Chartered accountants advise, assist and support companies in their development and creation. They therefore participate in their strategy. In addition, for small companies, they can keep the end-to-end accounting and the accounting entry on the balance sheet. Sometimes, chartered accountants could also be auditors. Indeed, in this case, as independent observers, they verify and certify company accounts and also guarantee the reliability of financial information.
What exactly is a chartered accountant?
A chartered accountant is a specialist in accounting. He or she rectifies, controls, monitors and maintains the accounts of companies and legal entities to which he or she is not bound by a contract of employment. They draw up the accounts and profit and loss statements of companies, establishments, craftsmen, farmers, etc. In addition, the profession of chartered accountants in France is regulated by the order of 19 (nineteen) Sept 1945 number 45-2138 and also the decree of 30 (thirty) March 2012 number 2012-432. Chartered accountants must be registered in the Order of Chartered Accountants. These activities are considered as a liberal profession. And finally, chartered accountants do not only close the company's accounts. It should be noted that experts advise managers on taxation, management, organisation, etc.
Determining your choice in order to find the right school
The objectives may be different for each. Most students decide to stop at the DCG (Diplôme de Comptabilité et de Gestion) or the DSCG (Diplôme Supérieur de Comptabilité et de Gestion), as for the others, they prefer to try to reach the DEC (Diplôme d'Expertise Comptable) which is the ultimate diploma of this course. Indeed, the choice of accounting school is essential because it is a relationship for several years. The investment in time and work is consequent in order to reach the desired diploma. First of all, it is very important that the chosen schools are recognized by the State so that the diplomas are also recognized and avoid disappointment after 8 years of study. Depending on the imperatives and wishes, the training could take place on a sandwich course or an initial course. This choice could be by obligation or even by desire, and the choice of schools can be guided by its course proposals. Moreover, the partnership with accounting firms, success rates, efforts in terms of innovation or availability of online courses, alumni networks could also be good criteria to select the perfect school that meets what is sought after. When choosing schools, you should also check out the Facebook pages or websites of each school to find out about school life, the alumni association, the student office, etc.
What are the differences between a chartered accountant and an accountant?
In general, accountants are specialists in numbers:
- they keep the accounts of companies, control and monitor,
-they record the accounting operations of an activity and financial movements. They also centralize data, mainly for the purpose of drawing up balance sheets and income statements,
- they act as independent liberal specialists, who are not bound by any salaried contract with the institutions or companies for which they carry out their missions
-they play an advisory role towards its clients by directing on the best tax provisions, locations or legal status,
While chartered accountants often perform some of the same basic activities as accountants, such as keeping current accounts or filing tax returns, accountants, on the other hand, are employees of a public accounting firm who perform accounting tasks. It should be noted that accountants are not responsible for the accounts and are not authorized to validate them.
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