A quick review of the Accountant job in France…
In this article, Louis DETALLE (ESSEC Business School, Grande Ecole Program – Master in Management, 2020-2023) explains what an accountant (comptable en français) works on, on a daily basis, in France.
What does the Accountant job consist in?
All businesses and organizations need an accountant whose role is to record the day-to-day expenditure, income, and investments of the business.
The accountant is therefore the internal guarantor of the reliability of the company’s financial information and has a great responsibility, in particular to the company’s auditors & third-party stakeholders, who invest in the company on the basis of the information certified by the Audit firm and the Accountancy Department. The Audit firm will have to certify or to reject the authenticity of the accounts from an external point of view whereas the accountancy department will have this function internally.
What are the missions of the accountant?
The missions of the accountant depend on where he or she works.
In a small company
In a small company, the sole accountant is on all fronts. He or she monitors the company’s payrolls and various tax and social security declarations on a daily basis. On the other hand, the accountant must also anticipate the preparation of the closing of the annual accounts, which will be checked by the chartered accountant and certified by the auditor.
In a large company
In a large company, his or her tasks will in theory be the same, but given the size of the company, a transversality of subjects is not possible. Therefore they will work in a team and will be required to specialise rapidly: in charge of accounts receivable or payable, in charge of payroll. He will be working under the responsibility of the chief accountant.
In an accounting firm
In an accounting firm, the accountant will have various companies whose accounts he or she will have to monitor. He will be in charge of different company files, as an assistant, under the responsibility of the chartered accountant (expert comptable en français). Given the way the accounting firm operates, a great deal of advice and commercial work will be required to maintain and develop the client portfolio. It is a profession that includes busy periods, particularly during the closing of accounts, and is sometimes stressful, but which recruits a lot.
What are the academic diploma required to become an accountant?
In France, although it is possible to become an accountant after 2 years of higher studies, for big accountancy firms, it is often required to obtain specific diploma in accountancy.
The DCG (diploma in accounting and management in French – Diplôme de Comptabilité et de Gestion) is a 3-year training after A level at the end of which the accountant to be will have to take an exam in order to check that the knowledge has been well learnt.
The DSCG (Superior Diploma in accounting and management in French – Diplôme Supérieur de Comptabilité et de Gestion) is a 2-year program that one can take after obtaining the DCG. This will give the accountant a Master’s level, often needed for certain jobs.
The DEC (diploma of certified accountant in French – Diplôme d’Expertise Comptable) …allows you to work as a chartered accountant in an accounting firm. To register for the DEC exams, you must have completed a three-year internship in a public accounting firm and have a baccalaureate +5 years of higher education. The DEC is prepared in 3 years after a Master’s degree, which is often the DSCG mentioned above.
How AI can impact the Accountancy’s job?
Artificial intelligence (AI) can potentially impact the field of accounting especially as regards the automation of tasks. Indeed, AI can be used to automate certain tasks that are currently performed by accountants, such as data entry, reconciliation, and financial reporting. This can potentially save time and reduce the risk of human error. In addition, AI can analyze large amounts of data and identify patterns and trends that might not be immediately apparent to a human accountant. This can help accountants make more informed decisions and provide valuable insights to their clients. AI can also be used to identify unusual patterns or transactions that may indicate fraudulent activity. This can help accountants detect and prevent fraud before it occurs.
Overall, AI has the potential to significantly improve efficiency and effectiveness in the field of accounting, but it’s important to underline that although AI can assist accountants in their work, the final word belongs to humans when it comes to making informed decisions based on their expertise and the help of AI.
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▶ Pierre-Alain THIAM My experience as a junior audit consultant at KPMG
▶ Louis DETALLE Wirecard: At the heart of the biggest German financial scandal of the 21st century
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About the author
The article was written in December 2022 by Louis DETALLE (ESSEC Business School, Grande Ecole Program – Master in Management, 2020-2023).