Four Steps to Becoming a CPA – Inspired by Barry Dufrene

Ever wanted to possess the skill and knowledge necessary to accurately complete a tax return that actually saves money? If the answer to that question was yes, a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) might prove to be rewarding. In addition to more efficiently handling one’s own finances, CPAs can also use their extensive understanding of difficult tax regulations to provide assistance to their community. Barry Dufrene, for example, is a CPA with over 30 years of experience who has dedicated his energy to helping St. Mary Parish. Here’s how to follow in his footsteps:

1.      Earn a high school diploma or equivalent.

2.      Attend a college or university and obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or another similar area such as Finance. It is important to know the requirements of the specific area where one intends on working as some states are very strict on their policies surrounding education while others allow for a substitution of hands on experience in place of a degree. Furthermore, some accounting companies and organizations might require a Master’s Degree in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree.

3.      As stated in step two, finding out the area of intended employment’s policies and requirements is crucial. In order to become certified a four part exam is always required. However, certain states in the US prefer for a prospective CPA to have several years of work experience before they can even qualify to take the exam.

4.      Once the exam is passed and area specific pre-requisites are satisfied, the title of CPA is now official. Begin looking for job opportunities or for the opportunity to open a new firm. 

Barry Dufrene is a Morgan City, Louisiana resident and CPA who followed these steps and advanced quickly in the field.

 

 

St. Mary Parish Resident Barry Dufrene

St. Mary Parish is home to 26 beautiful properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among these are The Arlington Plantation House, Idlewild, and The Darby House. Barry Dufrene is a native of St. Mary Parish and has dedicated his life to helping the community. He spent 32 years as their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) operating mainly in the Sales and Use Tax Department.

Established in 1811, St. Mary Parish is a unique place on the coastal edge of southern Louisiana. The population in the Parish is just over 54,000 and has a population density of 98 people per square mile. Its seat is located in Franklin which is one of the area’s largest cities along with Morgan City and Patterson. What makes St. Mary Parish different from most places is the fact that an estimated fifty percent of its total mileage is water. Because of this fact, it is a popular area for energy operations.

One example of an energy operation within the Parish is Yellow Fin Marine Services, LLC. Yellow Fin was founded in 2006 by Mike Bailey as a brokerage firm. The company now has a large fleet of vessels and is primarily focused on the exploration of the waters along the Gulf of Mexico and southern Louisiana for the procuration of oil and energy.

Yellow Fin employed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Barry Dufrene as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2013. Since then, with Dufrene’s skills as a financial advisor and accountant, Yellow Fin has continued to grow exponentially. This, in turn, has provided numerous economical resources for St. Mary Parish.

Finding A Job As A New CPA – Featuring Barry Dufrene

After graduation, finding a job can be difficult. This is because most individuals are just starting out and have limited – if any – experience in their field. This is especially true for new Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) as companies might be wary of someone with no hands on experience when it comes to handling the financial lives of others. As a CPA for over 3 decades, Barry Dufrene is very familiar with this struggle. Here’s a little information on how he was able to succeed in the area.

The good news is, due to the current state of the US economy, CPAs are desired by business and individuals alike at an all-time high rate. This is due to confusing changes made to tax compliance laws. Individuals as well as larger companies are searching for CPAs who are familiar with the new processes to keep them ethical and in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

A new CPA should plan on finding an entry-level position even if the ultimate goal is starting his or her own accounting firm. The experience gained – even if on a smaller scale – will be beneficial for providing a rapport with potential clients as well as offering a peek into what it will really be like to start a company. Some states even require an individual to gain several years of practical experience before he or she is allowed to take the certification exam. This can actually serve as a benefit providing hands on knowledge potential competitors may not have.

Barry Dufrene is a CPA who resides in Morgan City, Louisiana. He has over 32 years of experience and continues to use his talents not only for business but for the betterment of his community.

A Brief History of Baseball Umpires Featuring Barry Dufrene

A baseball umpire – also known as an ump – is the individual responsible for officiating baseball games. The function includes duties such as signaling the start and finish of each game, enforcing the game and grounds rules, handling disciplinary actions, and making judgement on plays. Barry Dufrene, for example, is a seasoned umpire who has officiated on both the high school and collegiate levels of the sport.

In the beginning years of baseball – in the mid-1800s – games were officiated by a single umpire. However, since the beginning of 1901 games have been divided among an umpiring crew consisting of several different umpires.

