Exploring career prospects for accounting graduates

Exploring career prospects for accounting graduates Accounting graduates have a healthy career prospect which makes them land lucrative jobs right after college. In fact it is said that, an accountant is a man who watches the battle from the safety of the hills and then comes down to bayonet the wounded. The jobs range from working in a small business, an individual client, to working for a large organization. Market standards for accounting students are high. Individuals with BA degrees and the required course work are more likely to find employment in smaller firms, but individual strengths and abilities will have an impact. This makes someone without accounting qualifications to have very slim chances of finding a job in accounting. Every business major in college must take accounting classes just so that they have some brief knowledge in the subject. This paper will discuss the career prospects of students graduating with an accounting degree. It will explain where accounting graduates end up working. In addition, the paper will e xplain whether any certification, licenses or experience are required. Accounting students develop an extensive range of vital skills for their prospect career. They study the use of popular accounting software, writing financial reports, and interpreting different kinds of financial information. They also learn on how to advise organizations and individuals on financial planning and understanding state and federal tax laws. In addition, they acquire skills in customer service and become recognizable with ethical trade practices. Most prospect jobs require a minimum of an accounting degree or any related field. Opportunities must be favorable. Accounting firms hire plenty of students out of college through internships. Those with professional recognition, for instance certification or licensure like CPA, enjoy best prospects. The main advancement for an accountant fresh out with a business degree is a CPA, this is a certified public accountant, however there is also a CMA, and this is a certified management accountant. A CMA is recognized worldwide, wh ere a CPA is generally recognized in North America. There is a wide range of duties in the four major accounting fields namely; management accounting, internal auditing, public accounting, and government accounting. Management accountants, also called managerial, corporate, private, cost, or industrial accountants, record and analyze companies financial information. Their other duties include budgeting, cost management, asset management, and performance evaluation. Management accountants, being among executive teams, involve themselves in strategic planning and new products development. Analyzing and interpreting monetary information desirable by corporate executives in making sound business decisions is among their duties. Other duties include preparing financial reports for groups like stockholders, regulatory agencies, tax authorities, and creditors. There will be more competition on work for smaller private businesses. We understand that. We welcome it and we think we are in a good position to be the market leaders. We have a long history of brand recognition. Within accounting departments, the management accountants may do financial analysis, cost accounting, planning and budgeting. Public accountants execute a wide range of accounting, tax, consulting and auditing activities for their customers. The clients may be individuals, government organizations, or corporations. For instance, some public accountants contemplate on tax matters, like advising companies on advantages and disadvantages of tax on certain business decisions. They also prepare individual profits tax returns. Others may offer advice on employee healthcare benefits or compensation, data processing systems and design of accounting, and selection of controls for safeguarding assets. Public accountants can also be called external auditors. A professional is a person who can do his best at a time when he does not particularly feel like it. These accountants, of whom many have qualified as Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), normally work for accounting firms or own businesses. Some public accountants focus in forensic accounting. They investigate and interpret crimes like securities fraud and misapp ropriation, contract disputes and bankruptcies, and other criminal financial transactions, for example money laundering. Technology is hastily changing the work nature of most accountants. Special software packages help accountants to summarize transactions in financial records using standard formats. Accounting packages reduce the tiresome work linked to record keeping and data management. Being an accountant is much harder than taking a few classes, but the payout in the end comes in handy when becoming wealthy. This is because the average income for an accountant straight out of college with a BS in accounting is around fifty thousand dollars. Computers enable accountants to be mobile and to make use of computer systems of their clients in extracting information from the internet and databases. Consequently, many accountants with broad computer skills may specialize in correcting software problems or developing software to ensure unique analytical and data management needs are met. Accountants also execute technical duties like developing technology plans, and auditing, implementing, and controlling computer systems. Most accountants work in a distinctive office setting although some may work partly from home. Working for a firm creates different opportunities for college graduates because it helps build a portfolio, and in return the portfolio will be used to attract new customers. Accountants employed by government agencies, public accounting organizations, and firms with various locations may take trips frequently to do audits at government facilities or places of business for their clients. A survey conducted in 2008 showed that half of the accountants worked a typical 40-hour week. Many who worked longer hours were either self-employed or had many clients. Accountants with tax specialization often worked longer during taxation period. It is said that there are endless career choices for an accounting degree, because people will always have their taxes done. Fresh accountants may work under close supervision of an experienced accountant before becoming independent. Enough working experience at a high enough level as determined by the CGA point system is required. Usually it is two to three years of full time work. The hours are counted so if you work part time it would take much longer to get this piece completed. There are about 20,000 CGAs in Ontario and 8,000 graduate students working towards the designation Toronto star. Any accountant who needs to file a report with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Senior accountants working in public companies registered with SEC may be included among Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Helpful for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to have as it gives a person a better rounded accounting understanding. State Board of Accountancy licenses CPAs. Any accountant, having passed a national exam can become a CPA. Very few people opt to start with a CA and then move on to other designations as the CA is a field in itself. The Ca designation is in no way less than the CMA or CGA. The CA employees are likely to be recruited right out of university. Large firms like KPMG and others do so and have the ability to pick the BComm graduates with the top marks. In summing up, there are endless opportunities that lie ahead of an accountant. In addition, there is a lot of money to be made in the business, and the knowledge of how to stay wealthy should make people want to become an accountant. There is a wide range of duties in the four major accounting fields namely management accounting, internal auditing, public accounting, and government accounting. Management accountants, also called managerial, corporate, private, cost, or industrial accountants, record and analyze companies financial information. Internal auditors verify internal control effectiveness in their organizations. They check for waste, fraud, or mismanagement. Public accountants execute a wide range of accounting, tax, consulting and auditing activities for their customers. Government accountants work in public sectors. They maintain and examine government agencies records, audit private businesses including individuals whose activities must be regulated by the government. S tate Board of Accountancy licenses CPAs. Any accountant, having passed a national exam can become a CPA. This is in addition to having met all the other state requirements in their area of practice.

