We know that when people think about accounting, they think about a CPA designation. What’s interesting is that not all accountants hold a CPA license–and may not even need one! That said, if you’re wondering “Can you be an accountant without a CPA?”, you’re in the right place. As a matter of fact, speaking plainly, there are a ton of very successful accountants who work without a CPA designation.
If you’re an accountant who is looking to help small businesses across your local area and manage their day-to-day financial operations, a CPA license may not be needed.
The Estess CPA team is dedicated to pushing small businesses across New Orleans toward a better and more streamlined financial tomorrow. We help companies manage anything from payroll to their financial strategies, and whether or not their current accountant is in possession of a CPA. So, today, we’re diving into the fundamental distinctions, benefits, and requirements for becoming an accountant and how your CPA designation would play into it.
Let’s get started!
Understanding the Role of an Accountant
So, can you be an accountant without a CPA? If we’re putting it simply, the answer is yes! The very basis of an accountant’s role involves the analysis and management of financial records which usually include:
- Bookkeeping: Tracking the institution’s income, expenses, and cash flow.
- Payroll: Seeing to it that all employees are paid accurately and in a timely fashion.
- Tax Preparation: Prepping returns and managing company tax payments
- Financial Reporting: Gathering financial statements and other reports for business owners.
When it boils down to it, these are very essential accounting tasks and can ultimately be done without the CPA designation.
CPA vs. Non-CPA Accountant: Key Distinctions
If you want to truly understand whether or not to pursue a CPA designation for yourself, you first need to look at the key differences between CPAs and non-CPA accountants.
Responsibilities of CPAs
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are required to complete some very rigorous training and exams, acquire specific experience, and commit to completing ongoing education for the duration that their license is active.
Your CPA designation will help you deliver a range of services that may require specific official sign-offs, whether it’s regarding financial statements, signing tax returns for large corporate entities, or performing external reviews.
Responsibilities of Non-CPA Accountants
If you’re an accountant, and not sure if you want to acquire your CPA designation, it’s important to note that accountants without their CPA credentials have the capability to have successful careers.
Non-CPAs can perform an array of duties that companies rely on. From financial record management and analysis to handling payroll and prepping taxes, there are a lot of non-CPA accountants who are absolutely crucial to everyday business operations, especially since they focus on internal affairs more so than any public-facing financial task.
Situations Where You Don’t Need a CPA License
It’s no secret that small businesses and huge corporations alike will hire non-CPA accountants for roles that don’t require any CPA-level designations. A few of those scenarios include:
Internal Business Finance
There are a lot of roles in accounting that focus solely on reporting, data analysis, and fiscal planning. That said, you won’t need a CPA license to complete the job.
Small Business Accounting
When it comes to smaller organizations, you’ll find that they value the level of services that non-CPA accountants are able to provide, especially for their day-to-day financial management.
Specialized Roles
There are specific specialties in the accounting industry, like tax prep and payroll, neither of which require a CPA credential to deliver exceptional service.
The amount of sheer flexibility in the services that non-CPA accountants have the ability to provide is truly astounding. Because small businesses will always need somebody to handle their day-to-day financial operations, they’ll be able to build long-lasting relationships with their clients.
Advantages of Being a Non-CPA Accountant
It’s no secret that a CPA license opens a lot of doors, but just as many can be opened for non-CPA accountants. Let’s take a look at a few of the advantages:
Flexible Career Path
If you’ve done a little research on getting your CPA license, then you know that the path to designation is a rigorous one. We’re talking exams, \very specific educational qualifications, and experience hours.
Non-CPAs are able to avoid this step and start working in accounting immediately. You’ll be able to build your accounting experience without having to go through the certification process.
Affordable Services for Businesses
Small businesses will usually find that hiring a non-CPA accountant is the more cost-effective route to take all while still being able to meet all of their accounting needs.
The absence of CPA licensing fees and ongoing education requirements tend to lower the hourly rates or services fees that come with hiring non-CPA accountants, which in turn, saves that small business money.
Streamlined Certification Requirements
Given that non-CPAs aren’t held to the same licensing and renewal standards that their designated counterparts are, they are able to focus a lot more on client relationships and very niche areas of expertise, aiding businesses to stay on top of their fiscal responsibilities.
When You Might Want to Pursue a CPA License
As we mentioned before, the CPA designation isn’t a requirement for all accounting roles, but it is definitely worth the consideration, especially if you have set career goals that you want to meet. If you have taken an interest in public accounting or specific corporate leadership roles, you’re going to want to look into getting your CPA designation.
So, if you’re still asking yourself “Can you be an accountant without a CPA?”, the answer should be clear: absolutely! Small businesses across the world value the skillsets and services of non-CPA accountants.
Are you interested in getting your CPA designation? Maybe you’re a small business looking to streamline your payroll and other financial tasks. Visit Estess! We’ll take care of the numbers so that you can handle what matters. Click here to get started!
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