Have you ever thought of becoming an accountant? If so, then this career summary belongs to you. You will be able to learn most of the things you wished you knew before, and different pertinent elements about your future career, such as where they work, what they do, how you can become an accountant, how much they get paid and many more. I am motivated to write it because it's something I wished I had known to clarify my doubts when I needed to make the choice of my future career.
An accountant works in the financial department of a company. They analyse numbers, communicate with other coworkers, clients, and suppliers. It's more than math. It requires different skills, and they have to follow laws and regulation in order to make sure that everything is legal and right. Also, the job of an accountant can vary a lot depending on the specialization.
Accountants have different tasks and responsibilities. They track different financial information such as transactions, payments, and incomes. With this information they prepare and analyse the financial records. They also examine the tax information. They also travel to different places, and they get the opportunity to meet their clients if they work in accounting firm.
A typical day of an accountant varies depending their specialties. It can look different from a bookkeeper to a payroll clerk. First in the morning they check their emails, they review what they have to do and start preparing reports. Afterwards, these financial professional attend meeting with clients and other staffs to present the financial situation of the company and help them make decisions. During the afternoon, they work deeply on the reports by analysing and investigating any frauds or errors. By the end of the day, accountants finish their work for the day and plan for the next day.
All accountants usually work in office settings such as in a business company, in a corporate office, in accounting firm or government firms.
There are multiple paths to become an accountant.You can go into Social Sciences with math (2 years) and then go to university. Or, you can complete a technique in accounting in college for 3 years, and then go to university to obtain a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related program. What's special about Montmorency College is that there is a program called DEC-BAC, which means that you can get a bachelor's degree in accounting and a DEC in accounting. This program means that you will have summer classes and the courses will be more intensive over a shorter period. You can then pursue your studies with a higher university degree such as a master's. The most important part of all of this is the state- licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification, which automatically includes three other designation: PA, RPA, and AP. It is the certification that most companies look for in a candidate.
There isn't a specific range of salary mentioned, but accountants' salaries increase over experience, competences, and job opportunity. Other sources like " Guichet-Emplois, du Gouvernement du Canada", mention that someone with a new entry level gains about $25 per hour, and it can go up to $67 per hour.
To become a professional qualified accountant, you must get the CPA certification. Then, you have to continue your education to maintain your license and keep up with the new updates. With the technology developing in this domain, you have to have a strong computer and software skills.
As an accountant, there aren't any physical dangers, but there are real risks. In fact, accountants deal with important financial data. They can get exposed to frauds, they may try to hide information, and some clients may try to manipulate the financial statements to avoid paying taxes or the amount. So, what's important with this element is to respect and apply ethical behavior. Also, like other jobs, accountants deal with stress and burnout when they are working long hours and during heavy deadlines such as the tax season. It is considered a danger when your mental health is not able to keep up with the job.
Accountants use a lot of technology to write out their reports, but it's unlikely to be fully replaced soon. Software is present to make accountants' work more convenient. As an accountant, you still need some human skills such as judgment, advising and analysing different documents, and these skills cannot be achieved by robots or Al. The future of small business', tax planners, auditors' are expecting to grow.
In general, accountants retire around the age of 60 to 65. For those who are independent consultants, they decide to decrease their hour of work for better work-life balance. During their career, they gain experience such as in financial analysis and decision-making. Pursuing certifications like CPA, or missing a higher job position, they may regret in different aspect like their salary and their expertise.
At the moment I am completing my second semester. At my 6th semester I will have to do an internship as an accountant in order to obtain my diploma. Then, I will pursue my studies at HEC Montreal, a university that specializes in the finance, to get my CPA. During my studies, I will also work part-time to gain some experience.
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Accuracy: probably true
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