An increase in the number of businesses, changing financial laws and regulations, and increased scrutiny of company finances will drive growth. In addition to openings resulting from growth, the need to replace accountants and auditors who retire or transfer to other occupations will produce numerous job openings in this large occupation."

Following a slew of recent accounting scandals (does Enron ring a bell?), federal legislation was passed to increase penalties, and make company executives individually responsible for falsely reporting financial data (U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004). These changes should lead to greater scrutiny of company finances and accounting procedures, and should create more opportunities for accountants and auditors, particularly CPAs, to be more thorough in auditing financial records.

References

CPA.net. (2004). Colleges and Universities Offering Accounting Degree Programs. Retrieved from the Internet at http://www.cpanet.com/education/site.asp?AID=10&LIST=0020&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaicpa%2Eorg%2Fnolimits%2Fbecome%2Findex%2Ehtm&Site=01%2E+Becoming+a+CPA.

CPA.net. (2004). What is a CPA? Retrieved from the Internet at http://www.cpanet.com/education/site.asp?AID=10&LIST=0020&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaicpa%2Eorg%2Fnolimits%2Fbecome%2Findex%2Ehtm&Site=01%2E+Becoming+a+CPA....
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