4 answers
Klaryssa
Student
Yuma, Arizona
2
Questions
Updated
3814 views
When doing accounting, what is the most important things to remember and practice to master being able to calculate the numbers in your head for each client/customer?
Hi, I’m Klaryssa, I am a middle school student and I am curious about what methods are the best for calculating the amounts for each person/ business and how would I be able to practice it now to be able to master it now and gradually grow and improve in that skill.
If any accountants would answer or give me some advice to calculating math in my head if possible, then that would be really nice, but if not then that’s okay too, and if any schools would be suggested to be taken then that would also be nice.
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4 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Klaryssa !
It's wonderful that you have come here as a Middle School student to find out about the work that is involved in being an Accountant !
To become an Accountant in Arizona, you would go for your college degree, a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. You would then take and pass the the Uniform CPA Examination for your Certification and your state requires you to be Licensed - a Licensed Certified Public Accountant.
As you are requesting, instead of calculating figures in your head, which is not part of this career, you would take courses in college related directly to accounting as well as courses in college in business administration, economics, finance, management, computer science, and business law. These are subjects that you'll need to know for the career and to pass the CPA Licensure and Certification. There's no way that calculating numbers and formulas in your head would be acceptable or accurate. Each one of your clients will have different needs, also. The courses in college that one would need to take to be an accountant that deal with numbers are statistics, economics, finance, and advanced mathematics. Your state of Arizona has a set amount of hours for these courses - the non-number and the number courses that you'd have to take. You'd learn how many hours when you know what college you'll attend and the college will tell you.
As an accountant, your job duties can be bookkeeping, tax preparation, auditing, manage public funds, and ensure that revenues are collected and spent according to laws and regulations. Often times accountants interact with financial analysts, bookkeepers, and payroll coordinators. So there's a lot to learn and it's not done by doing it all in your head. Each company or person you work for will have different requirements for what they need from an Accountant. So take as much Math now that your school offers and try to take as much of the subjects in high school that they offer which I've mentioned here. That will give you a good foundation for college.
Arizona State University is said to have a strong Accounting Program, so you can look into that. It will probably be 5 years or more before you enroll at college, so you should explore colleges when the time comes closer because more programs at more colleges may exist then. Do a search for colleges, in state and if you plan to attend out of state, read about the programs at out of state colleges, too. Only you can choose which colleges to apply to.
Since you are now just learning about Accounting, you can watch videos on You Tube about the work and the career which will explain what goes into being an accountant. I left three video links for you below. You should also go to the library or invest in some books about the work and the career to obtain a clear picture of what it is to be an Accountant. Some books to borrow from the Library or buy are "Accounting Made Simple" by Mike Piper, "The Accounting Game" by Darrell Mullis and Judith Orloff, and "Principles of Accounting" by Belverd E. Needles, Marian Powers, and Susan V. Crosson. Being well informed will help you prepare for the skills you will need for this career.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best moving forward becoming well informed !
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ACCOUNTANT [VIDEO] https://youtu.be/Abi56urip1M?si=vOGcuKMcLwyf7rqT
THE DIFFERENT ENTRY LEVEL ACCOUNTANT JOBS [VIDEO] https://youtu.be/z1B7lOaew_4?si=XCOLL1VI6l046VXd
ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ACCOUNTANT [VIDEO] https://youtu.be/HIQHx82cxtg?si=McRTGQVTgMro3-Nb
It's wonderful that you have come here as a Middle School student to find out about the work that is involved in being an Accountant !
To become an Accountant in Arizona, you would go for your college degree, a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. You would then take and pass the the Uniform CPA Examination for your Certification and your state requires you to be Licensed - a Licensed Certified Public Accountant.
As you are requesting, instead of calculating figures in your head, which is not part of this career, you would take courses in college related directly to accounting as well as courses in college in business administration, economics, finance, management, computer science, and business law. These are subjects that you'll need to know for the career and to pass the CPA Licensure and Certification. There's no way that calculating numbers and formulas in your head would be acceptable or accurate. Each one of your clients will have different needs, also. The courses in college that one would need to take to be an accountant that deal with numbers are statistics, economics, finance, and advanced mathematics. Your state of Arizona has a set amount of hours for these courses - the non-number and the number courses that you'd have to take. You'd learn how many hours when you know what college you'll attend and the college will tell you.
