CPA or a Contract Specialist - Assignment Example

WRITING ASSIGNMENT Writing Assignment Affiliation Occupational Area: CPA or a Contract Specialist There are two occupational areas I would like to pursue, and these are: to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a Contract Specialist for the government. Let me tackle each profession separately so I can present them individually and in greater detail. CPA I’d like to be a CPA because the demand for this type of job has not diminished in the last 5 to 10 years. I also find this profession challenging and very interesting, and this career also offers a lot of possible options on the lateral level, and as you go up the occupational ladder. The educational requirements to be a CPA varies dependent on the State you are applying to. For some, a baccalaureate degree in Accounting would suffice. However, in others, additional Accounting courses in the graduate level would have to be taken and some other exams have to be passed. Still others require a Master’s Degree in Accounting or Business Administration.. Accountants deal with numbers a lot. Every company is usually dependent on the accounting department for their financial statements, tax computations, salaries and wages among other things. CPAs are usually hired by private companies as full-time or part-time consultant, or are employed full-time in Accounting and Auditing Firms. From this end, accountants make great use of their time and talent in assisting individuals, corporations, government and private corporations in trying to make sense of all the figures which affect the company in more ways than one. Consequently, the ever-increasing requirement for CPAs is further intensified. Employment of CPAs and related financial professionals was predicted to grow by 18% between 2006 and 2016 (http://degreedirectory.org/articles/CPA_-_Accountant_ Career_Summary_Job_Outlook_and_Educational_Requirements.html). This means the demand for CPAs in the US will still persist in the next few years. The reason for this is the continually growing quantity of businesses which have flourished in most areas of the country. Despite recent negative economic cycles, accounting employment remains strong throughout the nation ( http://www.ihireaccounting.com/accountingemployment ggact.asp), further reinforcing the statement that the current need for finance people will continue to rise. Current salaries for CPAs range from 30K up to 60K annually. Accountants median annual earnings were $57,060 in 2007 (http://degreedirectory.org /articles/CPA_-_Accountant_Career_Summary_Job_Outlook_and_Educational _Requirements.html), which just goes to show that the career trends for CPAs are getting more favorable and is predicted to be better in the coming years. As mentioned earlier, CPAs have the option to either be employed in a company or to be part of an accounting firm. Some specific Accounting Firms in Alabama are Aldridge, Borden & Company, DiPiazza, LaRocca, Heeter & Company and Bern, Butler, Capilouto & Massey. I have a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, and two associate degrees, namely: Business and Accounting. My educational background obviously shows my interest in numbers and the financial side of business. Previous work experiences have accorded me the chance to learn about selling real estate and car dealership. I’ve had the opportunity to take some personality tests and I found out that I am more of the realistic and conventional type, hence, the practical and mechanical areas of the job come easy to me. I can say that I am also proficient with numbers and computers, and I prefer a structured organized environment with a definite set of goals. Contract Specialist A Contract Specialist is the point person for administration of contracts and dealing with contractors and is expected to perform responsibilities related to such contracted activities. He / she also acts as the liaison officer between contractors and the head of a company/locality. The contract specialist deals with suppliers to “solicit, negotiates, administers, closes-out and terminates purchase orders and contracts” (http://www.cbp. gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/contract_specialist.xml), as the case may be. The educational requirements of the job are dependent on the employer, although a common denominator would be a degree in Business. Some would require an associate’s degree in a legal field due to the amount of legal terminology that has to be dealt with; others would need experience in contract writing and legal office work. The salary range for contract specialists range from 38K to 125K per year, but the current average national salary in the US as of March 2010 is $45000 (http://www.indeed .com/salary/Contract-Specialist.html). The salary is quite enticing, but it is not at all surprising since this type of work usually requires more specialized knowledge of the field apart from knowledge of the legal intricacies of negotiating contracts. However, it is worth noting that the trends indicate a lower demand for this type of job compared to last year. Latest statistics indicate that as of Jan 2010 the requirement was only 0.78% compared to last year which was 0.83% (http://www.simplyhired.com/a/jobtrends/trend /q-contract+specialist). Job openings for this kind of work are usually in the US government offices. Current openings for this job can be found in the Department of Army, Department of Air Force, Department of Defense and the US Army Contracting Command. Although there may be openings in private firms, contract specialists usually thrive best in government offices especially since their talent and expertise will be more sufficiently remunerated in this sector of employment. I can say that I am also qualified to work as a Contract Specialist because I have adequate educational background and experience to do the job. I am basically a sociable and outgoing person, and I have had years of experience in negotiating with people, due to my exposure in the real estate and car dealership businesses. I can also manage my time quite efficiently and I also enjoy a fast paced kind of occupation. I also know how contracts work and I have learned the step by step process of preparing a contract and seeing it through until its completion. I am looking at Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Camber Corp. or even possibly Redstone Arsenal for possible employment. I am looking forward to pursuing a profession in any of these two fields. I personally feel that I can be good at any of them and I am also doing my best to prepare for the challenges that both professions would offer. References CPA - Accountant: Career Summary, Job Outlook, and Educational Requirements DegreeDirectory.org. 27 March 2010. < http://degreedirectory.org/articles/CPA_-_Accountant_Career_Summary_Job_Outlook_and_Educational_Requirements.html> Accounting Employment Trends. iHireAccounting. 27 March 2010 < http://www.ihireaccounting.com/accountingemploymentggact.asp> Contract Specialist. CBP.gov. US Department Homeland and Security. 27 March 2010 < http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/contract_specialist.xml> Contract Specialist Trends. Simply Hired. 27 March 2010 < http://www.simplyhired.com/a/jobtrends/trend/q-contract+specialist> Contract Specialist Salaries. Indeed. 27 March 2010 < http://www.indeed.com/salary/Contract-Specialist.html> Read More