English
Accountants and auditors help ensure that a nation's firms are run efficiently, its public records kept accurately, and its taxes
paid properly and on time. They analyze and communicate financial information for various entities such as individual
clients, companies, and government institutions. Beyond carrying out the fundamental tasks of the occupation--preparing,
analyzing, and verifying financial documents in order to provide information to clients-many accountants also offer budget
analysis, financial and investment planning, infermation technology consulting, and limited legal services. Specific job duties
vary widely among the four major fields of accounting and auditing: public accounting, management, government
accounting, and internal auditing Public accountants perform a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting
activities for their clients, which may be corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations, or individuals. For example,
some public accountants concentrate on tax matters, such as advising companies about the tax advantages and
disadvantages of certain business decisions and preparing individual income tax returns.
Some internal auditors are involved in measuring an entity's compliance with the policies of an organization but are not a
part of the execution process. Others offer advice in areas such as compensation or employee health care benefits, the
design of accounting and data processing systems, and the selection of controls to safeguard assets. Still others audit
clients' financial statements and inform investors and authorities that the statements have been correctly prepared and
reported. These accountants are also referred to as external auditors. Public accountants, many of whom are Certified
Public Accountants (CPAs), generally have their own businesses or work for public accounting firms.
Some public accountants specialize in forensic accounting-investigating and interpreting white-collar crimes such as
securities fraud and embezzlement, bankruptcies and contract disputes, and other complex and possibly criminal financial
transactions, including money laundering by organized criminals. Forensic accountants combine their knowledge of
accounting and finance with law and investigative techniques to determine whether an activity is illegal. Many forensic
accountants work closely with law enforcement personnel and lawyers during investigations and often appear as expert
witnesses during trials