Quick Guide to Accounting Training
by: Kate Leas
Are you considering an accounting education but confused by all the jargon? This is a quick guide to understanding the different specialties associated with accounting careers and the training you will need to be successful.
Business cannot function without people who monitor, evaluate, and synthesize productivity, financial, and resource data. Accounting, or accountancy, is the practice of collecting and measuring data in order to allocate resources. Most often accounting is specific to a business?s finances. Auditing is a related field whereby records are reviewed and a conclusion reached; resulting in a recommendation for action; geared to ensure efficiency and to improve performance and ensure adherence to standards and principles. A simple example of the workplace relationship follows: An accountant would enter and keep track of payroll and company expenses. An auditor would review the records kept by the accountant to determine if money and time are being well spent.
When people think of auditors, the first thought is probably one of an IRS man in a suit with a stern expression coming to make sure you paid your taxes. While this type of auditor exists (not to be feared if you have been a good record keeper) auditors are usually individuals who are hired to evaluate the accuracy of accounts kept by a company. Their analyses help management determine effectiveness and efficiency.
Accounting professionals often deal with time to money ratios. In order to keep track of all these numbers, professionals must be well able to use computers; specifically spreadsheet applications (such as Microsoft Excel).
Accountants often specialize in one field. Jobs include bookkeeping, tax accounting, cost accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, time keeping and payroll.
? Accounts receivable refers to incoming payments.
? Accounts payable refers to debits and outgoing payments.
? Bookkeeping refers to recording transactions and calculations.
? Tax accounting in its simplest form refers to the specialty of preparing tax returns.
? Cost accounting refers to the specialty of accounting that deals with analyzing, tracking, and recording business costs. Cost may be measured not only in money, but in time.
? Time keeping and payroll clerks do just what it sounds like; they keep track of workers? time sheets and payroll.
Training for accounting careers varies. For many jobs a bachelor?s degree in accounting is not necessary, though some education or experience is generally required. Accounting training programs often involve computer classes to familiarize students with the applications used in the workplace. Those in the accounting field must be comfortable using spreadsheets and other financial and accounting software (QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel) as well as word processing software such as Microsoft Word. Close attention to detail is essential, as is an aptitude for numbers and order. A high level of trustworthiness and discretion is also essential as much of the information processed is confidential. Office experience and communication skills are also essential in the workplace. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) must undergo a four-part, two-day exam administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and are required to complete a minimum of 150 college credit hours (this is 30 hours more than the usual needed to graduate with a bachelor?s degree.) The exam is considered to be quite difficult, and many do not pass all four sections at one time. Partial credit is usually awarded as long as the candidate passes at least two sections.
As with any career, an interest in the subject matter is helpful. Someone who hates math should probably not consider an accounting career just as someone who hates English should steer clear of copywriting.
Remember, it never hurts to do a little research and ask questions about programs. School representatives are always happy to help prospective students find out more about their offerings. Accounting careers are diverse and abundant; why not change your future with an accounting education?
About The Author
Kate Leas is a freelance writer from Kansas City, Missouri. Her current topics include education and the Internet. For more information or help finding an accounting program please visit: http://www.collegesearchengine.net/search.php?searchzip=&program=7
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Puppy Vaccines Assure Wagging Tails and Wet Noses
Puppy Vaccines Assure Wagging Tails and Wet Noses
by: Charles Burke
When you get a new puppy it is imperative that he receive all his proper puppy vaccines.
These protect him from getting diseases if he becomes exposed to them.
When the pet doctor injects a vaccine into your puppy, it "teaches" the pup?s immune system what a disease organism looks like. But the vaccine contains only weak or dead versions of the organism, so the puppy's immune system learns to recognize it, but without the danger of serious infection.
Later in life, if the organism ever attacks, the puppy?s immune system is already prepared to fight it off because of the vaccine.
When a puppy receives a puppy vaccine, his body forms antibodies that can fight that particular disease.
With the antibody already in the puppy?s system, it will have a better chance of fighting off the infection.
Puppies should receive their puppy vaccines...
Puppy Vaccines Assure Wagging Tails and Wet Noses
Puppy training > Puppy Vaccines Assure Wagging Tails and Wet Noses
The Fearless and Friendly Boxer Dog
The Fearless and Friendly Boxer Dog
by: Mike Mathews
It is hard to imagine that a dog breed descended from the mastiff-type dogs of war and one whose progenitors were used for bull and bear baiting, is now one of the most popular family-oriented breeds in the world.
The popular Boxer dog is a playful clown that continues to display youthful exuberance from its puppy stage to its senior years. Boxers are a courageous, good-natured, friendly, energetic, loyal, fun-loving, and family-oriented dog breed. Boxers love children and will suffer all sorts of child inflicted indignities with stoicism. However toddlers and young children should be carefully supervised with excited adolescent and young Boxers who can accidentally knock them over. The boxer is a large and strong dog that must be socialized thoroughly and obedience trained while a puppy and that training must be continued through adolescence to control its exuberance. The Boxer can be overly...
The Fearless and Friendly Boxer Dog
Puppy training > The Fearless and Friendly Boxer Dog
How To Eliminate Your Puppy's Love of Nipping
How To Eliminate Your Puppy's Love of Nipping
by: David Silva
If you've ever been nipped by a puppy, you know those teeth can be as sharp as ice picks. While other dogs generally have thick skin and can handle a nip relatively undamaged, we humans are not quite so fortunate. And yes, a puppy bite can definitely break skin.
So how do you put a stop to your puppy's nipping?
First, it helps to understand that he's not biting maliciously. Biting and mouthing are natural activities for puppies and young dogs. They instinctively nip when playing with their siblings. This is the way they interact with the world around them. Left with his family, a puppy would soon be taught by his mother and siblings to control his bite. But most puppies are removed from their mothers before they've had a chance to learn this lesson.
With this in mind, taking advantage of your puppy's natural instincts can actually provide you with an easy, painless way...
How To Eliminate Your Puppy's Love of Nipping
Puppy training > How To Eliminate Your Puppy's Love of Nipping
The Fearless and Friendly Boxer Dog
The Fearless and Friendly Boxer Dog
by: Mike Mathews
It is hard to imagine that a dog breed descended from the mastiff-type dogs of war and one whose progenitors were used for bull and bear baiting, is now one of the most popular family-oriented breeds in the world.
The popular Boxer dog is a playful clown that continues to display youthful exuberance from its puppy stage to its senior years. Boxers are a courageous, good-natured, friendly, energetic, loyal, fun-loving, and family-oriented dog breed. Boxers love children and will suffer all sorts of child inflicted indignities with stoicism. However toddlers and young children should be carefully supervised with excited adolescent and young Boxers who can accidentally knock them over. The boxer is a large and strong dog that must be socialized thoroughly and obedience trained while a puppy and that training must be continued through adolescence to control its exuberance. The Boxer can be overly...
The Fearless and Friendly Boxer Dog
Puppy training > The Fearless and Friendly Boxer Dog
Data Backup - Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Data Backup - Prevention Is Better Than Cure
by: Justin Koh
Imagine that you have been working on a file for the entire day and there was a power surge that caused your computer to 'black out'. It would have been a frustrating experience for us as we had put in a lot of time and effort into it. I am sure that many of us would have experienced data loss in some form or another and have learnt to be wiser to backup our data to avoid any form of data loss.
Have...
laptop Puppy training Data Backup - Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Puppy training > Data Backup - Prevention Is Better Than Cure