Connecticut Society of
Certified Public Accountants
Student Outreach
Become a CPA – and
discover a lifetime of
opportunity!
INTRODUCTIONS…
•Name, job title, where I work, hobbies, etc.
•Where did I go to school?
•My office/business is… and looks like…
My “typical” day….
•My clients and job responsibilities
•Hours, travel, dress
•My career ladder
•Challenges & fun stuff (perks)
•What I enjoy most, least
•Personal experiences
Why Did I Choose to Become a CPA?
•Challenging profession
•Enjoy talking and working with people
•Highly respected profession
•Flexibility & opportunity for growth
•High demand for accounting professionals
•Job satisfaction
•Earning potential/job security
•Helping others understand and resolve business issues
What Career is for me?
Some things for you to consider…
•What do you like to do?
•What are you good at?
•What skills do you have/enjoy using?
•How much is someone willing to pay you?
•What jobs/careers are in demand?
•Jobs vs. Careers
•Value of College Education – Return on Investment
What is Accounting?
•A business language.
•The process of recording, classifying,
reporting and analyzing financial data &
business transactions -- KEEPING TRACK
OF THE MONEY
•The basis of business operations.
A CPA is……
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a
financial professional.
CPA’s speak the “language of business.”
*They provide the advice and information others
need to make important financial business
decisions.
CPAs are in high demand as a valued member of any
Business team!
CPA Career
Options
(and there are many…!)
Public Accounting
•Work with many different “external” clients:
individuals/companies
•Provide various services or specialized niches
•Firms vary in size
(International, national, regional, local)
•Top position is typically a partner
Public Accounting:
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Tax
Assurance/Audit
Advisory Services
Business Valuation
Forensic/Fraud
Financial Planning
Information Systems
Environmental
Tax
Advisory
Public
Accounting
Forensic/
Fraud
Audit
Governmental Accounting:
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State/Local/Federal
Tax
Audit
Budgeting
Reporting
Intelligence/
Special Agent
• FBI, IRS, White House,
NASA, SEC, etc.
Tax
Budgeting
Gov’t
Accounting
Intelligence
Audit
Corporate Accounting:
•Work for one company or
organization/ “internal”
• Tax
• Internal Audit
• Management Acct.
• Analyst
• Forecasting
• IT
• Treasurer, Controller,
CEO, CFO, CIO, etc.
Tax
Management
Accounting
Corporate
Accounting
Forecasting
Internal
Audit
Education:
• Teacher or Administrator (High School, College, Ph.D.)
• Research
Nonprofit Accounting:
•Accounting
•Director
•United Way, PETA, American Cancer Society, Red Cross, etc.
Sole Practioner:
•Starting your own business/firm
Requirements to Become a CPA in CT
“The 4 E’s”
Education: (2-tiered)
• To sit for the CPA Exam in Connecticut - bachelor’s degree (120
hours)
• To be licensed as a CPA in Connecticut -150 credit hours of college
education.
Pass the CPA Exam: the exam tests your level of accounting knowledge.
Experience: Two years of experience in accounting, which may be in the
fields of public practice, government, and industry; work must be
completed under the supervision of a CPA in good standing.
Ethics: “open-book” take home exam.
CPA Salaries
Public Accounting:
(Audit, Tax, Management Services)
• Entry Level: $51,500 - $83,250
• Senior staff (manager, director): $94,250 - $192,250
• Partner level: $200,000 - $300,000+
Corporate Accounting:
• Entry accountant (cost, tax, general): $45,500 - $75,500
• Entry to mid-level auditors (IT, Internal): $57,500 - $96,250
• Management (CFO, VP, Treasurer, Controller): $79,250 - $465,750
Average starting salary for accounting majors: $52,900
Sources: 2015 Robert Half Salary Guide, NACE Salary Survey 2014
CPA Salaries
Government Accounting:
• Average median annual wages (accountants/auditors): $61,490
• Supervisory: $78,000 (avg)
Education:
• Assistant Professor: $93,500 (avg)
• Associate Professor: $94,100 (avg)
• Full Professor: $114,000 (avg)
*Higher for doctorate degreed professor
On average, individuals with a CPA and/or
advanced degrees earn 5-15% more.
Skills Needed to Be a CPA:
•Effective Communicator
•Comfortable with Numbers – but NOT a “Math Whiz!”
•People Person
•Computer Skills (Excel/Spreadsheets)
•Organized, Multi-tasker, Problem Solver
•Ethical & Responsible
•Networking – Get Involved! (In college there is Accounting/
Business Clubs, VITA, CTCPA Student Membership, etc.)
Benefits of an Accounting Degree:
•Employment!
•Growth of 22% between 2008-2018 (BLS)
•Internships ($17-$24/hr)
•Signing bonuses, financial assistance with education and/or
certification requirements, incentive-based rewards
•Job diversity
•Occupational mobility (internally and externally)
•Flexibility
•High earning potential
CTCPAS.ORG/STUDENTS
THISWAYTOCPA.COM
THANK
YOU!!!!