The top 10 qualities of a great accountant are more about one’s nature than the skills they have acquired, although these qualities can be cultivated if you are striving to pursue a career in this field. In order to be a great accountant you need more than just mathematical, analytical and organizations skills. You must possess certain qualities that will separate your work from that of lesser accountants. The following are the top 10 qualities of a great accountant:

1. Ambition: Without ambition you’ll never achieve your goals in accounting or otherwise, so aim high.
2. Communication Skills: You must be able to communicate effectively with clients and with colleagues in order to be an effective accountant.
3. Competitiveness: Having a competitive spirit will help you achieve your goals and better serve your clients as best as you can.
4. Initiative: Any great businessperson is able to push himself or herself harder and become stronger in order to perform to the best of their abilities.
5. Intellect: Knowledge of accounting is a must, but knowledge of business, economics, politics, technology and other global issues will also help you get ahead.
6. Integrity: With a sense of personal and professional integrity you will be able to ethically conduct business and build a positive reputation.
7. Leadership Skills: You must be able to lead teams, inspire people and command a room in order to be successful in any business, including accounting.
8. Likeability: No one will want to work with you or for you if you aren’t likeable. Any successful accountant must be able to network, build contacts and work well with others.
9. Not Afraid to Take Risks: Leaders in accounting and other business professions have entrepreneurial spirits and know when it’s the right time to take a risk or to play it safe.

10.  Reliability: People will be counting on you, so you must be reliable and always ready to get the job done in order to be a great accountant.

If you do not have all of the preceding top 10 qualities of a great accountant, you must cultivate them if you are going to be successful in this business.

Institutions offering quality Accounting Programs include University of Phoenix, Strayer University, DeVry University, Brown Mackie College and Everest College.

Find the perfect Accounting School or Accounting College today and start your path to a rewarding career.

Accounting school internship programs can help students gain excellent experience and can provide a job to list on their resume before they even finish school and enter the job market. There is a great need for accountants, and you will have a job that is in demand once you get into this field, but first you have to get the experience that will get you hired. Finding the right internship to help you get ahead shouldn’t be hard as long as you follow a few simple steps.

The first step to finding good accounting school internship programs is to decide whether you require a paid internship or if you can be flexible and accept a non-paid internship that will provide the same experience. You should speak with an adviser at your school and figure out when you’ll be ready to begin an internship for school credit, as some institutions have GPA requirements for students interested in pursuing internships. It would also be a good idea to join Beta Alpha Psi, which is the National Accounting Fraternity. They know about many of the current internships, and their alumni often hire recent graduates that were members of the fraternity.

Once you’ve decided you’re ready to pursue one of the accounting school internships programs, then you can begin building your resume and searching for positions. If you need help, the career center or library should be able to provide sample resumes for inspiration. Your school’s career center and/or internship programs office should be able to point you in the right direction as you search for internships. There may also be career sessions and job fairs you can attend. Your accounting professors may even have internship opportunities available; it can’t hurt to ask. And if you still can’t find anything, you can search online job databases for accounting intern positions.

When you interview for an accounting school internship program, make sure to dress appropriately; show up on time; send a thank you letter once the interview is over, and make sure to verify with your adviser that this is a qualified internship for school credit.

Institutions offering quality Accounting Programs include University of Phoenix, Strayer University, DeVry University, Brown Mackie College and Everest College.

Find the perfect Accounting School or Accounting College today and start your path to a rewarding career.

The question of how to become a stockbroker all comes down to your interest in this line of work and your dedication to gaining enough expertise in the field to skillfully buy and sell stocks or other financial instruments for clientele. The salary potential for stockbrokers is high, but it all depends on how hard you work and how successful you are since this is largely a commission-based job.

Most people who are considering how to become a stockbroker want to know the degrees needed, if any, to qualify for this type of position. While many stockbrokers have bachelor’s degrees or even master’s degrees in subjects ranging from business to English, there is actually no educational requirement beyond high school for this job. It may make you more desirable as a candidate for a job at a firm and instill trust in clients if you have a formal education, though, so go ahead and get a college degree in the subject that interests you most. Economics and business are the most closely related subjects, but stockbrokers have alls sorts of degrees.

