What is a public accountant?
When you need help with an audit, doing your taxes, or any general help with your business or finances, it’s best to know what all your options are. There are many people who offer business or professional services who are willing to help you, but they may not always be the most qualified for the job. In Canada, you would like to search for a person who is a Chartered Accountant or CA. What exactly is a public accountant?
A chartered accountant is a particular designation given to individuals in the accounting field that shows that the degree holder is qualified to work in public practice to provide tax advice, tax preparation, and conduct audits and offer advisory services. This is equivalent to the Certified Public Accountant, or CPA, in the United States. In Canada, CAs belong to the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, or CICA.
To achieve this status, a person must possess a university degree. They must also have articulated experience and, depending on the province they are in, possibly additional education. All candidates throughout Canada must also pass the three-day Uniform Assessment, or UFE.
There are other types of meters available besides a CA, and there are differences between them. A Certified General Accountant, or CGA, has different standards that they must meet. These standards involve education, work experience, and testing requirements.
A CGA, like a CA, must have a college degree. They must also complete courses in a separate academic study and pass different qualifying exams. There is also a requirement of a minimum of twenty-four months of supervised work experience. Work experience can be in a variety of fields in the business sector.
A CGA has accounting experience in various fields. These include business strategy, taxes, business and personal finance, management, and auditing. Before being allowed to produce audit opinions, a CGA must have a CPA license.
Another type of accountant is a certified management accountant or CMA. This is a professional designation that demonstrates that its professionals can use financial information and other materials to form strategies and make decisions related to government and industry. They have a deep foundation in management, strategy and accounting. This is a much more exclusive group than CA or CGA and certification tests have candidates demonstrate proficiency in financial planning, decision support, control and analysis.
In the end, the question of what is a CPA can be answered by someone who is well-equipped to help you with your business practices. A CA is also qualified to help you with audits, taxes, and general financial advice. An individual with this certification can be very helpful to you if you are looking to start your own business or just need help figuring out how to prepare your taxes or how to invest your money. With the different types of counters available, you’ll want to find the one that best suits your needs.