Episode 4 - "Mr. Virgil Smith the CPA!"

How much math do you need to know to be good at accounting? What is the difference between a CPA and an accountant? Are tax laws complicated? Today’s guest has all the answers! In this episode, we talk to Mr. Virgil Smith. He has been a certified public accountant for about 45 years. He worked for the California Franchise Tax Board for eight years before he started his own CPA firm called Virgil Smith CPA in Davis, California, where he continues to work today. Tuning in you’ll hear all about what a CPA is, why Mr. Smith wanted to become one, and what inspired him to start his own firm. He explains what a typical work day looks like for him, why he needs to have continued training, and how the rapport he has with his clients is his favorite thing about the job. Tuning in you’ll learn all about how complicated tax laws are, what the tax season is, and whether or not owning your own CPA business is better than working for a big organization. If you’re as pumped as I am to learn more about accounting, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to Mr. Virgil Smith, his career background, and where he works.  
• How a CPA is different from an accountant. 
• Some of the extra training Mr. Smith had to become a CPA. 
• How Mr. Smith realized he wanted to become a CPA. 
• What a typical work day looks like for Mr. Smith and how COVID has changed things. 
• His favorite thing about his job: the good rapport he has with his clients. 
• Insight into how complicated tax laws are.  
• The continuing education that Mr. Smith needs to have to be a CPA and what this is like. 
• What the tax season is and why CPAs are so busy during this time. 
• What it is like for Mr. Smith to own his own accounting firm and what inspired him to start it. 
• How owning your own business is different from working for a big organization. 
• Mr. Smith’s advice to anyone who is interested in becoming a CPA.  
• How much math you have to know to be good at accounting.