Project Management Email Essay

In response to your email, our team has analyzed each project. In your email, you stated that the selected project should generate revenue within 12 month of next week’s PMO Review. You also stated that we should also consider the degree of risk involved with on-time completion, the critical path requirement and cost, and the effective life cycle and forecasted ROI. In order to make a recommendation, we took into account the scope of each project and whether it will meet the desired outcome, within your desired constraints. PROJECT JUNIPER The critical path for Project Juniper would be six months, which would be October 2015. The costs associated with this project would be less than the others, $325,000; however, the potential revenue is only $250,000. In addition, its break-even point is slightly less than three years, with a forecasted life cycle of only 2-3 years. PROJECT PALOMINO The critical path for Project Palomino would be nine months, which would be January 2016. The costs associated with this project would be $655,000, with revenues as low as $450,000. However, using a 5% margin of error, this could be more profitable with its break-even point of seven years. The issue we are worried about is that this would also be the end of the project’s life of seven years. PROJECT STARGAZER The critical path for Project Stargazer would be ten months, which would be February 2016. The costs associated with this project would be $575,000. The break-even point is one and a half years, with a seven-year life cycle. In addition, the company has already started on the research of the widgets, allowing the company a faster start up time, which will fit into the 12-month timeframe given. Even though the risks may be higher, the  technology of this project will help dilute the risk, as well as the ability to increase price using skimming price strategy. This project is innovative and can have various modifications, which will enable the company to satisfy a larger customer base. Our team recommends Piper Industries to accept Project Stargazer. FIVE PHASES 1. Concept Development/Project Conception – Data of customer’s needs will be collected, competition will be identified, and the idea for a project will be carefully examined to determine whether or not it benefits the organization. During this phase, feasibility, risk, and return on investment will be analyzed. The project is already at this stage, with the research and the costs being well documented. 2. Project Planning – This step is the most important step. The team will decide on a budget, set timelines, and identify available resources, materials, and expertise to ensure on-time delivery, clarify roles and responsibilities, and identify roadblocks. A project plan, project charter and/or project scope may be put in writing, which will outline the work to be performed. The team will prioritize, calculate a budget and schedule, and determine what resources are needed. 3. Project Execution – The project manager clarifies roles and responsibilities, timelines, and individual deadlines. There is constant communication to ensure tasks are completed on time and to specification. For this project, execution will take place 12 months after the PMO meeting. 4. Project Performance and Control – The project manager monitors timeline, plan, and team performance. They will also conduct review meetings and periodic project performance reports to review the budget. The project managers will also compare the status of the project to the actual plan to keep the project on schedule. If there are key constraints affecting project success, the necessary adjustments will be made. This step is necessary to improve quality, delivery time and the launch timings for market capture. 5. Project Close – This is the final phase of the project. Project tasks are completed and the client has approved the outcome. An evaluation can be done at this point, along with closing all contracts and settling all bills. Documentation can be used for future projects. The project team is released. KEY DELIVERABLES Aside from the dates and costs mention about, the project team decided on five key deliverables for Project Stargazer. They are as follows: 1. To launch the new line of widgets quickly, infiltrating into an existing competitive market. 2. Increase revenues, utilizing modifications and increasing sales during the maturity stage. 3. The team will provide product testing and analysis, meeting client requirements 4. In order to gain and/or retain reluctant customers, increase the product lifestyle and hold as a market leader. 5. Use customization to highlight the flexibility of the widget and introduce new products. REFERENCES Jacobs, F.R., & Chase, R. (2011). Operations and supply chain management (13th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Nestor-Harper, M. (n.d.). Tasks in the Five Phases of Project Management | Chron.com. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/tasks-five-phases-project-management-52690.html

