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Accounting professionals are in very high demand. The nature of work in accounting is so
vast an individual would have so many different areas of accounting to choose from.
Accounting requires people who can work with complex business structures, computer
systems, and financial analysis packages. Accounting work further requires an aptitude for
mathematics and the ability to compare and analyze accounting data quickly. Accountants
also need to have strong communication skills as they must effectively communicate
accounting data to their employers and/or clients. The accounting profession also demands
a high level of integrity and morality because the financial data prepared by accountants is
used by business managers to run their business, and, in public companies, such
accounting data is used by potential investors to decide whether or not to invest in the
business. The work that is preformed by accountants potentially has the ability to be
viewed by anyone and in turn is of significant value to who ever views it. An accountant
must encompass an enormous amount of knowledge when it comes to performing their
specific responsibilities. An immense amount of theory must be put into play when
executing their duties as a professional. Accounting is a field that is the basis and the
language of all businesses. Its curriculum, field diversity and demand are as substantial as
those of other professional fields that require an individual to attend professional schooling
to attain a specialized status in their particular field of designation. Clearly, it is of utmost
importance to fully comprehend the amount of information entailed in accounting and to
ensure that time and effort is spent on educating an individual of its significance.
The current curriculum that the accounting profession is based on entails acquiring a four
year undergraduate degree from an accredited university with a major focus in accounting.
Following the undergraduate degree, an accounting student would choose an exclusive
area to specialize in and work towards a completion of an additional year in university to
finalize the 150 credit hours required in accounting to be eligible to sit for the Certified
Public Accounting board exam. The 150 credit hours are needed to obtain the required
body of knowledge and to develop the skills and abilities needed to be a successful CPA.
After the theory portion of the educational experience is completed, the most important
aspect becomes practical experience. Practical experience is what drives the market. The
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants requires that either a one tier or two tier
