What is a CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant)?

This article defines what a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) is and why they are recognized as experts. Your accountant is a pivotal partner in your business. Their role is to maximize your financial position and to minimize risks in operating your business through proper structuring. Your accountant will have a large impact on your ongoing success.

The title “Certified Practicing Accountant” or CPA is primarily used in Australia. In other parts of the world the term is usually Certified Public Accountant. A CPA adheres to a set of guidelines set down by a professional accounting body. These requirements may include completing a minimum amount of professional development each year, compliance with a code of professional conduct and demonstrating experience in providing accounting services. Each country has its own requirements. CPA organizations are found in countries such as Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

To be a CPA in Australia, candidates must hold a degree or a postgraduate award recognized by CPA Australia, have demonstrated competence in a prescribed level of knowledge, successfully complete professional level examinations and have attained a certain level of experience.

Here is what Wikipedia has to say about CPAs. A CPA can provide accounting services in many sectors. It is beneficial to use one that has experience in your particular industry. A CA is permitted to provide an audit opinion on a company’s financial statements.

Some interesting facts about Certified Practicing Accountants in UK:
Accounting bodies in leading financial centres around the world recognise Certified Practicing Accountants. How do you know that an accountant is a Certified Practicing Accountant? They are entitled to have the Certified Practicing Accountant designation (CPA) after their name. You can contact the CPA professional body in your country to check their qualifications and status. That’s a brief overview of Certified Practicing Accountants.

About Author:
Iftikhar Rashid is a Certified Public Accountant and a Director at R R Accountants LTD in Birmingham. R.R.Accountants closely works with client. For us each client is important and each client deserves our best services like full-service accounting firm in Birmingham, tax practice, accounting consultancy, payroll services, bookkeeping services, business setup services, private equity audit firm in Birmingham, UK