Student Working During the School Year

Research has shown that the number of students who decide to work during the school year is increasing every year. Students who try to combine their studies with working life can be affected in different ways. There are many reasons why high school students should not have part-time jobs. Some of the most important are premature exposure to older adults, losing academic focus, and developing a taste for money early. The first reason why high school students should not work is that they will be early exposed to older adults. When teenagers interact with adults in working environment, they can be manipulated because older adults are people with more experiences about life. Older adults often have lives and more complicated backgrounds, so they do not have the same interests and activities, that these teenagers have. As a result, older adults can influence adolescents negatively. For instance, these teenagers can be encouraged to use drugs or alcohol, have sexual lives early or solve problems with violence. All these factors can produce physical and mental changes and affect the teenagers goals. Besides, premature exposure to older adults, working students can also lose academic focus. When teenagers work, they do not have enough time to handle their school responsibilities because they often feel tired and fatigued. This situation can affect concentration and memory, which are essential parts of school performance. Therefore, students can fail their classes, get low GPAs or drop out of school entirely. Some parents encourage their children to work to appreciate the value of money. It is true that children need to learn how they can manage money wisely. However, teenagers need to be encouraged to study because they should be aware that education is very important to achieve success. Teenagers need to be motivated to appreciate more the permanent value of education than the fleeting value of money, Because nowadays many companies require workers with high GPAs, adolescents need to focus on their studies early. If they achieve appropriate school performance, they will have more opportunities to get better jobs with good salaries in the future. In conclusion, high school students should not have part-time jobs in order to avoid premature exposure to adults, losing academic focus, and developing a taste for money early.If teenagers worry about their education, they will have one of the best tools to achieve success.

