Title Accounting Career ResourcesAccounting My Field of Study The purpose of accounting is to provide the information needed to make sound business decisions. Today it is one of the oldest professions in the world and the backbone of any business operation. It's not just about numbers, accounting is about planning. Accounting has many subfields, which include management accounting, financial accounting, and cost accounting. Accounting can be a prestigious career, but to achieve that prestige you will need to pass the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam and become a licensed accountant, and with that license you can work in any of the subfields. I like playing with numbers and that's why I choose accounting as a career field, even business operations need an accountant. Even though we are going through a recession, there is still a high demand for accountants, because companies will always need accountants to help them with their business decisions. It takes at least four years for a person to earn an accounting degree. There are specific requirements you must meet to earn an accounting degree. A bachelor's degree in accounting normally involves a minimum of 120 credits earned within a four-year period of predetermined coursework. Of these 120 credits at least 60 credits must be basic accounting classes. Eighteen to 20 of these credits will be elective courses in the accounting or business field. After completing your degree you can take some graduate courses or work, or you can do both. The reason is that the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants requires that every candidate who wants to take the CPA exam have at least 150 credits and some experience before they can take the exam. A number...half of paper...produce financial statements and prepare reports for their managers and supervisors. In conclusion, accounting is the foundation of all businesses. Whenever a person starts a business, he or she needs to know where the funds to start the business will come from. The accountant must be careful and accurate with the numbers and advice he gives to the people for whom he makes tax returns or explains how their business is doing. Accountants prepare financial statements to distribute to companies so they can see the effectiveness of the business. A leasing mistake made by an accountant can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions. Anyone who wants to become an accountant should definitely take the CPA exam and become a certified accountant. It's a great feeling to know that you can achieve your goal of becoming a certified and licensed accountant.