As an accountant, your job duties can be bookkeeping, tax preparation, auditing, manage public funds, and ensure that revenues are collected and spent according to laws and regulations. Often times accountants interact with financial analysts, bookkeepers, and payroll coordinators. So there's a lot to learn and it's not done by doing it all in your head. Each company or person you work for will have different requirements for what they need from an Accountant. So take as much Math now that your school offers and try to take as much of the subjects in high school that they offer which I've mentioned here. That will give you a good foundation for college.
Arizona State University is said to have a strong Accounting Program, so you can look into that. It will probably be 5 years or more before you enroll at college, so you should explore colleges when the time comes closer because more programs at more colleges may exist then. Do a search for colleges, in state and if you plan to attend out of state, read about the programs at out of state colleges, too. Only you can choose which colleges to apply to.
Since you are now just learning about Accounting, you can watch videos on You Tube about the work and the career which will explain what goes into being an accountant. I left three video links for you below. You should also go to the library or invest in some books about the work and the career to obtain a clear picture of what it is to be an Accountant. Some books to borrow from the Library or buy are "Accounting Made Simple" by Mike Piper, "The Accounting Game" by Darrell Mullis and Judith Orloff, and "Principles of Accounting" by Belverd E. Needles, Marian Powers, and Susan V. Crosson. Being well informed will help you prepare for the skills you will need for this career.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best moving forward becoming well informed !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Klaryssa! That's a good question. When doing accounting, especially when working with numbers in your head, the most important things to remember are accuracy, understanding patterns, and building strong number sense. Being quick with mental math can really help, especially when you’re working with clients and want to give answers confidently and clearly.
To get better at calculating in your head, start by practicing basic math every day: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Try doing things like calculating change when you buy something, figuring out tips at restaurants, or estimating totals while shopping. This helps your brain get used to working with numbers without a calculator.
Accountants also learn to recognize number patterns. For example, if you know 10% of something, you can easily find 20%, 30%, or even 5%. Estimation is a big part of accounting too, so being able to round numbers and quickly get close to the correct answer is helpful.
If you're interested in becoming an accountant one day, you might look into taking business or accounting classes in high school and later in college or university.
Keep practicing, stay curious, and don't be afraid to make mistakes while learning. That's how you grow. All the best!
To get better at calculating in your head, start by practicing basic math every day: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Try doing things like calculating change when you buy something, figuring out tips at restaurants, or estimating totals while shopping. This helps your brain get used to working with numbers without a calculator.
Accountants also learn to recognize number patterns. For example, if you know 10% of something, you can easily find 20%, 30%, or even 5%. Estimation is a big part of accounting too, so being able to round numbers and quickly get close to the correct answer is helpful.
If you're interested in becoming an accountant one day, you might look into taking business or accounting classes in high school and later in college or university.
Keep practicing, stay curious, and don't be afraid to make mistakes while learning. That's how you grow. All the best!
James Constantine Frangos
SOFTWARE ENGINEER SINCE 1972; NUTRITIONIST SINCE 1976.
7094
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Good Day Klaryssa!
Forgive me if I have got it wrong. I think you want to know the financial criteria, means, methods useful for elucidating a mental categorization of clients. This way you can characterize clients and companies that are handling accounts. The important data is on the balance sheets for each individual entity. Look at the costs to run the business and the profits from trading.
Net income is the total amount of income left after expenses and deductions are taken out.
An example would be Yuma Tennis Club. $22,323.86 outgoings cost of operating 2024 fiscal year, $13,500.00 membership fees incoming. Much more lucrative would be Harry's Healthy Habit health food restaurant, $253,871.15 out, $954,832.78 in. Harry is handling the account. The Tennis Club is not.