What is more important than an economics degree is getting licensed. This is one of the most important pieces of career information for future stockbrokers. You will need to take exams to get licensed, and the requirements may vary from state to state. The exam is called the General Securities Registered Representative Examination or Series 7 Exam and is conducted by the National Association of Securities Dealers. You will also most likely have to complete an internship before being hired on at a firm. They will want to know that you have knowledge of consumer protection laws, best procedures and a general understanding of securities, stocks and various administrative procedures.

Although working on commission can be risky, and the field is competitive, stockbrokers have excellent earning potential and career options, although you may need to do side work as an advisor or real estate agent to find clients and build your knowledge of the financial world. Stockbrokers may earn anywhere from $40,000 to over $130,000 annually depending on various factors.

Find the perfect Accounting School today and start your path to a rewarding career.

If you’re wondering how to become a CPA, there are many factors to consider. First you must consider whether the job is actually right for you, and once you have that figured out then you can begin looking into the requirements that must be fulfilled to get into a college program in preparation for this career. Most students choose a dedicated accounting program at an accredited institution that provides a clear pathway to passage of a series of tests governed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

In order to be ready for the Uniform CPA Examination you will need to be competent in the various subjects that encompass the accounting world. A bachelor’s degree that includes at least 24 semester hours of accounting and 24 semester hours of other business courses is the best way to get ready for this tough examination. Then you may apply to take the exams by filling out a series of forms (proving you have fulfilled the educational requirements) and by paying the required fees. After passing the exams and gaining licensure you will also need to take 120 hours of continuing education courses every three years.

Chances are if you’re wondering how to become a CPA, you’re also wondering how your job outlook and salary will be once you enter the profession. On average, CPAs with one to three years of experience may earn anywhere from $35,000 to $60,000 annually depending on whether they work at a large or small firm. Other factors such as location, school where degree was earned and extracurricular activities may also help to earn a higher salary. Some CPAs also have master’s degrees, which can raise the salary even further. As you work your way up and become a director in a firm, you could earn anywhere from $71,000 to $130,000 depending on whether you work at a small, medium or large firm. Partners in firms can earn as much as $175,000.

The best states to work as a CPA are California and New York where the median salary is $75,000, but the outlook is good wherever you go, so it would be worthwhile to pursue this career.

Institutions offering quality Accounting Programs include University of Phoenix, Strayer University, DeVry University, Brown Mackie College and Everest College.

Find the perfect Accounting School or Accounting College today and start your path to a rewarding career.

One must get the proper tax training in order to begin a career in taxation, which is considered a segment of the accounting field. There are many different directions you can go after completing the necessary taxation courses for a bachelor of science degree in a related field. One thing is certain, though. Many job opportunities will always be open to you once you have completed the tax training courses and gained experience in this necessary field of accounting.

A bachelor of science, which is essentially a three-year course of study, teaches you local and state taxation. But, this is not the only route you can take to start a career in the tax industry. As long as you take taxation classes as a part of your degree program, you can also choose a bachelor of science in business administration that will teach the basic applications of taxation in order to apply these lessons in a business environment. You could also continue your education and get a master’s in business administration. This will include more advanced taxation courses and focus on the principles of accounting in more detail.

There are many places you can take tax training courses, and you don’t necessarily have to attend classes at a traditional four-year or graduate study university. You could take your taxation classes through an online university or any number of technical schools that offer more flexible schedules or alternative approaches more appropriate for working adults. Some traditional colleges also offer taxation courses online, so if you are already working full time or have a family to take care of, this is an excellent option.

While completing your tax training, you can expect to learn about many different subjects and gain numerous skills. You will learn how to prepare a legal tax return and get a comprehensive understanding of alternative minimum taxes, capital gains and losses, itemized deductions, business write-offs, personal deductions, tax credits, exemptions, withholdings and more. The subjects will range from business income taxes to personal income taxes to the self-employment tax. After you are done, you should have an excellent working knowledge of the tax codes.

Institutions offering quality Taxation Programs include Strayer University, Minnesota Schools of Business, Globe University and Utah Career College.

Find the perfect Accounting School or Taxation College today and start your path to a rewarding career.

The cost of accounting school will vary depending on where you go to school and just how much schooling you decide to get. Your final decision will be largely based on your career goals. You may get an associate’s degree and begin working in as little as two years, or you may decide to go all the way through graduate school and qualify for the most prestigious jobs in this field. So, just how much does accounting school cost? It all depends on what your goals are.

