Tomorrow's CPA: The Blog

What does a staff tax accountant do all day?

I can't recall if any of those old Richard Scarry books pictured what accountants do all day.  But it is something every future CPA wonders about.

Chances are--unless you are the child of the managing partner or the CEO--you'll start your accounting career as a staff accountant. What skill set will you need? They'll expect you to be proficient at Excel and demonstrate strong time management, analytical, communication and interpersonal skills.

Piece of cake, right?  Your duties may include preparing journal entries, assisting with audits, reconciling and balancing a general ledger, or doing statistical summaries.

So that's what your job might look like.  But what would your day be like?

Here is an hour-by-hour account of what your typical workday might look like at a CPA firm.

What do you think? Does this look like your idea of a cool entry-level job?

They made a movie of the CPA Exam?

Well, not exactly. Hundreds of future CPAs typing at desktops would not be visually enthralling--though you could generate lots of suspense following a candidate's daylong battle with the simulations.  Talk about a silver screen!

For now, take a gander at this rapid-fire introduction to the CPA Exam by Roger Philipp, CPA and head of rogerCPAreview.com.  In about 40 minutes, he surveys the parts of the exam, the application procedures, and some strategies for preparation.  The long road to the exam can start with this single step.

Also be sure to visit the other providers who offer discounts to MACPA Candidate Members. All provide good info on the exam and every little bit helps.

Financial Football? Holy Mac!

McDonald's has found a way to supersize financial literacy.

In tandem with Visa, the Golden Arch people have debuted the country's largest employer-based financial literacy program: The "McDonald's Practical Money Skills" program.

The program is offered to more than 500,000 Big Mac purveyors throughout the U.S., but we hamburger civilians can enjoy the financial fitness menu via take-out.

The site directs you to set your goals, build your budget and track your spending, all by dint of exercises, calculators, lesson plans for teachers, videos -- even games. (If you like Fantasy Football you, will love Financial Football.)

In these daunting economic times, we all deserve a break today. Thank you, McDonald's, for this financially tasty and nourishing treat, which you can order in English or Spanish.

Real Maryland CPAs tackle reality TV

We normally associate CPAs more with takeovers than makeovers.  But Rockville, MD-based Aronson & Company will soon be making a splash on the popular reality series, 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.'

The firm sponsored its client, Dan Ryan Builders, in their efforts to help build a needy family a new home and pledged $7,500 and free accounting services to go directly to the family. The show was taped on November 14th and will air in January on ABC!

We can't vouch for Aronson CPAs as actors, but when it comes to community commitment this is undeniably an award-winning performance.  Bravo!

Curses! Beaten by nurses and funeral directors!

It seems that people are more trusting when they are sick or dead.

The Gallup Poll's annual ranking of public perceptions of the honesty and ethics of various professions found that accountants rank below funeral directors, but above journalists. And way above lawyers.

The top-rated professions, in order, were nurses, followed by pharmacists, high school teachers and medical doctors, with close to two-thirds of respondents rating all those professions highly. Clergy members and police ranked high as well.

But hey: 89% of those polled rated accountants between very high to average in ethics, while only 8% rated us low to very low.  And be aware the survey only mentioned generic accountants, not CPAs.

We will wager that CPAs, perennially rated tops as trusted business advisors, would have garnered even a higher score on this ethics test. 

And if people admire doctors' ethics so much, why are they always suing them?