CHEERS JCF
Forgive me if I have got it wrong. I think you want to know the financial criteria, means, methods useful for elucidating a mental categorization of clients. This way you can characterize clients and companies that are handling accounts. The important data is on the balance sheets for each individual entity. Look at the costs to run the business and the profits from trading.
Net income is the total amount of income left after expenses and deductions are taken out.
An example would be Yuma Tennis Club. $22,323.86 outgoings cost of operating 2024 fiscal year, $13,500.00 membership fees incoming. Much more lucrative would be Harry's Healthy Habit health food restaurant, $253,871.15 out, $954,832.78 in. Harry is handling the account. The Tennis Club is not.
CHEERS JCF
Isida Mici
Accountant
66
Answers
Tirana, Tirana County, Albania
Updated
Isida’s Answer
Hello Klaryssa,
I'm glad you reached out with your question. As someone living in the Balkans, I can say that being detail-oriented is crucial for ensuring accuracy and following financial regulations. It's also important to be good at math. Before diving into this profession, it's helpful to understand yourself better because there are many types of accountants.
Here are some examples:
- Modern Accountant
- Cash Accountant
- SaaS Accountant
- Tech Accountant
- Inventory Accountant
- Startup Accountant
- Non-Profit Accountant
- Traditional Accountant
- AI Accountant
- Restaurant Accountant
- Fund Accountant
- Tax Accountant
- Public Accountant
- Auditing Accountant
- Government Accountant
- Forensic Accountant
- Management Accountant
- Environmental Accountant
- Healthcare Accountant
- Sports Accountant
- International Accountant
- Real Estate Accountant
- Entertainment Accountant
- Manufacturing Accountant
- Project Accountant
- Insurance Accountant
- Retail Accountant
- Corporate Finance Accountant
- Personal Finance Accountant
- Film Accountant
- Hospitality Accountant
- M&A Accountant
- Blockchain Accountant
- Investment Banking Accountant
- Legal Accountant
- Construction Accountant
- Agriculture Accountant
- E-commerce Accountant
- Venture Capital Accountant
- Pharmaceutical Accountant
- Fitness Accountant
- Supply Chain Accountant
- HR Accountant
- Political Campaign Accountant
- Staff Accountant
- Fashion Accountant
- Royalty Accountant
I hope this helps you think about which path might interest you. Feel free to reach out again at Career Village if you have more questions. Also, consider the advice from others in the community.
All the best!
I'm glad you reached out with your question. As someone living in the Balkans, I can say that being detail-oriented is crucial for ensuring accuracy and following financial regulations. It's also important to be good at math. Before diving into this profession, it's helpful to understand yourself better because there are many types of accountants.
Here are some examples:
- Modern Accountant
- Cash Accountant
- SaaS Accountant
- Tech Accountant
- Inventory Accountant
- Startup Accountant
- Non-Profit Accountant
- Traditional Accountant
- AI Accountant
- Restaurant Accountant
- Fund Accountant
- Tax Accountant
- Public Accountant
- Auditing Accountant
- Government Accountant
- Forensic Accountant
- Management Accountant
- Environmental Accountant
- Healthcare Accountant
- Sports Accountant
- International Accountant
- Real Estate Accountant
- Entertainment Accountant
- Manufacturing Accountant
- Project Accountant
- Insurance Accountant
- Retail Accountant
- Corporate Finance Accountant
- Personal Finance Accountant
- Film Accountant
- Hospitality Accountant
- M&A Accountant
- Blockchain Accountant
- Investment Banking Accountant
- Legal Accountant
- Construction Accountant
- Agriculture Accountant
- E-commerce Accountant
- Venture Capital Accountant
- Pharmaceutical Accountant
- Fitness Accountant
- Supply Chain Accountant
- HR Accountant
- Political Campaign Accountant
- Staff Accountant
- Fashion Accountant
- Royalty Accountant
I hope this helps you think about which path might interest you. Feel free to reach out again at Career Village if you have more questions. Also, consider the advice from others in the community.
All the best!