If you want to qualify for an entry level accounting job, the cost of accounting school could be as low as approximately $5,000 for an associate’s degree from a two-year institution such as a community college. This cost includes two years’ of tuition, books and supplies and does not include costs for your room and board. Many people continue to work and take classes at night. If you want to complete a bachelor’s degree at a private four-year institution, on the other hand, the cost could reach upwards of $100,000. The cost of a state university for four years of education will fall somewhere in between these two.

Before you begin calculating the cost of accounting school, you must really decide what your career goals are and choose the schools to which you should apply to make those goals realities. Examine the curriculum of the schools; see what kinds of degrees they offer; learn about what the alumni are doing; check on the school’s accreditation and examine the costs. Many schools charge larger tuition costs, but they may offer a more convenient program such as an online curriculum that allows you to continue working, and they may offer more assistance in getting a job once you’re done with school.

As with most things in life, you get out of accounting school what you put into it. If you complete a longer schooling program and/or attend a more prestigious university, the costs will of course be higher. The rewards of a better job opportunity once you’re done, however, may make the higher cost of accounting school worthwhile.

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If you’re thinking about a career as an accountant, you could have a very lucrative and steady job for many years to come. With the right degrees and experience, accounting professionals can have rewarding careers in CPA jobs who submit documents to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with a state-issued license. But you may be wondering, what exactly does a certified personal accountant do?

The federal government mandates that any certified personal accountant who submits documents to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must have a state-issued license. There are many CPA jobs. These jobs require compiling financial reports for prominent individuals, companies, nonprofit organizations and small businesses. The financial reports may include profit-and-loss statements and expense reports. This type of career may also involve advising clients on how to decrease the amount of income taxes they owe and preparing tax statements for the client.

If you are looking for career information for the accounting field, you will first need to look into receiving a degree. Degrees in accounting typically require a college education consisting of four to five years of schooling. This means you must obtain your bachelor’s degree in accounting or graduate from a master’s degree accounting program. All states also require certified accountants to take the Uniform CPA Examination after getting their education. The Uniform CPA exam, which was developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, is an electronic test given in four parts.  An accountant will need to pass all four parts of the exam within 18 months of passing the first part.

There is a lot of skill and clearly a lot of education required to become an accountant, but the career can be very rewarding.  CPA jobs can offer an average CPA salary of around $80,000. Aside from the excellent pay, this is also a great career option because it will be in demand in many states throughout the country for many years to come. Plus, there are jobs available in big businesses as well as for small firms or individuals. With so many career options and a great job outlook, becoming an accountant is a good choice indeed.

Institutions offering quality Accounting Programs include University of Phoenix, Strayer University, Devry University, Kaplan University and Argosy University.

Find the perfect Accounting School or Accounting Program today and start your path to a rewarding career.

If you want to get into accounting school, you will first need to consider whether a degree in accounting is right for you. You will also need to decide what specific area of this field you want to go into. An accounting degree can take you to high flying corporate jobs in the big city or small town jobs in businesses of all shapes and sizes. An accounting degree can even get you a job with the government. Once you know you want to be an accountant, you will need a plan for how to get into accounting school.

The first step to help you get your new degree and career will be to carefully read through the admission requirements for all your schools of choice. By doing research you can see what kind of people tend to be accepted into these programs. It might turn out that some of the schools you wanted to attend are not good choices for you considering your background and skills. Once you have researched the pertinent information for all the accounting schools on your list, then it’s time to come up with ideas for how you can increase your chances of getting into the school of your choice. You will also want to read up as much as you can before applying to any accounting school so you are well versed in all the related subject matter.

It’s never too early to start preparing to apply for accounting school. Many experts suggest starting a year before applications are due is a good idea to be sure you have taken all the required tests and provide ample time to complete all the steps for the application. An accounting degree might also have some prerequisites that you can start working on before entering the school of your choice. You to be sure you take any standardized tests required at the appropriate time, and give yourself plenty of time to make the deadline.

One thing you can always do to prepare for an accounting degree, or any other degree, is to keep your grades up. You may choose to enter into an accounting program straight out of high school, transfer from a community college or complete a master’s program after college. No matter what path you choose to obtain your accounting degree, your grades will make all the difference in helping you reach your goals.

Institutions offering quality Accounting Programs include University of Phoenix, Strayer University, Devry University, Kaplan University and Argosy University.

Find the perfect Accounting School or Accounting Program today and start your path to a rewarding career.

