvers Users of technology Ethical Team oriented Educators
Certified Public Accountant • Licensed by a State Board of Accountancy • Governed by a Code of Professional Conduct • Must adhere to technical standards • Maintain a high level of independence, objectivity and integrity
How to become a CPA? CPA License Requirements Complete 150 semester units Minimum degree bachelor Pass CPA Exam Professional work experience
Career Paths • Public accounting • Corporate/industry accounting • Business entrepreneur • Government • Non-profit • Education/teaching
Public Accounting On the Job What’s In It For You? Internships Challenging & rewarding work Numerous career paths Broad industry exposure Global assignments Continuous learning Performance based salary Competitive benefits Working with talented people Diverse workforce Work/Life balance • Reviewing financial statements • Assessing risk • Testing systems • Evaluating assets • Tax planning • Performance measurement • Analyzing operations • Financial planning • Benchmarking • Teaching/researching
Corporate / Industry Accounting • Work for a company (Small to Large) • Roles include… • Prepare financial statements • Manage company financing and investing activities • Audit internal financial / operating systems • Analyze and report on financial and non-financial data • Identify ways to improve financial performance • Assess tax requirements and alternatives • Rise to top level management • CEO • CFO • Controller • Directors of divisions
Business Entrepreneur Countless opportunities … what you make of it! High Risk = High Reward
Government Opportunities • Federal (FBI, IRS, Treasury, General Accounting Office) • Investigating white-collar crime • Conducting financial statement audits • Performing analysis & research • Dealing with tax legislation • State & Local (School districts, DFI, DOR) • Conduct audits • Compile financial statements • Deal with state tax legislation • Audits at All Levels of Government (FDIC, OCC, SEC, Internal) • Performance (evaluate an organization’s operations) • Financial (examine financial statement) • Compliance (id deviations from laws/regs) • Investigative (investigate improper activities)
Non-Profit • Perform cost benefit analysis – Are expenses exceeding revenues? • Advise on budgeting & tax matters • Prepare financial data to aid in raising & disbursing funds • Setup internal control process • Find fraud
Education Accounting Faculty Typical Career Track Assistant (0-6 years) Associate (with tenure in 7th year) Full professor (10-12 years) • Teach • Conduct research • Publish articles/books • Serve as business consultants & experts
So Which Path is Right for You? Networking • Think about what you want from a career • Talk to family, friends, teachers, and accountants • Get involved with school organizations • Consider an internship and/or job shadow
We’re In Demand! • Aging Population Needs Financial Advice & Protection • The Census Bureau says that an American turns 65 years old every 13 seconds and that some 10,000 boomers retire every day. • It’s estimated that 70 million people will be 65 or older by 2030 – nearly doubling the 34 million today (2011). • “For every three people leaving (retiring from financial services businesses) there’s only one to take their place right now.” – CNBC August 2011 • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 22% growth in accounting and auditing jobs in the decade between 2008 – 2018 especially CPAs and graduates with masters degrees. – AICPA May 2011
Benefits to You Accounting Career • Demand is good • Very challenging • People oriented profession • Highly respected • Income potential • Job satisfaction • Unlimited opportunities
Preparation for H.S. Students • Choose Relevant Courses • Accounting • Computer Applications • Economics • Written Communications • Oral Communications • Research & apply to colleges & universities • Visit an accounting practice • Speak to a WICPA member • Participate in a job shadow program
Where to Obtain More Information Resources • WICPA • AICPA • Accounting firms • High school • Colleges & universities • State boards of accountancy • Internet • Career centers & fairs
WICPA – Where to Find Us? Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants 235 North Executive Drive, Suite 200 Brookfield, WI 53005 Tel: (262) 785-0445 (800) 772-6939 www.wicpa.org
Thank you! We hope to see you as a WICPA member soon. www.wicpa.org