Should Marijuana be Legalized Essay - 3474 Words

Weed, bud, ganja, chronic, dro, herbs, grass, trees, pot, reefer; these are all names of the one drug that causes so much dispute, marijuana. Loved by so many, and hated by the law. It’s a two sided argument which everyone has their own opinion on. Is there any specific reason why weed should be illegal, or is the government just making money from catching people with it? Is there any real medical purpose for marijuana, or is it just a gateway drug for kids? These are the questions everyone should know the answers to. Whose side are you on? First, when trying to decide what you think about the legalization of marijuana, you need to stop to listen, and actually understand where each side of the argument is coming from.†¦show more content†¦Marijuana just relaxes you and is just something to make you feel better; it does not make people act stupid. Young people that get caught with marijuana ruin their record and often get stuck in the system with no way out except to continue living lives of crime instead of turning their lives around.† The people all for the legalization of marijuana might say something like that, but like every argument, there are always two sides. The people against the legalization of marijuana and that are fighting for marijuana to remain legal, argue, â€Å"Marijuana is a gateway drug and it leads to the use of harder, more serious drugs, and marijuana is often the cause of drug addiction. There would more people driving high on weed, which would result in more accidents and tr affic offenses, especially among the youth. The drug marijuana is just not right and it was not made to be smoked by humans or used to get high. If marijuana is legal, then there is more likely a chance that kids will start using it at a younger age because it will be easier to obtain. Marijuana is just unhealthy, and physically, not good for your body. It doesn’t serve a great or accepted medical purpose. With marijuana illegal, the country can keep all the drug users and criminals off of the streets.† These are some of the arguments that some people fight for against the legalization ofShow MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legalized?849 Words   |  4 Pageswhether marijuana should be legalized. Around 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. In the state of Illinois, medicinal use of marijuana has been passed on April 17, 2013. Since January 2014, patients are able to obtain marijuana with a doctor s recommendation. The new debate is whether marijuana should be legalized for the general public as a recreational drug. Although some believe that marijuana is harmless, and that it has beneficial medicinal uses, marijuana shouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1715 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana in Society Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel â€Å"high† or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). Like mostRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1489 Words   |  6 Pagescannabis plant or marijuana is intended for use of a psychoactive drug or medicine. It is used for recreational or medical uses. In some religions, marijuana is predominantly used for spiritual purposes. Cannabis is indigenous to central and south Asia. Cannabis has been scientifically proven that you can not die from smoking marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized to help people with medical benefits, econo mic benefits, and criminal benefits. In eight states, marijuana was legalized for recreationalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1245 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana is a highly debatable topic that is rapidly gaining attention in society today.   Legalizing marijuana can benefit the economy of this nation through the creation of jobs, increased tax revenue, and a decrease in taxpayer money spent on law enforcement.   Ã‚  Many people would outlaw alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, gambling, and tanning beds because of the harmful effects they have on members of a society, but this is the United States of America; the land of the free and we should give peopleRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1010 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the â€Å"high† feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasonsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1350 Words   |  6 Pagespolitics in the past decade would have to be the legalization of marijuana. The sale and production of marijuana have been legalized for medicinal uses in over twenty states and has been legalized for recreational uses in seven states. Despite the ongoing support for marijuana, it has yet to be fully legalized in the federal level due to cultural bias against â€Å"pot† smoking and the focus over its negative effects. However, legalizing marijuana has been proven to decrease the rate of incrimination in AmericaRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1231 Words   |  5 Pagesshows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drugRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesSHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED? Marijuana is a drug that has sparked much controversy over the past decade as to whether or not it should be legalized. People once thought of marijuana as a bad, mind-altering drug which changes a person’s personality which can lead to crime and violence through selling and buying it. In the past, the majority of citizens believed that marijuana is a harmful drug that should be kept off the market and out of the hands of the public. However, a recent study conductedRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1596 Words   |  7 Pages But what needs to be known before a user can safely and completely make the decision if trying Marijuana is a good idea? Many do not want the drug to be legalized because they claim that Cannabis is a â€Å"gateway drug†, meaning it will cause people to try harder drugs once their body builds up a resistance to Marijuana, because a stronger drug will be needed to reach a high state. This argument is often falsely related to the medical si de of the debate over legalization. It is claimed that this wouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?985 Words   |  4 PagesLegalize Marijuana Despite what people believe about marijuana, it hasn’t once proved to be the cause of any real issue. It makes you wonder what the reason as to why there is a war on drugs. Why is marijuana the main concern? Since the time that alcohol and tobacco became legal, people wonder why marijuana isn’t legal yet. The fact that marijuana is illegal is mainly caused by the amount of money, jobs, and pride invested in the drug war. Once the government starts anything, they stick to it. At