These following 25 phrases are the most important terms used in accounting.  Any prospective students thinking of obtaining accounting degrees will need to become familiar with these terms:

1. Accounting Equation: The most basic accounting equations are Assets = Equities and Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity.
2. Accounts:  All accounting systems record the activities of accounts, which summarize increases and decreases in each asset, liability, owner’s equity, revenue and expense.
3. Accounts Payable:  Bills that a business owes to the government or suppliers.
4. Accounts Receivable:  The money customers owe for products and services.
5. Accrual Basis Accounting:  Accounting for expenses and sales at the time of transaction.
6. Assets:  Anything of value that a business owns.
7. Balance Sheet: The financial condition of a company on a specific date.
8. Cash Flow:  The movement and timing of money that comes in and out of the business.
9. Chart of Accounts:  A listing of every account in an accounting system.
10. Credit:  Used in double-entry accounting to increase a liability or an equity account.
11. Debit:  Used in double-entry accounting to increase an asset account.
12. Direct Costs:  Expenses that include labor costs and materials.
13. Double Entry Accounting: An accounting system that maintains the balance sheet: Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity.
14. Equity:  Funds supplied to a company that show ownership of or claims against the assets.
15. Expense:  Dollars paid out to suppliers, vendors, government, employees, charities, etc.
16. Financial Statements:  Refers to Balance Sheet and Income Statement.
17. General Ledger:  A book listing increases and decreases in all the accounts of a company.
18. Gross Profit:  Money left after subtracting the direct costs from the selling price.
19. Income Statement:  Report that shows changes in equity.
20. Indirect Cost:  Expenses indirectly related to the services provided to customers.
21. Inventory:  Materials purchased with the intent to sell.
22. Journal:  Chronological diary that keeps track of business activities.
23. Liabilities:  Claims against assets by someone other than the owner.
24. Net Income:  Money left after subtracting all expenses from revenues.
25. Retained Earnings:  Amount of net income earned and retained by the business.

So if you are interested in receiving any one of the many accounting degrees available, reviewing these terms used in accounting is a great place to start.

Institutions offering quality Accounting Programs include University of Phoenix, Argosy University, DeVry University, Strayer University and Kaplan University.

Find the perfect Accounting School or Accounting Program today and start your path to a rewarding career.

There are numerous accounting scholarships that students can apply for if they are planning on getting an education to go into this important field.  There are many new job opportunities in the accounting field at the moment, and the job field is more lucrative than ever before.  There are also many listings of accounting scholarships to get a leg up if you are having financial difficulty attending the program of your choice.  Competition is stiff, but you’ll never know if you don’t apply.  The following top 10 scholarships for accounting majors are worth looking into if you are studying or plan to study in this field:

Accounting Scholarships

1. AICPA/Accountemps Student Scholarship:  The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants offers several accounting scholarships.  The first is the Accountemps Student Scholarship – five $2,500 awards to undergraduate or graduate students that meet GPA requirements.
2. AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship:  Ten $5,000 awards go to graduate students in CPA preparation programs.
3. AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students:  There are 137 awards ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 that go to minority students around the country.
4. American Society of Woman Accountants:  Many different awards go to female undergraduate and graduate students in accounting each year.  Most listings of accounting scholarships include several for women, since they are encouraged to enter this field.
5. Central Intelligence Agency Undergraduate Scholarship Program:  As much as $18,000 is awarded to various accounting students and select students in other majors every year.
6. Derek Hughes/NAPSLO Educational Foundation:  Ten to twelve students are awarded $2,000 each year to pursue their studies in accounting, finance or a related field.
7. Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting:  A limited number of women in financial need may receive $2,000 to $16,000 over four years to study in this field.
8. HSF-ALPA Scholarship:  Hispanic students majoring in accounting may receive $1,250 to $10,000 through this scholarship.
9. National Society of Accountants:  A total of 30 undergraduate accounting students will be awarded $500 to $1,000 each year through the society.
10. National Association of Black Accountants:  Between 40 and 70 African American students who are members of the NABA are awarded $500 to $6,000 every year.

It’s clear that there is not shortage of accounting scholarships available.  With a little research, complete listings of accounting scholarships can be at your fingertips.

Institutions offering quality Accounting Programs include University of Phoenix, Argosy University, DeVry University, Strayer University and Kaplan University.

Find the perfect Accounting School or Accounting Program today and start your path to a rewarding career.