certified public accountant
Noun: A certified public accountant is a professional accountant in the United States who has met specific state-mandated education, examination, and experience requirements. This official certification grants them the legal authority to perform certain accounting, auditing, and attestation services that uncertified accountants cannot.
The term "certified public accountant" is a formal title for a licensed professional. It is often used in official, legal, and business contexts. * You must hire a certified public accountant to perform the official audit of the company's financial statements. * She became a certified public accountant after passing the rigorous uniform exam. * For complex tax advice, it is best to consult a certified public accountant.
- The abbreviation CPA is extremely common and often used interchangeably with the full title in professional writing and speech.
- Our firm's CPA will handle the merger's financial due diligence.
- The title is specific to the United States. Other countries have equivalent designations, such as Chartered Accountant (CA) or Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA Canada).
- CPA: The standard and widely recognized abbreviation for "certified public accountant."
- Accountant: A broader, unlicensed term for a person who keeps or inspects financial accounts. Not all accountants are CPAs.
- Auditor: A person who conducts official financial examinations. A CPA often performs this role.
- Tax Advisor / Tax Preparer: Professionals who prepare tax returns. A CPA is qualified to perform this service, especially for complex situations.
- Public Accountant (though this is less precise, as not all public accountants are certified)
- Licensed Accountant
- Chartered Accountant (the equivalent professional designation in many other countries)
- CPA license / CPA certification: Refers to the official credential held by the individual.
- He maintains his CPA license by completing continuing education courses.
- CPA firm: An accounting firm owned and operated by CPAs.
- The large CPA firm audited several Fortune 500 companies.
- an accountant who has passed certain examinations and met all other statutory and licensing requirements of a United States state to be certified by that state
- in addition to accounting and auditing, CPAs also prepare tax returns for individuals and corporations