| Accounting positions defined | | | | within public practices and sold their expertise on a |
| Accounting is an area of practice that requires | | | | consultancy basis. However, accounting has now |
| skills in several different areas in order to succeed. | | | | become a profession necessary for every |
| An accountant does not solely rely on | | | | business, and has expanded tremendously to allow |
| mathematical and data crunching skills as many | | | | accountants to join private as well as independent |
| believe. In fact, accountants are usually legal | | | | bodies. |
| experts in their area of practice due to the vast | | | | In the UK, no license is currently required to |
| amount of knowledge required to deliver high | | | | practice accountancy and be able to use the title |
| quality financial information to executives, | | | | of "accountant". But in order to use some |
| investors, tax authorities and other decision | | | | accounting titles, a membership to one of the |
| makers. There are however many different kinds | | | | many professional bodies is required. For example, |
| of accounting ranging from Investment to | | | | a chartered accountant must be a member of |
| Insolvency, and the role of an accountant might | | | | one of the following: Institution of chartered |
| vary depending on his area of focus. | | | | accountants in England and Wales, Institution of |
| Accountancy Qualifications & Regulation | | | | chartered accountants of Scotland or the |
| Accountants recognized in most countries by | | | | Institution of chartered accountants in Ireland. |
| professional bodies that regulate the profession in | | | | Accountancy bodies are themselves part of the |
| order to regulate the amount of accountants in a | | | | Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies, |
| certain jurisdiction as well as to maintain a high | | | | and are members of the board. |
| quality practice. Traditionally, accountants worked | | | | |