A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) on a daily basis examines, analyzes, and interprets financial records to prepare tax returns, audit financial statements, and ensure regulatory compliance. They manage client assets, provide business consulting, create budgets, and evaluate financial operations for accuracy and efficiency.
Certified Public Accountants examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
An entry-level or fresher CPA earns around 6 lakhs per annum in India, i.e., about 50,000 rs per month. In metro cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, etc., the average salary can go as high as 13.8 Lakhs per annum, and can also vary from company to company.
According to CPA Credits, accountants often spend their time analyzing financial data, identifying trends, and addressing challenges (CPA Credits). This might involve managing budgets, preparing financial statements, ensuring compliance, or advising on investment strategies.
According to Laura, back in 2021, 40-50 hours a week was a standard work schedule for an accountant. Some accountants work up to 70 hours per week and a couple of times in a busy year-end, Saturdays are also considered work days.
The accounting 150-Hour Rule traditionally requires aspiring Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to complete 150 college credit hours (a master's degree or extra undergrad courses) for licensure, beyond the standard 120-hour bachelor's degree, plus experience and the CPA exam. Due to talent shortages, states are introducing new pathways, like Ohio's 2025 change, allowing a bachelor's degree, two years' experience, and the exam as alternatives to the extra schooling, making licensure more accessible.
Which credential is more beneficial for a career in finance? A CPA is essential for specializing in accounting or tax roles, while an MBA opens doors to diverse management positions in finance, including investment banking and corporate leadership. Choose based on your career goals.
Complete the right coursework
After checking your state's requirements, confirm that you've completed the essential number of credit hours to get a CPA without an accounting degree. Most states require 150 college credit hours, which is beyond the number you need for a typical bachelor's degree.
Students, recent graduates, and people with plenty of time to study should aim to sit for and pass 4 sections of the CPA Exam in about 6 months. This would have you taking an exam every 6-7 weeks and studying about 22-26 hours each week.
Many CPAs in public accounting work for accounting or consulting firms, from local boutiques to the “Big Four” firms—Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)—which are responsible for auditing about 80% of America's public companies.
If you are just going by comparing the exams, the CPA exam was more difficult than the bar exam. When comparing the undergraduate accounting courses/upper level accounting courses versus law school courses, the law school was more challenging and stressful.
Reason #1 to Become a CPA – Prestige in the Profession
The CPA credential alone will separate you from non-CPAs with well-earned knowledge and expertise. By completing years of academic training, rigorous testing, and extensive work experience, CPAs are considered the gold standard of accounting.
We're also seeing very high demand for many accounting positions through 2025, from entry-level positions up to senior-level management positions. Staff accountants are essential to the day-to-day accuracy of an organization's financial operations and are often the backbone of an accounting department.
You may wonder, can you really pass all four sections of the CPA exam in 3 months? The answer is yes, you can! While the preparation will be tedious, it's definitely doable.
Accountants often work a standard workday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with an hour-long lunch break. Just keep in mind that some extra effort is required during certain times of the year. At the end of the month, quarter, or year, it's common for accountants to have some overtime.
The CPA Exam consists of three four-hour Core sections and one four-hour Discipline section of your choice.