THE CPA IN BUSINESS: A LOOK AT OUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

ACCOUNTANTS; BUSINESS; INTERNAL auditors; FINANCIAL Accounting Standards Board; UNITED States. Securities & Exchange Commission

The article reports on the growing number of CPAs in business. Many good opportunities are available, and the sheer size of this huge, diversified job market for accountants is attracting more and more college graduates. CPAs are employed as internal auditors and tax and systems experts and comprise various financial, accounting and planning staffs. CPAs in these positions and those transferring into business after first receiving some experience in public practice are being promoted into jobs as chief accounting officers and chief financial officers. CPAs in business play a vital role in America and are influential in a far greater proportion than can be measured by their numbers. Some of the largest U.S. companies have elected or will elect a significant number of CPAs into the positions of chief executive officer, chairman and member of the board of directors, presidents and other powerful posts. Business CPAs are extremely influential in setting economic, financial and governmental policies and in communicating with the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.