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Check out a sample of the 571 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) jobs posted on Upwork

$25
Fixed-price

Expert
Experience level

**Job Opportunity: CPA Accountant for Compliance Certification** We are looking for an experienced CPA accountant to assist us in revi…

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) CPA
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$10
Fixed-price

Intermediate
Experience level

Provide a detailed breakdown of income tax rates and deductions for employees in the Philippines. Explain employer tax responsibilitie…

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) CPA
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Hours to be determined
Hours needed

Less than 1 month
Duration

Intermediate
Experience level

Two-fold objectives: 1) Help with tax planning to make sure all deductions are being claimed, and planning for how to further increase…

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) CPA Certified Tax Preparer Tax Return
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Less than 30 hrs/week
Hours needed

1 to 3 months
Duration

Intermediate
Experience level

I am looking for a qualified Filipino CPA with expertise in taxation for individuals earning income abroad. The ideal candidate should…

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Corporate Tax CPA
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Less than 30 hrs/week
Hours needed

1 to 3 months
Duration

Expert
Experience level

We are seeking an experienced tax attorney to assist with an IRS notice we received. The ideal candidate should have a solid understand…

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) CPA Legal Consulting Finance & Accounting Legal
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$50
Fixed-price

Intermediate
Experience level

We are seeking an experienced bookkeeper to manage monthly financial records for our Delaware Public Benefit Corporation. As we prepare…

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Intuit QuickBooks CPA Financial Accounting
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30+ hrs/week
Hours needed

1 to 3 months
Duration

Expert
Experience level

We are seeking an experienced accountant to handle the financial needs of our law firm using PC Law software. The ideal candidate will…

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) CPA Administrative Support Data Entry
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$200
Fixed-price

Intermediate
Experience level

We are seeking an experienced tax professional to assist in filing federal tax returns for the past two years. The ideal candidate shou…

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) CPA Certified Tax Preparer Tax Return
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$500
Fixed-price

Intermediate
Experience level

Looking for an experienced CPA that has an understanding of Small Business and Real Estate Investing (Buy and Hold Rental Properties, R…

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) CPA
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Cpa Hourly ‐ Posted 2 days ago

30+ hrs/week
Hours needed

More than 6 months
Duration

Intermediate
Experience level

Proposal to Partner with CPAs About Us We are a client-focused firm dedicated to simplifying the tax preparation process for individua…

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Certified Tax Preparer Tax Return CPA
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Public Accountants on Upwork
can earn $50–$70/hr.
Learn more below about how you can earn a career on the world’s work marketplace.
Public Accountant average prices bell curve

$50 $70

Median hourly rates (USD)

How to Become a Freelance Certified Public Accountant

Accountants who have reached an advanced level of competency, proven by an exam administered in each of the 50 states in the U.S. as well as in other countries, can be awarded the title of a certified public accountant (CPA). If you enjoy numbers and have a knack for advanced accounting principles, you may have what it takes to become a freelance certified public accountant on Upwork.

What does a freelance certified public accountant do?

A freelance certified public accountant acts as a trusted financial advisor, working with individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations to help them reach their financial goals.

A freelance CPA can wear many hats, and they can specialize in specific areas. For example, a CPA can be an organization’s chief financial officer or controller as well as its accountant. A freelance CPA can also act as a financial advisor to individuals and organizations, helping them navigate complex tax laws as well as make key investment decisions.

Freelance CPAs may find employment working with individuals, within a client organization, or within an accounting firm. Their expertise and level of certification ensures their knowledge and experience in accounting and other financial matters will result in sound financial decisions.

What skills do I need to become a freelance certified public accountant?

Freelance certified public accountants provide a wide range of financial skills for clients. Similar to the expertise offered by a physician or an attorney, a CPA’s expertise ensures clients will receive sound advice, in this case on financial matters. With this in mind, there are specific capabilities a CPA should possess, including:

  • Thorough understanding of tax laws and mandates. It’s important that CPAs remain current with all tax laws. As a freelancer, a CPA will be relied upon by clients to navigate problematic tax issues or develop tax strategies to avoid potential pitfalls.
  • Expert business sense. A freelance CPA should exhibit business acumen in order to help clients develop financial and operational plans. CPAs exhibiting a sound business mind will help clients make the best business decisions specific to their industry and situation.
  • Auditing capability. Freelance CPAs should have experience conducting audits or overseeing the auditing process. Large and small organizations can benefit from sound auditing practices offered by freelance CPAs, as their expertise helps to establish legally sound accounting practices while avoiding potential financial problems.
  • Management prowess. CPAs are often called upon to fill senior management roles such as CFO, controller, president, CEO, and director of finance. It’s important that freelance CPAs not only have a thorough understanding of sound accounting practices and tax law but also possess excellent business management skills.
  • Critical thinking ability. Because the world of finance can be complex, a freelance CPA should exhibit critical thinking skills. This ability enables freelance CPAs to think outside the proverbial box and to resolve and avoid problems associated with poor financial planning.
  • Excellent time management. An important skill freelance CPAs should possess is the ability to manage their time and properly handle competing priorities.
  • Industry knowledge. A freelance CPA should have in-depth knowledge of specific industries. While many accounting practices are universal, each industry has a different set of norms around financial management. A freelance CPA should be knowledgeable about these norms in order to provide the best possible counsel to clients.
  • Accounting knowledge. It may go without saying, but a freelance CPA must have expert knowledge of general financial accounting principles. This ensures that baseline accounting principles are followed in order to address complex and detailed issues. Whether balancing books or auditing an entire operation, a CPA will rely heavily on their accounting expertise when providing expert counsel to clients.

In addition to these basic skills, it’s great for CPA candidates to have experience (or at least interest) in related fields. For example, many full-time CPAs also have experience with business law or professional ethics. Others have accounting expertise in specific areas, such as forensic accounting or working at a public accounting firm.

What are the core freelance certified public accountant job responsibilities?

The responsibilities associated with the role of a certified public accountant are pretty universal. In addition to handling accounting, tax, and finance duties, a CPA is charged with overseeing the financial health of an individual or an organization.

Following are core responsibilities associated with being a freelance certified public accountant:

  • Manage and balance financial records and review for errors and inaccuracies
  • Conduct audits on individual and organizational financial records and identify any discrepancies or issues that may present legal issues
  • Collaborate with the CEO and other executive management to establish quarterly and annual budgets
  • Ensure operational spending remains within budget
  • Provide quarterly and annual financial records for review by executive management
  • Assist with creation and production of quarterly reports, 10-K documents, and annual reports
  • Review and hire external CPA firms to assist with audits and other financial reviews

Should I get a degree or certification to become a freelance certified public accountant?

Earning a bachelor’s degree is required to become a certified public accountant, as is passing a CPA exam. In addition, many CPAs obtain a master’s degree due to the number of credit hours required to qualify for the exam. Details of the CPA exam vary by state, but they all generally cover the same accounting principles.

Popular degrees and coursework required to become a certified public accountant include:

  • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or an equivalent field of study from an accredited college or university
  • Uniform CPA Exam – offered by the AICPA in conjunction with each state’s/jurisdiction’s board of accountancy and Prometric.

Jump-start your certified public accountant career on Upwork and start looking for your first job. Eager to learn more about certified public accountant jobs on Upwork? Check out this additional resource:

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this section. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyse and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

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