Accountants

Accountants are financial professionals who prepare, examine, and verify financial records. They help organizations record transactions, manage budgets, analyze performance, and ensure accuracy and compliance. They may work in public accounting, corporate, government, or nonprofit sectors.

Typical tasks include financial statement preparation, auditing, tax planning and compliance, budgeting, forecasting, cost accounting, internal controls, risk assessment, financial analysis, and advisory services for strategic decisions.

Most hold a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field. Many jurisdictions require professional licensure for certain activities, notably public accounting or tax advice. Common credentials include Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), ACCA, CMA, or CPA-equivalent. Certification requires examinations and continuing education.

Accountants follow accounting standards such as US GAAP or IFRS, auditing standards, and tax regulations. They adhere to ethical codes emphasizing integrity, objectivity, confidentiality, professional skepticism, and independence, particularly for auditors.

They work in firms or in-house departments across industries including finance, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and government. Their work supports financial reporting, budgeting, internal controls, governance, and decision making, contributing to transparency and accountability.

The profession dates to early bookkeeping traditions and the development of double-entry accounting, with formal professional bodies forming in the 19th and 20th centuries to standardize education, licensure, and ethics.