Classifications of Accountants

Accountants help an organisation track its expenditures and income. The accountant ensures statutory compliance and provides accounting data to all stakeholders of an organisation. This information is essential in ensuring that the firm makes informed choices. However, are all accountants the same? This piece explores different classifications of accountants.

Corporate

Corporate accountants are the kind you hire if you are a business. Businesses must meticulously arrange and present financial records. The corporate accountant helps the firm comply with financial policies, laws, and standards. Corporate accountants also prepare budgets, track expenditures, and manage the firm's cash flow. However, how do these duties differ from financial accounting?

A corporate accountant's only concern is the productivity of items such as liabilities and assets owned by a company. Therefore, the corporate accountant has minimal regard for the value of assets and liabilities. Corporate accountants are essential for running a firm since defying standards, rules, and regulations could cost the firm its customers and expose it to litigation over taxation issues. 

Forensic

Forensics involve recreating data to make sense of a situation. Accountants who investigate theft, embezzlement, or fraud are valuable for your organisation since they can help you recover from such events. Forensic accountants know the possible methods through which people perform fraud based on their training and experience. 

Business fraud might occur through different methods. For example, workers might misappropriate assets. The forensic accountant helps you trace misappropriation incidences and gathers enough evidence to sue the worker. Financial reporting is also a common cause of fraud. The accountant helps uncover fraudulent financial reporting and protects your firm from unethical accountants. 

Government

This class of accountants handle issues related to public funds and projects. You may work alongside a government accountant when taking government contracts or using public utilities. The government has immense resources that need proper management, and accountants are essential in this process. 

Government accountants are essential sources of information at the federal, local, and state levels. Therefore, you may consult a government accountant when looking for vital information regarding government finances.  

Public

Public accountants are an essential class in this profession. The area of expertise for these accountants is in providing accounting services to businesses. However, these accountants only help you by reviewing your books to ensure they are accurate and complete. 

Public accountants work with financial managers to handle internal issues of the business. For example, this accountant helps you prepare budgets or evaluate your firm's performance. 

One of the main criteria for choosing an accountant is their specialty. You may pick a corporate, forensic, government, or public accountant. 


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