Do you need to be a CPA in order to be a well paid accountant?

	Do you need to be a CPA in order to be a well paid accountant? I'm a Math major and I've been interning working revenue for a hotel which seems to be just a lot of accounting duties on excel and putting up financial reports and I find the tasks pretty easy. Do you need to have a CPA license in order to make decent money being an accountant or auditor for a business? Is the CPA designation only necessary if you want to prepare taxes for businesses and individuals? Asked By: ... - 7/16/2010

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Technically yes, however there are many well paid Accountants that are not certified but have risen on merit. Book keeping and Accounting are similar however accountants are trained further to able to translate business results into a functional analysis. The industry has changed considerably with so many very good book keeping software programs available that many small businesses do not use Bookkeepers and rarely consult accountants except at Tax time . A certification is usually recognized at International level as being of a certain standard where as general education can vary between countries in terms of accounting standards. that is why CPAs can look at job opportunities internationally. Answered By: Victory is Mine - 7/16/2010

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You make more, plus you can advance (be promoted) if you're a cpa you are not doing accounting, you're doing bookkeeping ;) and hence it's easy, accounting actually it's not really numbers anymore, it's more financial analysis and reporting with accordance to GAAP you need to be a cpa to not only prepare taxes, but to sign off on audits and many other documents Answered By: M&M - 7/16/2010

Yes, it's been proven accountants holding a professional certificate (CPA, CMA, CFM) make 20?more than non-certified individuals in the same position. The way the economy is right now makes it an employers market. If you look on monster many companies are giving preference to those holding a certification. I think both the CPA and CMA organizations offer test fees at half price if you're a college student so if you have the money it may do you well to get the certificate while in school and market yourself as someone eager to earn hours...good luck! Answered By: Nicki Peters - 7/16/2010

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