What is public accounting?
Accountants can either work in public or private accounting (industry). Basically, if an accountant works in public accounting, they would serve clients such a corporations, individuals, not-for-profit organizations, or governmental entities. If an accountant works in private accounting, they are performing internal accounting functions for their employer (help process financial transactions and prepare financial statements).

There are over 46,000 public accounting firms in the United States according to the AICPA. However, you can take it one step further and be an public accounting firm that is registered with the PCAOB. Only accounting firms that are registered with the PCAOB can perform audits of public companies that are required to issue financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (“SEC)”. According the the PCAOB, there are 860 firms registered in the United States.

Back To All Questions
You might also be interested in...
-
CECL Excel Workbook
If you would like to use the Excel workbook that was used to create the Universal CPA lecture on CECL for debt securities, please click the link below to download the Excel workbook: CECL Calculation workbook (Universal CPA Review)
-
Journal Entry for Direct Materials Variance
Journal Entry for Direct Materials Variance In the current year, Mission Burrito budgeted 6,000 pounds of production and actually used 4,000 pounds. Material cost was budgeted for $5 per pound and the actual cost was $8 per pound. What would the debit or credit to the direct material efficiency variance account be for the current...
-
Understanding Variance Analysis
Variance Analysis Variance analysis is a method for companies to compare its actual performance vs its budgeted amount for that cost measurement (related to the flexible budget). The differences between the standard (budgeted) amount of cost and the actual amount that the organization incurs is referred to as a variance. By analyzing variances, the company...
CECL Excel Workbook
If you would like to use the Excel workbook that was used to create the Universal CPA lecture on CECL for debt securities, please click the link below to download the Excel workbook: CECL Calculation workbook (Universal CPA Review)
Journal Entry for Direct Materials Variance
Journal Entry for Direct Materials Variance In the current year, Mission Burrito budgeted 6,000 pounds of production and actually used 4,000 pounds. Material cost was budgeted for $5 per pound and the actual cost was $8 per pound. What would the debit or credit to the direct material efficiency variance account be for the current...
Understanding Variance Analysis
Variance Analysis Variance analysis is a method for companies to compare its actual performance vs its budgeted amount for that cost measurement (related to the flexible budget). The differences between the standard (budgeted) amount of cost and the actual amount that the organization incurs is referred to as a variance. By analyzing variances, the company...