The umpire stationed at home plate is considered umpire in chief and thus is in charge of the entire game. The umpire in chief mainly focuses on calls involving the batter and baserunners near home plate. The term umpire in chief is often confused with that of crew chief when the two are in fact different. The crew chief is typically the most experienced umpire and therefore serves as a middle man between the umpiring crew and the league itself. The crew chief also has a supervisory role over the entire crew – assigning responsibilities with extra emphasis on maintaining unity.

While an umpire’s call on a play used to be final, the MLB now allows managers to challenge, overturn, and even officially protest those in which they feel the umpire has made an error.

Barry Dufrene was an umpire from 1996 until 2007 and even umpired for the American Legion’s regional and state tournaments in 2005.

Yellow Fin Marine Services - E & P Experts

Yellow Fin Marine Services, LLC is a new marine services company based in Houma, Louisiana. Yellow Fin works with energy companies on exploration and production operations. They provide their clients with equipment for Exploration and Production operations, from utility vessels to personnel trained to operate vessels in the Gulf Coast area.

All of Yellow Fin’s equipment is reliable and designed for safe operation by specially trained staff members. Yellow Fin delivers value to all of its clients with its customer service as well. All of the company’s staff members and officers are dedicated to making the company’s customers happy with their service. Yellow Fin’s policy is to deliver honest and respectful answers to all questions and concerns.

Yellow Fin Marine Services is a relatively new company, significantly expanding its operations in 2013. The company started as a brokerage company in 2006, when Mike Bailey started operations in the area. Experienced businessman John Cosgrove joined the management team in 2011, and the company bought its first 165 foot crew boat and its first 130 foot crew boat. In 2013, the company acquired five more crew boats and a 130 foot utility vessel for the use of its clients.

During Yellow Fin’s prodigious expansion in 2013, Barry Dufrene joined as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Dufrene has decades of financial management experience, working with St. Mary Parish for 32 years in the tax department as a Certified Public Accountant. He has helped the company continue to grow and add clients in the energy industry in the Southern Louisiana area.

Certified Public Accountant Specialization - Be a US Tax Accountant

One of the many specializations that Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) can choose from after they receive their full certification as an accountant is US tax accounting. In the United States, the principles of tax accounting are separate and distinct from the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles that apply to all other accountants. 

Because of this distinction, organizations need accountants who are experienced in preparing taxes for small businesses or corporations to ensure that they are in full compliance with the United States tax code. These tax regulations are changing and getting more stringent as more laws are passed to rein in financial illegalities after the bank bailout of 2008. The demand for CPAs specializing in taxes has never been greater. 

CPAs can choose to study US tax accountancy methods after they get their certifications, making them experts in filing taxes and calculating taxable income. One duty that tax accountants in the United States have to perform for their clients is determining the type of tax accounting methods. These methods describe what is counted as taxable income for an individual or business. The Internal Revenue Code, under section 446(1) to (4) permits cash, accrual, and other tax accounting methods. 

Barry Dufrene is a CPA with decades of experience in the government and private sectors. He worked for 32 years for the Parish of St. Mary in Louisiana, then shifted to taking over as the Chief Financial Officer for Yellow Fin Marine Services, a local small business near his home in Morgan City.

What is Forensic Accounting?

For new or aspiring Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), choosing a specialty can be an excellent way to get a job after completing the Uniform CPA Examination. Forensic accounting is one of these specialties that trained CPAs can specialize in.

Forensic accounting is the investigation of fraud or embezzlement using accounting skills as investigative tools. There are many ways to get a job as a forensic accountant. Accounting firms often employ forensic accountants within specialized forensic divisions. Law enforcement agencies and lawyers also hire forensic accountants to investigate potential wrongdoing by various parties. Over the past seven years, state governments and the federal government in the United States have been cracking down on financial impropriety, making forensic accountants valuable and in demand. 

As a CPA, you can apply to earn certification as a forensic accountant. You can apply with the Certified Fraud Examiners’ (CFE) certification, ensuring that you know the structures of common fraud schemes. Basically, because fraud is usually well hidden, you have to know what to look for to root it out. Earning this certification can lead to a salary increase of 22% over those without the credential. Earning a CFE is not required to work as a forensic accountant, but it has many benefits. 

Barry Dufrene is a CPA with decades of experience living in Morgan City, Louisiana. He worked for St. Mary Parish for 32 years before retiring in May of 2012. Dufrene decided that his days as a CPA weren’t over, however, and he went back to work as the Chief Financial Officer for Yellow Fin Marine Services.