Accounting professionals are essential to every industry. These professionals are often part of any organization, whether private or public. They are needed in any organization to ensure they fulfill their financial obligations to their employers, clients, and partners.
And accountants, more than any other professional, need to expand their knowledge through continuous learning. This is because every organization needs to maintain its books of accounts, taxation, and other legal requirements, which are often the accountant’s responsibility.
For those who are certified public accountants (CPAs), they are not only required to meet specific standards of conduct, but they are also required to take continuing professional education to maintain their professional licenses.
There are many online professional courses available to CPAs, but they have to choose the courses that could help them in their profession. Here are some of the topics a CPA should consider to remain on top of their field.
Taxation Updates
Taxation laws and regulations often change, and can also vary from state to state. Since tax compliance can shift, CPAs need to keep updating their knowledge to guide their clients accordingly.
Taking a taxation course also gives accountants the opportunity to know more about international taxation laws and regulations, which can help international organizations deal with the policies they might fall under when they negotiate with international organizations.
These courses can also help accountants when dealing with audits, cyber security best practices, and handling taxation notices.
Financial Planning and Management
Many accountants take financial planning and management while still in school, but what they learned in their college or university might be less relevant to what their clients are dealing with today.
There are accounting CPE courses that give accountants the important updates on financial planning and management, which include investments, financial ratios, and business valuation which are all part of a CPA’s vital expertise.
Taking a course like this helps CPAs provide the most relevant business information and advice their clients need.
Recognizing and Preventing Fraud
Accountants know how to recognize fraud through auditing, but every year there are new stratagems and methods that fraudsters and criminals use to launder money, escape taxation, and steal from organizations.
This is now even more prevalent with online payments and banking. CPAs need the knowledge and expertise to know the risks and the technology to prevent fraud and theft. They can then help their clients prevent fraud, and increase their credibility to the general public.
Accounting Ethics
CPAs are required to meet specific ethical requirements, which outline the proper conduct they must follow when dealing with clients and organizations. Often licensing organizations require professionals to update their understanding of the latest code of professional ethics, so they can refresh and update their knowledge and skills.
Ethics courses often include case studies that cover situations that can be challenging for an accountant, ethically and morally. Taking these accounting CPE ethics programs can help them face such dilemmas in the future.
Additionally, an ethics course can help a CPA maintain the integrity and trust they need to be part of the profession.
CPAs and Continuing Education
Accounting as a profession is demanding, and many CPAs need to meet strict ethical codes and professional requirements that they are always in the process of upskilling, training, and taking courses to maintain their careers.
By taking an accounting course in any of these important topics, accounting professionals can bring their careers to the next level and ensure their clients and organizations are receiving the latest knowledge and expertise they can provide.
