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April, 2017 l Working World l WorkingWorld.com 7 the possibilities for career advancement. An inexperienced accountant with an associate degree may be qualified to apply for entry- level jobs; however, a management position in accounting typically demands a bachelor's degree at minimum. Top executive positions generally require a master's degree in accounting or even a PhD. Higher education alone does not suffice to make a career in accounting management. Certifications are a key factor for success, and the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is the number one certification required for a professional career. It is virtually impossible to enter an accounting management position without a CPA license. To advance within specialty areas of accounting management, such as forensics or tax auditing, CPAs will often seek additional certifications from recognized accounting organizations. One example is the CMA (Certified Management Accountant), a title awarded to qualified candidates by the Institute of Management Accountants. Other specialty certifications can include Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and several others. Experience is another critical factor for career advancement. In fact, only highly-experienced CPAs can apply for specialty certifications. A few solid years of experience as a trainee or junior accountant makes a good foundation for advancement. Accounting salaries can vary greatly based on your position in the accounting department. You can do entry level work, such as an accounting clerk or accounting assistant, and make an average salary from $30-$40,000 a year. Working your way up through the accounting department takes time and skill but as you do so your salary should increase. Moving up to accounting managers and beyond, you can easily make $100,000 or more a year. WHERE DO YOU START? Many accounting career paths start in college. Students are taking the right accounting classes and leaving college with a bachelor's degree in accounting. This is the first step to your successful career path. After school, find your first accounting job. Come into a company as an accountant. Learn as much as you possibly can. After about a year of work experience go after your CPA. Certified Public Accountants make much more than accountants as the years go by. From CPA you can begin to take on more responsibility as far as management positions and work your way up to director of the department. Some people chose to go off into a different branch of accounting but with more experience comes more money and more opportunities for advancement. Very few people make it up to CFO and top level positions. If you want it go for it! But your career path will always start with that solid foundation of an accounting degree. BE A CERTIFIED BANKRUPTCY or IMMIGRATION PARALEGAL only $395 Jobs Pay Up to $30 hr 94% Placement Rate Private Classes Also Available Certificate & Resume 626-918-3599 www.mdsandassociates.com Get your Business NOTICED CONTACT: Bill Rittwage 818-291-1111 Lisa Neely 818-660-5828 workingworld@copcomm.com ADVERTISE HERE