Amber+J

Amber James Gouwens – Speech 1 – Period 7 Career Speech Outline Specific Purpose: I would like to talk to my classmates and teacher about what it takes to become an Accountant. Thesis Statement: I would enlighten you about the career of an accountant by providing you with information on the job description, preparation needed and the working conditions for my career choice. Title: Managing Money Matters Introduction: I. Everyday you turn on the television you hear “the stock market has fallen” or “we are in a recession”, one company or another has closed down. Where has all of the money gone? How many times have you tried to balance your books at the end of the month and the figures won’t match up? How many people have received letters from Internal Revenue Service because their Income taxes were done incorrectly? So many times people try to do these things on their own, and they become frustrated because they can’t seem to get it right. Guess what, they don’t have to. All they need is someone with the right skill and knowledge to step in and put everything back into perspective and in compliance. II. That is why I would like to take this opportunity today to tell you about becoming a Certified Public Accountant. III. I will explain to you what an accountant is, what an accountant does, and what it will take to become not only an accountant, but also a certified public accountant. Body: I.  I would like to describe the career I have chosen to follow which is accounting.

A. An Accountant is a person who keeps track of an individuals or a companies’ money. An accountant  must have strong math skills, as well as an education in accounting.

B. An Accountant can choose to specialize in different fields such as [|audits], bookkeeping, or taxes.

C. Accountants must be [|skilled] to keep financial records in and or perform audits. The records include payroll information, accounts payable, accounts receivable, retail sales, and information regarding investments held by the company and it’s [|employees.] D. An Accountant may be employed by small firms, large corporations, or they may be in business for themselves. E. There is a 34% chance of [|job openings]in the future for accountants. There will be a high demand for accountants due to problems within the economy.

F. Once you have received your degree in accounting to ensure advancement in the work place it is important that you continue further and obtain your license. 1. Some Accountants specialize and focus on one area in accounting while others continue on with their education and training to become licensed in their state as a certified public accountant.  2. A [|Certified Public Accountant] (CPA) is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA.  II.  Next I will go over the [|education and training]that are needed to become a certified public accountant.

A. A Formal education which includes high school, college, and licensing is needed in order to be a certified public accountant.  1. Most students who pursue this career after high school will have to at least have a bachelor's degree in accounting. Along with having a degree, students must also complete hours of training as part as the certification process. A passing score on the CPA exam is needed to qualify as well. 2. A Bachelor of Science in Accounting a. There are three schools that I have chosen which best fit the criteria for the program of study to become an accountant. 1. [|Northern Illinois University] 2.[|University of Illinois at Urbana] 3. [|Grand Canyon University in Arizona] b. A total of 24 credit hours in Accounting, 39 business core hours, 18 elective credits in addition to 39 general education credits are the courses needed to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, as well as to prepare for the CPA exam. c. To graduate from Grand Canyon University in Arizona you will need 120 credit hours. B. While in college you can get experience through a part-time internship program. You can find Internships with the [|Big 4] Public Accounting Firm, the Large International Firms, you can find Internships (Audit or Tax) with Regional Public Accounting Firms, Medium Size Accounting Firms, or you can find Internships (Audit or Tax) with a smaller Public Accounting Firm.

III. The [|benefits]of becoming a certified public accountant include increased competence, higher salary, recognition as a member of an elite group of professionals, and an improved perception in the eyes on individuals seeking to hire and work with an accountant.

A. Accountants usually have a 50-hour or longer work week. 1. Accountants also travel frequently to visit clients. 2. They work [|long hours]from January-April, for tax preparation. B. The work environment for accountants is primarily indoors or one location with some traveling involved. C. The annual /hourly salary for accountants: 1. With no experience accountants can make from [|$ 24,677] to $50,770 a year.   2. With experience accountants can make [|$200,000]and up within a year. D. [|Paid vacation], dental and health insurance, and a retirement plan are some benefits for accountants. E. I chose this career because I have met and know a few accountants and it has turned out well for them. I see the passion in their eyes and hear it in their voices when the talk about their profession. 1. There are lots of jobs available, so there would be a good chance of me getting hired. 2. You can work in almost any industry and any part of the country or world for that matter. F. The disadvantage for accountants are as follow: experience considerable pressure during tax season, responsible for managing multi-million finances with no margin for error. Conclusion: I. An accountant must be able to understand their clients’ specific needs, whether it is a large corporation or the average Joe. With the economy in the shape that it is in accountability is important not only to the government but to each individual as well. A. This job requires a person to have strong math skills, attention to detail, economics and patience. B. It is best to start preparing for this career in High school by taking math courses, economics and electives in accounting. C. There is a huge demand for accountants. Every business big or small has three basic tasks; sales/marketing, manufacturing, and accounting. Accountants are here to stay. II. Now the question is who do you want handling your money? Who can you trust to balance your books, pay your bills and file your tax returns? Will it be Joe Blow or will it be the face you know and love? That would be me, because money matters a lot in this day and time, and it’s important to know and feel comfortable with the one who is managing yours. = Bibliography = (2008) Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. New York Infobase Publishing. Occupational Outlook Handbook//. Accountants and Auditors.// Retrieved February 19, 2009, from United States Department of Labor Website: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos001.htm Careers in Business. //Careers in Accounting.// Retrieved February 19, 2009 from bizjobs09@gmail.com Website: [|www.careers-in-accounting.com/ascal.htm]