Title:

Accounting Careers

Word Count:
685

Summary:
Accountants play a critical role in a company�s many financial facets. In general,
they balance books, record costs and profits, execute payroll, pay taxes and bills,
and issue financial statements to outside organizations. Although these may appear
to be straightforward tasks, accountants are required to be well-versed in protocol
and regulations to avoid scandal, which results in costly fines and marred
reputations. However, the accounting industry is drawing a breath of fr...

Keywords:
online accounting degree

Article Body:
Accountants play a critical role in a company�s many financial facets. In general,
they balance books, record costs and profits, execute payroll, pay taxes and bills,
and issue financial statements to outside organizations. Although these may appear
to be straightforward tasks, accountants are required to be well-versed in protocol
and regulations to avoid scandal, which results in costly fines and marred
reputations. However, the accounting industry is drawing a breath of fresh air
after exchanging paper spitting calculators and ledger sheets for advanced
accounting software. Career Accountants now have the opportunity to wear the
consulting hat, spending less time crunching numbers and more time serving as
financial vernacular translators for the management sector.

This new hat also comes with a whole new outfit. Employers now seek Accounting
applicants that are not only math and detail-oriented, but possess analytical
thinking skills that lend them to spot and solve problems. Still, even the best
solutions are worthless if they cannot be communicated to a member that can
implement it. Therefore, strong written and verbal communication skills are
important qualifications for the modern accounting position. A bachelor�s degree in
finance, business, or management of information systems (MIS) is considered
suitable training by employers for the technical, analytical, and communication
skills necessary to succeed in entry-level positions. The American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants, however, requires 150 hours of university education,
thirty hours more than a typical four-year degree, before qualifying to take the
CPA exam. For those embarking on the internal auditing and management accounting
career path, there is the Internal Auditors or the Institute of Management
Accountants, which issue certifications required by some employers. Qualifications
for bookkeeping positions are much more lax, offering positions to high school
graduates, associate degree holders, or people with a degree in an unrelated field.
Notably, these positions are often more tedious and offer less compensation.

Optimistically speaking, there are several accounting career tracks in the industry
that highlight a wide range of interests and accountant training: public
accounting, in-house accounting, internal auditors, management accountants,
government accountants, bookkeepers and auditing clerks, and independent. Public
Accountants prepare a company�s tax statements and external auditing, which make
financial records available to the government and the public. These accountants
enjoy the flexibility of their work because their skills are needed by small and
big firms alike. In-House Accountants set budgets, manage assets and payroll, track
payments, and handle other financial matters. Internal Auditors and Management
Accountants assume a more internal function by checking accounting systems for
clerical errors, enforcing regulations, streamlining processes, advising on
critical decisions and strategy planning. Government Accountants are financial
disciplinarians that collect revenue and see that it is spent in accordance with
the law. Bookkeepers and Auditing Clerks perform the task of inputting data into
the company�s financial record keeping system. However, once you�ve earned your
CPA, the allure of becoming an entrepreneur gains strength since many businesses
are willing to arrange for advising sessions and tax return work on a contract
basis.

Regardless of the position, a career in accounting offers many opportunities to

move up after getting that foot into the door, and right now the door is open.
After a series of industry scandals, companies are eagerly seeking ethical
applicants to fill forensic positions in order to reestablish their clients� faith.
The public accounting sector also has many available positions in auditing and
taxes. These Accounting Career opportunities are primarily situated in the health
care and manufacturing industries, but the Big Four Accounting Firms (Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers) are always
looking for bright-eyed youngsters to fill menial positions in exchange for a big
name to print on a resume.

The Big Four Accounting Firms offer a far from shabby starting salary in the mid
$30,000s to $40,000 for entry-level accounting employees who quickly move up to the
mid $40,000 to high $50,000 upon reaching seniority status. Management Accountants
earn $60,000 to mid $70,000 a year and partners generally make more than $120,000.
Although smaller firms may offer slightly lower wages, salaries in general are
projected to continue rising in the industry over the next few years.